MenuUkrainian intelligence has reported that Russian energy giant Gazprom is establishing its own private military company (PMC). The rationale for an energy company establishing a security force is at least vaguely plausible given the need to defend fixed assets in trouble spots. Western energy companies like Exxon and BP do the same. However, Gazprom is not establishing
Monthly Archives: February 2023
US Grid Is A Magnet For Terrorists: How Can We Solve This?
Many people take the security of our national grid for granted. They should not. Since the days of the Soviet threat during the Cold War, the US grid was in the scope of foreign militaries. In addition to China and Russia, Iran and North Korea drew contingency plans to destroy our sources of electricity. Yet,
The Biden Administration Should Learn Japan’s Painful Lessons On Hydrogen
Clean hydrogen has long been a promising but unrealized green energy source. A bipartisan infrastructure bill introduced last year suggests allocating 7 billion dollars to create clean hydrogen hubs. Read more here.
Tesla’s Crash And Musk’s Acquittal Is Good News For Electric Vehicles
Elon Musk was acquitted by a US district court over a tweet that forced him to resign as Tesla’s executive chairman in 2018. Now, fresh off his victory in acquiring the very same Twitter for an inflated price, Elon Musk and Tesla were slammed by a historically low 2022 earnings report which prompted a 70% decline in stock in 2022.
McCarthy’s Concessions May Endanger Biden’s Energy Policy
Kevin McCarthy’s quest to become Speaker of the House ended after 15 votes with many concessions granted to the hardline, America first, Freedom Caucus within the GOP House delegation that prevented his unchallenged ascent. The extent of these concessions took weeks to emerge and drew controversy. Notably, Marjorie “Jewish space lasers” Taylor Greene received seats on the powerful Homeland
The Future Battlefields: Rare Earth Elements
Sweden’s state-owned mining enterprise LKAB may have given the West hope in its quest for energy independence and containing China. Two weeks ago, LKAB announced it had discovered nearly one million metric tons of rare earth elements (REE). Read more here.
African Energy May Save Europe
After 2022-2023’s unusually warm winter, Europe may be winning its energy struggle with Russia, but a lasting solution for energy-hungry Europe has not arrived yet. While Europe’s ad-hoc responses to Russian embargos have succeeded in changing one of the cornerstones of its economy, they are neither systematic nor sustainable. Read more here.
Congress Pushes US Energy Transition Through Tax Credits — But Will It Work?
If left to market forces, commodities and industries tend to be more efficient and grow faster. This Economics 101 maxim now enjoys solid bipartisan support rejuvenating the supply chain, manufacturing, and utilization of solar panels in renewable power plants to fuel the energy transition of the 21st century. Read more here.
Europe Is Winning The Energy War Against Russia
The invasion in Ukraine was supposed to be long over by now – by Kremlin’s count. After the first three days, Russia’s “short victorious war” would end with a Quisling government in and a parade through Kyiv which would have cemented Russian President Vladimir Putin’s legacy and the Russian empire redux of Eastern Orthodox Slavs:
Presidential Elections: A Boost For Kazakhstan’s Investment Climate
2022’s energy price convulsions did not start with Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia. Another Russian neighbor, Kazakhstan, ushered in the year with protests triggered by higher fuel prices. These protests escalated into violence and rioting and sparked a brief Commonwealth Security Treaty Organization intervention, led by Russia. Read more here.