OPEC, Russia and the war on Ukraine

The war in Ukraine, which has unleashed fears of an energy supply crunch and pushed oil prices to record highs, has brought back to the forefront the conversation about the need for new investments in oil and gas for the foreseeable future. That’s in stark contrast to calls almost a year ago by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to forgo investment in fossil fuels in the race to a net-zero emissions world….

Gulf oil Producers, Decarbonization and net zero

Gulf oil producers do not envisage a post-2050 world devoid of hydrocarbons, even though two of the region’s biggest producers, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and 2060, respectively. Reconciling their future environmental commitments with their current reliance on hydrocarbons is going to be an arduous and expensive journey that starts with decarbonizing their oil and gas production to reduce their carbon footprint…

Interview: Jordan’s Foreign Minister Gives His Take On The War

14 March 2003 Ever since UN sanctions were imposed on Iraq, Jordan has been the only gateway to and from Baghdad. Ahead of the last Gulf War, the late King Hussein of Jordan played a major role mediating between Saddam Hussein and the international coalition that eventually drove Iraq out of Kuwait in 1991. Accused of siding with Iraq, Jordan was snubbed by the US, as well as its Gulf…

Neighborly Trade

23 June 2000 Iraq’s trade relations with its Arab neighbors are flourishing. Businessmen from around the region are flocking to Baghdad. Bustling trade fairs reminiscent of the days before sanctions are back. Viewed regionally, economic sanctions seem to be crumbling, as Iraq wends its way back into the Arab economic – although not yet the diplomatic – arena. Since the inauguration of the United Nations oil-for-Food program in 1996 first…