Players in the energy game

OPEC
1. Qatar
2. Kuwait
3. Iraq
4. Iran
5. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries has 12 members
6. Angola
7. Venezuela
8. Saudi Arabia
9. OPEC's influence is now weaker than it was in previous decades because some significant oil producers have decided not to join the organisation. These include Russia, Norway, Mexico and the USA
10. Ecuador
11. Nigeria
12. Algeria
13. Libya
14. UAE
15. OPEC holds two-thirds of the world's oil reserves, and in 2008 accounted for 36% of the world's oil production
16. It has been accused of holding back production in order to drive up oil prices
17. There are many who doubt whether OPEC has achieved more than the first of it's aims
18. To ensure an efficient, economic and regular supply of oil to consuming nations
19. To stabilise oil prices and eliminate harmful and unnecessary price fluctuations
20. To protect the interests of member countries, individually and collectively
China is a particularly interesting case in that its rapid industrialisation and voracious demand for energy have turned it from a net exporter of oil to a net imported
Newly industrialising economies such as China are beginning to flex their muscles in the global energy arena
Recently, however, some new players have emerged
The most powerful players of stakeholders in the global supply of energy are the oil-producing and exporting countries (OPEC), some of the oil-producing countries outside OPEC (e.g USA, Russia and Mexico) and a number of TNCs, most notably oil giants such as Shell, Exxon Mobil and BP
The top 20 oil companies
1. At least eight of them are state-owned companies, so they do not really qualify as TNCs. They are private rather than public sector companies
  1. They are government controlled and perhaps more active in the realms of geopolitics
2. The remaining companies are relatively free of direct political influence and driven rather more by economic considerations and their share-holders
3. Most of these 20 companies are involved in a range of operations of which pumping oil is only one. They are also engaged in transporting and refining oil and in petrochemical industries
  1. Exploring for new reserves and looking for new sources of energy are also important. These companies have to plan for when the oil runs out
4. Their diversity and presence in many countries ensures that TNCs, and other further down the rankings, will continue to be key players in an increasingly tough game

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Players in the energy game

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	Created by Jodie Goodacre over 11 years ago