Geopolitical Monitor - Energy Security - Geopolitical Analysis on Energy Security Issues Facing Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East

Brazil is a rare gem, a rising power that has put itself on the path of energy independence thanks to a combination of forward-looking energy policies and newly discovered oil reserves. But what does this actually mean for Brazilian foreign policy?

As the 'B' in BRICS, Brazil has come to be known as one of the world's most dynamic developing economics. Less known, however, is the fact that Brazil has pieced together one of the largest renewable energy industries in the world. This infographic will shed some light on how this rising Latin American power discovered the El Dorado of geopolitics: energy independence.

In the past six months, Brazilian President Dilma Roussef has mounted an intriguing doctrinal challenge to the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P) Doctrine with a concept the Brazilian government calls ‘Responsibility while Protecting” (RwP) - demonstrating Brazil’s newfound determination to stake its claim as an ideological heavyweight in international affairs discourse.

A delegation from the International Energy Agency spent two days in Baghdad speaking with high-ranking officials in preparation for an end-of-year report on the country's oil sector. By some estimates, Iraq could hold some of the largest oil reserves in the world and an international auction for oil and natural gas blocks is planned for May.

The International Energy Agency announced it was set to review Iraq's energy sector as part of its World Energy Outlook for 2012. Last year, the IEA said Iraq was on pace to provide the largest single increase to global oil production in the coming years. In December, however, the agency warned that domestic politics could get in the way of energy developments. Given Iraq's post-war political track record, it might be awhile before Iraq realizes its full oil potential.

Against whom is the European Union’s so-called “oil embargo on Iran” really aimed?

It is one of the marvels of our time that the nuclear industry managed to resurrect itself from its ruins at the end of the last century.

It's estimated that China holds more natural gas – locked in its huge shale reserve – than the U.S.

The developments around the Trans-Caspian Pipeline project supposed to provide an undersea energy supply link between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are about to reach a critical point.

On November 7 the first of two pipelines for Nord Stream, the huge Russian-German gas pipeline project, began delivery of gas. The event was no minor affair.