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

May 20, 2008 (AP) - The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday allowing the Justice Department to sue OPEC members for limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude prices, but the White House threatened to veto the measure.

Dubai recently announced its partnership with China in the creation of a billion dollar investment fund. Saudi Arabia recently announced its commitment to double oil exports to China by 2010. These two announcements exemplify China’s Middle East energy strategy: to entrench itself economically in the region, even at a loss, so as to obtain the political leverage required to secure access to oil and gas.

BEIJING May 13, 2008 (Chen Aizhu) - China resumed operation of a major oil products pipeline on Tuesday after the previous day's earthquake forced it to briefly stop pumping, but some gas wells were shut by a government order, industry officials said.

May 12, 2008 (Martin Waller, Times Online) - Royal Dutch Shell has apparently caved into political pressure from the US in backing out of a $10 billion gas project in Iran.

NEW YORK May 6, 2008 (John Wilen, AP) - Oil futures blasted to a new record near $123 a barrel Tuesday, gaining momentum as investors bought on a forecast of much higher prices and on any news hinting at supply shortages. Retail gas prices edged lower, but appear poised to rise to new records of their own in coming weeks.

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria May 3, 2008 (Ufford Wilson, AP) - Unknown assailants attacked an oil installation in restive southern Nigeria and some crude production has been lost, Royal Dutch Shell PLC officials said Saturday.

DAMASCUS April 28, 2008 (AFP) - Syria said on Monday that US accusations it had been building a nuclear reactor until its destruction in an Israeli air raid last September were as bogus as American claims that Saddam Hussein's regime had weapons of mass destruction in 2003.

April 25, 2008 (Simon Morgan, AFP) - The UN atomic watchdog agency said Friday it would probe US intelligence allegations that Syria was building a secret nuclear reactor with North Korea's help.

ISLAMABAD April 25, 2008 (Xinhua) - Pakistan and India on Friday resolved their difference on the transit fee of the much-delayed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, also known as the peace pipeline.

April 24, 2008 (Rory McCarthy, The Guardian) - The UN is to halt food handouts for up to 800,000 Palestinians from tomorrow because of a severe fuel shortage in Gaza brought on by an Israeli economic blockade.