Energy and natural resources

1. What was the purpose of the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline?

pipeline was develop to help Chad a very poor country export oil through Cameroon and use the money to fight poverty, with international support by world bank and oversight.

2. What does Shaffer say about energy-related wars after WWII?

She says interstate wars over energy have decreased since WWII, because global markets meet energy demand. This is because oil and gas are traded globally, so countries don’t need to fight for them.

3. What percentage of Sweden’s energy comes from wood?

22% of Sweden’s energy comes from wood (biomass).

4. What is James Fearon’s argument about civil war and energy?

Countries that depend a lot on resources like oil are more likely to have civil wars, because oil money can weaken governments, cause corruption, and fund rebel groups and government violence.

5. How much global energy goes through the Strait of Hormuz?

About 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes through it.

6. Since 2015, which got more investment: renewables or fossil fuels?

Renewables like wind and solar got more investment.

7. What caused the rise in pipelines in the 21st century?

• More demand for gas and oil

• High prices

• Efforts to avoid relying on risky regions

• New countries after the soviet union collapsed

• Landlocked countries producing oil

• Desire for energy security

8. Which country produces the most energy from the Earth?

Kenya with 44% of its electricity from geothermal energy.

10. What is the learning curve and levelized cost of energy (LCOE)?

• Learning curve: the more energy produced, the cheaper it gets.

• LCOE: the total cost of making energy, divided by how much it produces.

11. Why did Azerbaijan choose Georgia and Turkey over Russia or Iran?

Azerbaijan chose Georgia and Turkey for oil exports to reduce political risk from Russia and Iran and align with the West. So Azerbaijan felt safer sending oil through them and helps connect with the west. Also because Georgia and Turkey are weaker and less powerful than Russia and Iran.

12. Does energy supply reduce conflict between states (Shaffer)?

No. Shaffer says peace must exist first before pipelines can work. Just because countries trade energy doesn’t mean they’ll be peaceful. Some pipeline routes also cause problems because they follow old colonial paths.

13. What’s the link between democracy and rentier states

Countries that make money from resources like oil often aren’t very democratic, because governments don’t need to rely on taxes from citizens, which weakens the citizens’ influence.

14. Why was the IEA created in 1974?

It was established after the 1973 oil crisis to help Western countries deal with oil shortages and ensure energy security, and reduce dependence on OPEC.

15. What happened in the 2019 drone attack on Saudi Aramco?

In 2019, a drone attack struck Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia’s national oil company) by the Houthi rebels from Yemen, leading to a major disruption in oil production and a global impact (5.7 million barrels of oil exposed energy infrastructure). This shows how weak energy systems can be during conflict.

16. What are the main problems with nuclear energy?

It’s expensive, creates waste, and people worry it could lead to nuclear weapons.

17. What is Barry Buzan’s view on environment and security?

He says climate change is now a global security threat because of pollution and deforestation, not just an environmental issue.

18. What’s the problem with tar sands, oil shale, and coal?

They can pollute more than regular oil and make climate change worse. Synthetic fuels like tar sands and oil emit more CO2 and can cause ecological damage.

19. What are the 3 parts and 5 solutions for energy security according to Shaffer?

Three parts:

1. Reliable supply

2. Affordable price

3. Environmentally friendly

Five ways to improve it:

1. Use different energy types

2. Buy from different countries

3. Store emergency fuel

4. Build backup systems

5. Use flexible fuel options

20. What’s the difference between oil and gas as commodities?

Oil is traded worldwide. Gas isn’t fully global yet, but LNG ships are changing that due to increased use of LNG tanker shipments.