MenuIn the first weeks of 2022, Kazakhstan experienced its most intense protests since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The causes of the turmoil in the country – like any major upheaval – are multi-faceted and were long in the making. Read the full article…
Category Archives: Energy Security
Western Reluctance on Nord Stream II Gas Pipeline, SWIFT Emboldens Russia
As the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine grows ever more likely, Berlin’s hesitancy to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and other pressure points, such as the SWIFT bank transfer system, erodes deterrence and may invite Russian aggression. Read the full article…
Kazakhstan Crisis, Part 2: The Path Forward
Overcoming recent events in Kazakhstan will require wisdom and great diplomatic skills from the country’s leadership. Read the full article…
Kazakhstan Crisis, Part 1: Drivers and Implications
As with any major social and geostrategic upheaval, the ongoing events in Kazakhstan are driven by several dynamics. Read the full article…
China And Russia Make Critical Mineral Grabs in Africa While the U.S. Snoozes
Countries across the globe are pursuing zero-emission goals, which have created a bottleneck of critical rare earth elements (REE) such as cobalt, copper, and lithium. These are essential components in producing renewable energy technology, from electric vehicle batteries to wind turbine blades. Read the full article…
With New German Gigafactory, Tesla Looks To Build On Big Lead In Surging European EV Sales
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is occurring apace; sales in Europe are accelerating thanks to early adopter enthusiasm and government subsidies – given the shift in government and EU-wide cleaner energy initiatives. According to Schmidt Automotive, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales will reach a market share of 60% in Western Europe by 2030, or 8.4 million
Germany And France Clash Over EU’s New “Green” Classifications for Nuclear Energy and Natural Gas
A new European Union (EU) proposal to treat new nuclear power and natural gas investments as “green” is sparking controversy over the taxonomy of sustainable energy, provoking a clash between Paris and Berlin. On Sunday, the German government slammed the European Commission’s attempt to classify nuclear investments as climate-friendly, despite their reliability and emissions-free power generation. Read
New Energy Saving Glass Technology May Cut Power Bills
An international team of scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore has created a new and highly energy-efficient form of “smart window.” Their proprietary material, when coated on glass window panels, reacts and adjusts to light to regulate ambient temperatures. Continued
Russian Aggression Puts Kyiv, Nord Stream 2 In Danger
Nord Stream 2 (NS2), Europe’s most contentious infrastructure project, seems to have survived the Putin-Biden teleconference and is likely to be approved by the German regulator. This outcome may be the purpose of the recent Russian troop mobilization. Europe’s and Germany’s dependence on Russian gas deepens and may appear irreversible, with long-term geo-strategic consequences the U.S. leaders and
Russia’s Threats, Energy Crisis Put Ukraine on The Brink
Russia is escalating pressure on Ukraine, threatening to drag the U.S. and NATO into their worst confrontation with Moscow since the Cold War. A devastating combination of external and internal threats now imperil Ukraine’s security, with energy playing a key part. Continued