In This Issue:

- Prospects for Development of an Asian LNG Trading Hub:

Given the scale of LNG imports into Asia and in light of the efforts of different Asian countries in developing their own LNG trading capabilities there is a possibility of not just one but multiple trading hubs within the region.

- An Unprecedented Change in Mexican Energy Politics:

Continuing a liberalization trend commenced with the signing of NAFTA, Mexico has amended its Political Constitution to allow the participation of private capital in its upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas businesses.

- Russian LNG: Export Liberalization:

Recent legislative actions open the door for LNG export by companies other than Gazprom, and may become a starting point for further dialog on the subject of Russian gas export liberalization.

- Tanzania's Natural Gas Policy:

Tanzania's Natural Gas Policy: a domestic opportunity.

- Pressure on U.S. Crude Oil Export Restrictions Increases along with Domestic Production:

An increasing domestic supply of crude oil has a number of policymakers and members of the oil industry calling for a repeal of the restrictions. Some refiners, however, oppose repeal, arguing that the country is better off keeping U.S. crude oil inside its borders.

- Crude Allegations: Corruption in the Energy Trading Sector:

As trading companies have emerged from relative obscurity to become formidable players in global energy markets, a series of high-profile allegations of corruption involving energy traders has led to increased awareness of potential misconduct in the energy sector by both global financial regulators and parties engaged in international arbitration proceedings.