Demand for the world’s most important commodity, oil, has crumbled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fourth week of April this year, the US oil prices plunged to below zero for first time in history. The fundamentals of the oil industry are not determined merely by demand and supply. Geopolitics, the politics of exchange rates and paper trading also impact its performance. This could be, by far, the greatest crisis the oil industry has ever faced impacting upstream and downstream activities. It is estimated that more than 400 industry-related companies worldwide will not be able to bear the production cost at US$20 per barrel.
This conversation between Dr S Narayan (Visiting Senior Research Fellow, ISAS) and Mr Vikram Mehta (Executive Chairman of Brookings India), looks at the impact and challenges that the dive in crude oil price will have on South Asia’s oil and energy sector, as well as the economic impact (consumption and net exports) on India. For India, there is also an urgent need to build linkages and pipelines between oil and gas producers in other parts of the region such as Bangladesh.
Episode 78: Ceasefire Along the Line of Control
Episode 77: India’s Divestment Programme
Episode 76: India's Pakistan Policy
Episode 75: Myanmar’s Military Coup - Implications
Episode 74: India's Vaccine Diplomacy
Episode 73: Decoding The Farmers’ Protests
Episode 72: President Biden and South Asia
Episode 71: Bangladesh and Bhutan Trade - Way Forward
Episode 70: Prospects for South Asia in 2021
Episode 69: Rise of the Right Wing
Episode 68: Sri Lanka’s China Policy - A Continuation or a New Policy Direction?
Episode 67: Religion, Secularism and State in Bangladesh
Episode 66: The Afghan Peace Prospects
Episode 65 : RCEP - The Road Ahead for Regional Trade
Episode 64: Decoding Bihar Election Verdict
Episode 63: The Biden Presidency and South Asia
Episode 62: Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Politics - One Year On
Episode 61: Trade Prospects of South Asia
Episode 60: Political Rumblings in Pakistan
Episode 59: Changing Geopolitics of South Asia
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
In the Great Khan’s Tent
Visualize Meditations
The No-Frills Teacher Podcast
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast