By Elkhan Nuriyev, BREC Global Energy Associate, EGF Affiliated Expert

This opinion piece applies post-conflict scenario planning to the future of the regional energy security cooperation in the Black Sea-Caspian basin and describes collaborative steps that could be taken by all relevant players to think more deeply about promoting the integration of energy markets in this part of the world.
Notwithstanding the most acute unpredictability of the new societies in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia in the 1990s, the young states simultaneously faced the need for intense capital investments in their energy sectors that could drive economic growth. Since then, both the Black Sea and the Caspian basin alike have become crossroads for increased commerce and economic development as the old Silk Road is revived. READ MORE

• September 20, 2017

By Benyamin Poghosyan, PhD, Executive Director, Political Science Association of Armenia

Long term economic development may play a key role in defining the balance of power between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Last month has seen Armenia engaging in high level contacts with Iran and Turkmenistan. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in Iranian President Rouhani's inauguration. During a bilateral meeting between the two presidents perspectives for developing Armenian - Iranian relations were discussed including the possibility to expand the cooperation in the energy sphere. READ MORE

• September 5, 2017

LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oil major Lukoil is considering selling its Swiss unit Litasco because new U.S. sanctions on Russia will make it harder for the Geneva-based energy trader to raise new funds, industry sources said.

• September 1, 2017

The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 project to add a second Russian trans-Baltic gas export pipeline will be implemented regardless of how new U.S. sanctions are interpreted, an official at Gazprom (GAZP.MM) told a conference call on Wednesday.

• August 30, 2017

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Moscow court has rejected a request by Siemens to seize its gas turbines, which have turned up in Crimea contrary to EU sanctions, and to ban their installation ahead of preliminary hearings next month, the court's ruling showed on Sunday.

• August 20, 2017

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - A consortium led by Russian oil major Rosneft(ROSN.MM) will announce on Monday completion of a $12.9 billion deal to acquire Indian private refiner Essar Oil, strengthening ties between the world's largest oil producer and the fastest growing fuel consumer.

• August 20, 2017

CEFC China Energy, which has grown from a niche oil trader to a sprawling energy conglomerate, is in talks to acquire a stake in Russian state oil giant Rosneft (ROSN.MM), three people with direct knowledge of the discussions said.

• August 17, 2017

Saudi Arabia will cut crude oil allocations to its customers worldwide in September by at least 520,000 barrels per day, an industry source said on Tuesday, as the top oil exporter makes good on its pledge to help rein in a global supply glut.

• August 9, 2017