Ones to Watch
Americas: Bilateral US-Venezuela tensions to remain high despite Chevron’s license renewal Sectors: oil and gas Key Risks: business risks; expropriation; sanctions In Venezuela, the three-month extension to Chevron’s license to continue operating its four joint ventures on Venezuelan oil temporarily dispelled fears of an expropriation of its assets amid heightened bilateral tensions and sanctions. On 26 July the US […]
Americas: Puerto Rico to face further protests, heightened political instability risks Sectors: all Key Risks: civil unrest; protests; political stability In Puerto Rico, Governor Ricardo Rossello remains defiant to massive protests calling for his resignation over the so called ‘chatgate’ scandal. On 21 July Rossello announced he would not seek re-election in 2020 and resigned as president of the ruling New Progressive Party […]
Americas: Mexico’s Trans-Isthmus trade corridor to face increasing local opposition Sectors: trade; transport Key Risks: civil unrest; local opposition; business disruption In Mexico, one of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s priority infrastructure projects will continue to face strong local opposition. In early July four members of two indigenous communities located in the Isthmus of […]
Americas: Indigenous protests against oil-related activities intensify in northern Peru Sectors: oil and gas Key Risks: civil unrest; business disruption In Peru, indigenous-led disruptive unrest against oil-related activities appears set to intensify in the northern Loreto region. On 6 July around 400 indigenous protesters took over Station 5 of the state-owned Petroperu’s Norperuano pipeline in […]
Americas: Strikes, unrest against President Morales re-election bid to intensify across Bolivia Sectors: all Key Risks: civil unrest; business disruption In Bolivia, opposition-led action to protest President Evo Morales’ controversial decision to run for a fourth consecutive term is expected to intensify ahead of the 20 October general elections. On 25 June opposition groups in […]
Americas: Violent anti-government protests reignite in Haiti Sectors: all Key Risks: civil unrest; political instability; business disruption In Haiti, violent protests demanding President Jovenel Moise step down will continue to heighten political instability risks as shown by the latest wave of unrest which erupted on 9 June. Since then, at least four people have […]
Americas: Government to support mining sector as local referendums loom in Ecuador Sectors: mining; extractive industries Key Risks: FoP; local referendums; judicial instability In Ecuador, on 13 June the government announced that Australia’s SolGold’s Cascabel project in Imbabura province could become one of the largest mines in the world. Cascabel is in an advanced exploration phase, […]
Americas: Brazilian Supreme Court approves Petrobras divestments; LyondellBasell ends Braskem talks Sectors: oil and gas; petrochemicals Key Risks: business risks; investment climate; frustration of process In Brazil, recent decisions will affect major divestment efforts in the oil and petrochemicals sector. On 4 June LyondelBassell said it had decided to end the 18-month negotiations with engineering […]
Americas: Violent anti-government protests expected to continue in Honduras Sectors: all Key Risks: civil unrest; looting; business disruption; political stability In Honduras, violent anti-government protests and associated road blocks, traffic disruption and looting incidents are expected to continue in Tegucigalpa and other main urban centres at least on 3 and 4 June. The fresh round […]
Americas: Mexico’s government moves on AHMSA, Pemex amid crackdown on corruption Sectors: all Key Risks: economic and business risks; corruption; confiscation In Mexico, leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) is intensifying the crackdown on corruption. On 27 May the Finance Ministry stated it had frozen the bank accounts of steelmaker AHMSA and of former […]
Americas: Cristina Kirchner shocks Argentina’s electoral landscape with vice-presidential bid Sectors: all Key Risks: policy continuity; electoral uncertainty In Argentina, the government and the opposition Alternativa Federal (Federal Alternative) Peronist coalition are expected to react to former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner surprise move to run for the vice-presidency in the upcoming 27 October general […]
Americas: Pemex to build Mexico’s Dos Bocas refinery, private sector’s role remains uncertain Sectors: oil & gas Key Risks: economic and business risks; investment climate In Mexico, concerns over the role of the private sector in the oil and gas industry under leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) continue. On 9 May AMLO announced […]