After decades of growing rich on oil exports, Riyadh recognizes that it must adapt to a changing climate and global economy if the Kingdom—and Saudi leaders are betting big. In the last half-decade, Saudi Arabia has deliberately set out to realize a green economy and achieve an energy transition that …
Read More »Azerbaijan’s green shift: Energy transition, COP29 commitments, and US collaboration
The following article is based on research conducted under the State Department’s Title VIII Fellowship, for the Black Sea Program at MEI. During summer 2024, the author traveled to Baku and Karabakh and interviewed 15 policymakers from various government ministries, the private sector, academia, the parliament, and energy agencies. Azerbaijan …
Read More »Powering Politics: The Crucial Role of Energy Security in the U.S. Presidential Race
In the run-up to the next U.S. presidential elections, energy security is becoming an increasingly important issue. Candidates’ suggested methods for improving energy security are being closely examined as they present their energy agendas. While some place greater emphasis on attaining energy independence, others give priority to more general goals …
Read More »Powering up: Turkey-Iraq transmission line is part of a broader strategic shift
On July 21, 2024, Baghdad inaugurated a new power line connecting Turkey and Iraq to handle Turkish electricity imports. This 115-kilometer (71-mile) transmission line is expected to deliver 300 megawatts of energy to a power station west of Mosul with the aim of supplying northern Iraq, including the regions of Nineveh, Salahuddin, and …
Read More »Iran’s Renewable Energy Aspirations and Geopolitical Challenges
Iran has realized the value of its vast renewable energy potential—but serious international and institutional obstacles threaten to derail Tehran’s green energy plans before they gain momentum. Although Iran is one of the world’s largest producers of fossil fuels, the Islamic Republic has increasingly focused on renewable energy to address its growing …
Read More »Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions: U.S. and EU Strategies for the New President
Both the United States and the European Union have expressed interest in constraining Iran’s nuclear program—but negotiations are fraught with risk, and require a willing partner in Tehran in order to achieve real progress. With the signing of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to suspend its nuclear …
Read More »Iran needles the West with its growing oil production goals
Iran says it will produce 4m bpd Sceptics say it is an election ploy Exports using a ‘shadow fleet’ Iran has said it intends to raise its oil output to 4 million barrels per day from about 3.5 million bpd currently. Industry experts are sceptical about Tehran’s ambitions and say …
Read More »Untangling the Motives Behind Iran’s New Energy Agreements
Beset by an unprecedented domestic energy crisis, Iran has sought to cement foreign energy deals and investment, to varied success. Though the country faces a raft of international sanctions and several major geopolitical hurdles, Iran’s oil and gas sector has seen a significant expansion in recent months—a period of growth marked by …
Read More »SCARCITY & SECURITY: EUROPEAN IMPACT OF BIDEN’S LNG DECISION
Biden’s LNG freeze makes little sense from both European and the US energy security perspectives. It won’t promote a green energy transition. Most energy experts acknowledge that LNG is the principal bridge fuel necessary for a green future. And if American LNG is not readily available, it will be replaced …
Read More »Iran Renews Iraq Gas Contract Amid Production Uncertainty
Despite a persistent and alarming deficit in its natural gas production, Iran recently chose to renew gas export contracts with Iraq – a decision that can have severe consequences for its own energy needs. While Iran boasts having the second largest natural gas reserves in the world, its production capacity …
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