International
Liberia: Four Oil Blocks 'Lease' Postpones Capitol Recess
Dec 12, 2014
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Leroy M. Sonpon, III, Liberian Observer
The Liberian Legislature has extended its Special Session by one week, upon a request from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the pending submission of four…
Myanmar: Mining Workshop for Civil Society Leaders in Myanmar
Dec 12, 2014
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Cecile Medail, Earth Rights International
Rapid development in mining in Myanmar is putting communities at risk. Pollution, inhumane business and labor practices, and violence are some of the many issues…
DRC: Miner vs. Miner: A Different Kind of Mineral Conflict
Dec 11, 2014
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Sabri Ben-Achour, Marketplace
Biyamungu Ngalikyana, in his mid-20s, sports shiny white rubber boots and a mining helmet as he walks down a dirt road in the mining town…
China/South China Sea: Why Specks of Land in the South China Sea Are Fueling Tensions Between Beijing and Its Neighbors
Dec 11, 2014
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Simon Worrall, National Geographic
They have names like Pigeon Reef, West Sand, Taisho-To, and Scarborough Shoal. Most are no more than outcrops of rock poking out of the sea.…
Liberia: Nocal Renews Support for Oil Sector Reform in Liberia
Dec 11, 2014
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Front Page Africa
Monrovia — An official of the National Oil Company of Liberia has reiterated NOCAL support towards efforts to reform the oil sector of the country.
Speaking…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Kirkuk Oil Exports in Focus: How And Why?
Dec 11, 2014
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Muhammed Hadi, Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Why did Baghdad agree to exporting Kirkuk oil via the Kurdistan Region? And what will happen if the oil fields produce…
Iraq: Iraq’s Bright Oil Future Blocked By ISIS
Dec 11, 2014
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Colin Chilcoat, Oilprice.com
Last week’s oil agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was a milestone event and the market reaction was largely fitting – Brent…
Food Security: UN Agency Reports Record Cereal Crop as Ebola, Conflict Threaten Food Security
Dec 11, 2014
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United Nations
Despite world cereal production likely to reach an all-time record of more than 2.5 billion tonnes in 2014, a total of 38 countries are at…
Cyprus/Turkey: Oil Deal In Iraq Should Be Example for Cyprus: Turkish President Erdoğan
Dec 11, 2014
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Turkish Weekly
The recent internal agreement between Baghdad and Arbil should set an example for sharing potential energy resources off Cyprus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has…
China/South China Sea: Lowy Report: Chinese Rivalries Risk Spiralling Conflict in South China Sea
Dec 10, 2014
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John Garnaut, Sydney Morning Herald
Fierce rivalry between Chinese civilian, paramilitary and military agencies has created a "genuine risk" of conflict in the South China Sea, says a new report.
Reopening…
Angola: National Director of State Assets in Major Land-Grabbing Fraud
Dec 10, 2014
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Rafael Marques de Morais, Maka Angola
On June 5, 2014, the national director of State Assets at the Ministry of Finance, Sílvio Franco Burity, successfully petitioned the governor of Kwanza-Sul, General…
South Sudan: South Sudan Peace Talks Stutter as Economy Becomes Casualty of War
Dec 9, 2014
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James Copnall, The Guardian
South Sudan was born from decades of conflict, after two long civil wars in which well over two million people died. Well before the joyous…
Liberia: Growth & Graft - How Oil Can Profit or Ruin Liberia
Dec 9, 2014
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Front Page Africa
Liberia recently ended consultations on reforms in the emerging oil industry by stakeholders' participation. As part of its efforts to educate the public on the…
How Simple Palm Oil Undermined Liberia's Efforts to Contain Ebola
Dec 9, 2014
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Sara Jerving, Mic
Timothy Yeabah heard a noise ringing from the forests surrounding his village in central Liberia one morning in April 2013. It was the sound of…
China/South China Sea: US South China Sea Report Riles China to Defend Behaviour
Dec 9, 2014
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Nigel Wilson, International Business Times
China has attacked a report by the US State Department about its claims on the disputed territorial waters of the South China Sea.
Beijing's claim over…
Iraq: Iraq Cuts Official Crude Oil Selling Price to Asia, U.S.
Dec 9, 2014
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David Sheppard, Reuters
Iraq has cut the official selling price (OSP) to Asia and the United States in January for its main crude oil export grade, Basrah light,…
Iraq: IMF: Less Iraq Contraction in 2014 on Rising Oil Output
Dec 9, 2014
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AFP
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday said Iraq's oil-dependent economy was expected to contract much less than previously thought this year due to rising oil…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Baghdad-Erbil Deal is Silent on KRG's Surplus Oil
Dec 9, 2014
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Mohammed A. Salih, Al-Monitor
ERBIL, Iraq — The new oil agreement between Iraq’s federal government and the autonomous Kurdish government in the north appears to have left some room…
Liberia: In Oil & Gas Laws Stakeholders Want President's Power Limited
Dec 9, 2014
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Leroy M. Sonpon, III, Liberian Observer
At least 150 stakeholders from over 30 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have successfully validated two 'Oil and Gas Laws', but recommended limitations on the power…
Conflict Minerals: SEC Files Brief in Conflict Minerals Rehearing
Dec 8, 2014
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Stephen M. Quinlivan, Lexology
The SEC has filed its brief in the conflict minerals rehearing. Amnesty International also filed its brief as intervenor and Free Speech for People filed an amicus brief.
To recap, when…
Liberia: Still No Oil for Liberia, but
Dec 8, 2014
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Garmonyou Wilson, The Inquirer
With 17 oil blocks on the coast of Liberia, Nigerian, American, Chinese companies among others have leased more than 60%. Each block costs the company…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Kirkuk Governor: Oil Revenue to Kurdish Region Delayed
Dec 7, 2014
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World Bulletin
Revenue from oil exports to the Kurdish Regional Government is held up by government discussion of the 2014 budget, and by pipeline stoppages, Kirkuk Governor Najmiddin…
Somalia: Somaliland: “How Does One Misappropriate Yet to Be Harvested Products “Wonders Eng Duale
Dec 7, 2014
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Yusuf M Hasan, Somaliandsun
The four main foreign firms with oil Product Sharing Contracts –PSC with Somaliland are ready to continue exploration and start extraction operations in the first…
China/Philippines/South China Sea: China Denounces Philippine 'Pressure' Over Sea Dispute Arbitration
Dec 7, 2014
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Adam Rose and Ben Blanchard, Reuters
China denounced the Philippines on Sunday for putting it under pressure with an international arbitration case over disputed waters, and refused again to participate a…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Baghdad: No Agreement on Independent Kurdish Oil Export
Dec 7, 2014
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Rudaw
Iraq’s oil ministry dismissed on Sunday reports that Baghdad had agreed to independent oil exports by the Kurdish government, saying its position had not changed.
“The…
Liberia: Confab On Oil Law Validation Begins
Dec 5, 2014
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AllAfrica
The Legislature is expected to begin a two-day National Stakeholders Dialogue for the validation of the Draft Petroleum Exploration & Production Act 2013 today.
The conference…
Iraq: ISIS Dismantles Oil Refinery at Baiji, Shipping Facility to Mosul
Dec 5, 2014
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Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region-- The Islamic State (ISIS) dismantled a refinery near Baiji, and transported it to the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi military sources said.
Military officials…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Kurdish Oil Market Evolving Quickly
Dec 5, 2014
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Daniel J. Graeber, United Press International
The market for crude oil produced in the Kurdish north of Iraq is evolving rapidly both in the domestic and foreign markets, an oil company…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Oil Deal a Sign of Hope Between Baghdad, Erbil
Dec 5, 2014
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Mushreq Abbas, Al-Monitor
As soon as the oil agreement signed Dec. 2 between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was announced, optimism emerged in Iraqi…
Iraq: Iraqi Army Repels ISIS Attack on Baiji Oil Refinery
Dec 5, 2014
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Al Arabiya
Iraq’s armed forces have repelled a major attack by extremists on Baiji oil refinery in northern Iraq, Al Arabiya News Channel on Friday.
Last month the…