World Energy Outlook: The IEA’s winners and losers
The US will overtake leading producers within the next five years, says WEO
The US will by 2017 overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s biggest oil producer and, even sooner, surpass Russia in natural gas output. That was the headline-grabber today as the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its World Energy Outlook 2012, a dossier of energy trends for the next 23 years. As befits a 668-page dossier, though, there are devils aplenty in the details. Global energy trade patterns are undergoing a major shift – and not everyone will benefit from them. Taking the IEA’s forecasts at face value, here is Petroleum Economist’s breakdown of who wins and who loses if the world’s energy evolves as the agency expects. Winners Market principles Countries can find their own ene
Also in this section
23 April 2026
The addition of an oil pipeline to the Power of Siberia 2 gas project could ensure deliveries of Russian oil to China, materially shorten logistics lines between West Siberia and final customers, and—amid disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—offer a land-based export route that reduces exposure to maritime chokepoints
23 April 2026
There is a clear push to bolster exports to Asia amid uncertainty around its North American neighbour, but there are limits to the benefits from the energy crisis
23 April 2026
Shell made the play-opening discovery in Namibia’s Orange basin back in 2022, but its next well could decide whether the project can actually be commercialised
22 April 2026
The failure of OMV Petrom’s keenly watched exploration campaign at Bulgaria’s Han Asparuh block highlights the Black Sea’s uneven track record, despite major successes like Neptun Deep and Sakarya






