Summary of Week 4

Far from being threatened by recent weak prices, America’s status as an emerging energy superpower has solidified in 2016, weakening OPEC’s grip over the oil market along with Russia’s influence over Europe’s gas supplies.

For US president Trump, the geopolitical environment could look a lot more benign, should the nation’s energy industry continue on its current path. US shale gas’s most far-reaching impact will be most poignantly felt in Russia-EU relations.

Could Russia’s oil and gas exports to Europe be reduced in the face of US LNG exports to Europe? This is focus of next week.