Brazil Oil Finds May End Reliance on Middle East

Saudi Arabia's influence as the biggest oil exporter would wane if the fields are as big as advertised, and China and India would become dominant buyers of Persian Gulf oil, said Peter Zeihan, vice president of analysis at Strategic Forecasting in Austin, Texas. Zeihan's firm, which consults for companies and governments around the world, was described in a 2001 Barron's article as ``the shadow CIA.''

Brazil may be pumping ``several million'' barrels of crude daily by 2020, vaulting the nation into the ranks of the world's seven biggest producers, Zeihan said in a telephone interview. The U.S. Navy's presence in the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters would be reduced, leaving the region exposed to more conflict, he said.

EnnNorak - 4/24/2008 5:58:38 PM

+3 Boost

Big export bonanza for Brazil since they run virtually all their cars on cellulosic sugar cane ethanol.

pushrod27 - 4/24/2008 1:27:15 PM

+1 Boost

I hope it's true. I'm really not looking forward to a future of humming electric cars with no manly exhaust rumble.

bimmer - 4/24/2008 1:55:37 PM

+10 Boost

You could always install two (or quad) Bose speakers where the exhaust would be and turn up the volume on loop playing CD with a nice sound of [your preffered] exhaust. :)

bobus - 4/24/2008 5:49:24 PM

+2 Boost

Or just remove the exhaust entirely.

w209w114 - 4/24/2008 2:58:06 PM

+3 Boost

Even if its true we would be many years away from creating the infrastructure that would allow the oil to be used.

Still, we must find a way to end dependence on the Mid-East Oil Mafia.

Chaos29 - 4/24/2008 3:09:38 PM

+7 Boost

Promising, but the US should continue pushing for Solar, wind, water, and earth technologies. Sun, water, wind...sun, water ,wind...The future is clean energy!!!

w209w114 - 4/24/2008 3:32:38 PM

-7 Boost

Captain Planet, hes a hero. gonna cut pollution down to Zero!!!

That show would be a huge hit today. Wouldnt be surprised if they brought it back.

Bmw8ter - 4/24/2008 9:41:43 PM

+1 Boost

"With your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!!!!"

DexDiamonds - 4/24/2008 3:25:34 PM

+3 Boost

Yeah let buildings and cities run on clean energy. I want my car revving on gasoline!

M35MT - 4/24/2008 4:57:26 PM

+2 Boost

Best news I've heard in a while.

neutral - 4/26/2008 6:01:53 PM

+2 Boost

Taxing is the problem eh? The taxing has always been there, even in the late 1990's when gas went for $1/USGallon.

Problem is Bush and his buddies are making a killing on oil. They only have a few months left before their party is over.

Funny that the Bush administration has brought no pressure on OPEC. We have to protect our economy, and oil prices are affecting everything, from food to metals, to travel. We should start freezing all OPEC countries' assets in the US. Tough S*** for them. If they want to screw with our economy, we should screw with theirs.

EL34 - 4/24/2008 6:24:58 PM

0 Boost

Fantasic news and I love Brazil ;-)

toolatetorace - 4/24/2008 10:56:04 PM

+1 Boost

"fixing oil prices " . I remember that from the 70's . Then all of a sudden the oil supply was "fixed" and at times adjusted downward

DW1968 - 4/25/2008 11:07:13 PM

+2 Boost

Oil Shale. http://www.oilshaleexplorationcompany.com/

Although I like Brazil, and they're a good ally of the US, ultimately, we need to create an energy independent future, not only for political reasons, but for ecological reasons, too...so although this might be good news in the mid-term, we should retain our focus on alternative energy systems for the long-term.