⌝ Arno Saffran | 2 Minute Read

The West's new pacts acknowledge, but cannot quickly undo, China's long-term strategic dominance of the entire critical minerals value chain.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

The recent ExxonMobil-Gabon MoU reveals a long-term calculus where success will be determined by the quality of stakeholder alignment, not merely the technical bid.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 2 Minute Read

By understanding China’s strategy and building early relationships, Western companies can capitalize on critical minerals partnerships and lead in China’s global expansion.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 2 Minute Read

The Source of Eurasia’s Oil. Current data on Eurasia’s major producers and regional partners.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

UK sanctions have triggered a fundamental pivot at Yulong Petrochemical, locking in its reliance on Russian crude. The refiner's success now hinges on its ability to cultivate a resilient network of aligned partners to secure and legitimize these flows.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 10 Minute Read

The real story of the Middle Corridor isn't just about trade diversification; it's the most significant, untapped business development arena for EPCI, infrastructure, and extractive companies today. The winners won't be those who wait for the FID, but those who shape the deals now.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

The most effective leaders in extractives treat informal signals—regulatory nuance, shifting political tone—as critical data. Their advantage lies in systematizing how this intelligence shapes commercial strategy long before a tender is drafted.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

Ukraine's $486bn reconstruction and critical mineral reserves are drawing early capital. Yet, the ultimate advantage will lie with investors who are currently focused on building the foundational relationships and local consensus required for durable entry.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 2 Minute Read

The structural shift in the Baker Hughes rig count from oil to gas is a clear signal: BD leaders must now align their strategies and key relationships with the decade-long gas investment cycle now taking shape.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

Ukraine's mineral wealth is assured. Its development, however, hinges on a scarcer resource: the relationship brokers and agreement architects who build the necessary bridges of trust and structure.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

Sanctions have rerouted Russian crude, not eliminated it. This creates a complex market defined by new intermediaries and payment systems. For strategic deal-makers, the critical task is mapping this opaque landscape to identify both risk and opportunity.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

Yergin’s framework shows that victory in major oil and gas projects is not won on technical merit alone. It is secured by leaders who can architect stakeholder alignment and navigate geopolitical risk with the same precision they bring to a commercial negotiation.

⌝ Andriy Shevchenko | 5 Minute Read

Ukraine is ready for investment on new terms. The government has significantly improved and liberalised the system for issuing mineral extraction permits, with over 140 sites planned for electronic auctions.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

Nigeria's upstream potential is ultimately a question of alignment. Its development hinges on pairing international capital with in-country partners who can navigate the complex stakeholder landscape to structure durable joint ventures and secure decisive pre-tender positioning.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

The LetterOne-Harbour Energy stake illustrates how sophisticated energy investments are ultimately enabled by trusted relationships between operators and capital partners - alliances that can structure arrangements to meet both commercial objectives and regulatory requirements.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

How business development leaders and country managers can position an OFS firm as a trusted partner in the operator’s boardroom before the technical evaluation even begins.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

Navigating energy sector deals with a blended strategy. We examine the Strategic Collaboration Model—how industry leaders balance competitive positioning with high-stakes partnerships.

⌝ Arno Saffran | 5 Minute Read

As lenders decarbonise, E&P operators face a new financial reality. The OFS sales leaders who will win are commercial strategists who can speak the language of both operational performance and emissions reduction.