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Asian National Oil Company Investments Abroad: Industry Trends and Impacts on Development

Asian national oil companies (NOCs) are actively seeking access to oil and gas reserves around the world. Significant investments, often with the backing of home governments, are being made in Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia, Canada and beyond. This trend will have implications not only for the energy security of other importing countries but also for international relations, development prospects in host countries and the opportunities for rival oil companies. Our project examines the related development, industry and political issues, questioning a number of assumptions made by western governments and media about the impacts of Asian NOC energy investments.

The project will offer a forum for constructive exchange amongst Asian NOCs, the governments and NOCs of producing countries, and the international oil companies. In collaboration with several other programmes at Chatham House, research will assess the impact of Asian NOC foreign investment by conducting objective, factual analysis of the impact of their investments on the ground.

We held the first in a series of workshops in London, 20-21 November 2006. This was organized jointly with the China Institute of International Studies and focused on oil and gas investment trends around the world with a view to understanding the different drivers, mandates and strengths of Asian NOCs.

In March 2007, we published a working background paper, Trends in Asian National Oil Company Investment Abroad and a briefing paper entitled Oil for Asia which analyses the findings of our research and discussions.

A November 2007 Update Working Paper is also now available.

In March 2008, the Africa Programme at Chatham House published their research on China's relations in Angola as part of this project - Angola and China: A Pragmatic Partnership.

Meetings

New Trends in Eastern and Western Oil Company Investments Abroad and their Impact on Developing Countries
A Chatham House-CIIS expert workshop, 20-21 November 2006

• Agenda
• Asian oil companies around the globe: regional investment maps

Contact

To find out more about this project please contact:

Professor Paul Stevens, Senior Research Fellow, EEDP
+44 (0)20 7314 3618
Email Paul Stevens