Now this is interesting and a big thanks to Adam for sending me this one. The deal here that perked me up is this move by Exxon might be tied into Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s letter (which I posted below) in regards to Karzai doing deals with China on oil contracts. Rohrabacher’s views on supporting the new ‘Northern Alliance’ as Karzai does deals with the Taliban was noted earlier on the blog, and Karzai definitely does not like this guy. lol
I would be interested in any other theories or speculations as to why Exxon would be willing to risk it in these areas. Is this the ‘Kurdistan’ of Afghanistan once all the western forces move on and the Taliban come back to restart where they left off? –Matt
Exxon considers oil/gas exploration in Afghanistan
Mon, Jul 2 2012
By Anna Driver
Exxon Mobil Corp is contemplating participation in an oil and gas tender of six blocks in northern Afghanistan, a company spokesman said on Monday.
Access to the world’s oil reserves for companies like Exxon has gotten tougher in recent years as governments assert tighter control of their resources. Opportunity exists, however, in countries like Afghanistan or Iraq where foreign oil companies’ budgets and expertise are needed.
“Esso Exploration International Ltd’s expression of interest in the Afghan-Tajik Basin tender is part of our ongoing evaluation of oil and gas resources around the world,” Alan Jeffers, a spokesman for Exxon, said.
Afghanistan is seeking bidders for the exploration, development and production of oil and gas in six blocks in the western portion of the Afghan-Tajik Basin of northern Afghanistan, according to its Web site.
Bids are due in late October and winning bidders will be announced in late 2012, the government said.
Afghanistan signed a deal late last year with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) for the development of oil blocks in the Amu Darya basin in the north, a project expected to earn billions of dollars over two decades for the war torn state.
That agreement was the first international oil production agreement reached by the Afghan government for several decades.
Shares of Exxon fell 68 cents to $84.88 in midday New York Stock Exchange trading. The energy sector was broadly lower on a $2 per barrel decline in crude oil prices.
Story here.——————————————————
***PRESS RELEASE***
Rep. Rohrabacher to Investigate Karzai Family-China Corrupt Oil Deal
Washington, Jun 27 – Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, has expressed grave concern about the recent deal made by the Karzai family and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), to develop oil and natural gas in the Amu Darya Basin of Afghanistan. He intends to hold a hearing into how the state-owned Communist Chinese enterprise colluded with the notoriously corrupt administration of President Hamid Karzai to gain a foothold in a strategic part of Afghanistan.