Authored by Dave Forest via OilPrice.com,
One of the most important power tales this yr has been Russia’s Rosneft shopping for India’s Essar Oil – giving the Russian firm a agency grip on one of many world’s largest emerging oil and gas markets.
And this previous week, that story received extra complicated. With Rosneft putting one other huge deal — drawing in one other heavyweight power nation.
China.
Rosneft announced Friday it’s promoting a big chunk of its fairness to Chinese buyers. In this case, little-known exploration and manufacturing agency CEFC China Energy.
Although few buyers know CEFC, the corporate is bringing vital capital to the deal. With the agency agreeing to pay $9 billion to accumulate a 14.16 % stake in Rosneft.
The deal is historic in being the primary main buy-in by China into the Russian oil and fuel sector (though Chinese companies have been concerned in financing LNG export projects within the Russian Arctic).
Showing the power of the ever-growing ties between Russia and China within the power area.
Rosneft and CEFC have been on the middle of that burgeoning relationship. With the 2 corporations having signed a deal this previous September for long-term provide of Russian crude into China.
This week’s fairness buy additional cements these enterprise ties. And exhibits that China sees Russia as a important ally within the power recreation going ahead.
But there are implications nicely past these two nations. With China now having backdoor entry into markets like India — by means of Rosneft’s recently-acquired holdings in that nation.
That’s a essential improvement for the world power image. Given that Chinese corporations haven’t immediately gained a lot entry into India — regardless of the nation being probably the most necessary rising gamers on the power stage.
Ownership in Rosneft might assist change that. And might open up alternatives in different elements of the world — with Rosneft presently having operations in locations starting from Egypt to Brazil to Venezuela.
An intriguing aspect observe to the story: CEFC is shopping for the Rosneft stake from Glencore, and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. Who reportedly bought the curiosity simply 9 months in the past — for $12 billion.
That means these holders are taking a 25% loss on the sale, lower than a yr after shopping for in. But within the meantime, Glencore was capable of strike a profitable deal to commerce Rosneft’s Russian crude — in all probability making up for the losses on the Rosneft fairness, after which some.
All of which exhibits simply how complicated issues are on this rapidly-changing nook of the power world. Watch for extra China-Russia power offers — and rising affect from these two power superpowers in different key markets like India.
SOURCE: – Read complete story here.
