A new scramble for African oil? Historical, political and business perspectives

Résumé du document

While Africa is often referred to as a loser in the globalization process, natural resources in oil and gas turn the continent into a very interesting one for Western oil-dependent economies. It has been suggested that Africa is witnessing a 'New Scramble' with China and the United States, competing for access to Africa's resources. This article aims to scrutinize the claim that Africa is facing a New Scramble, analyzing the nature of the economic and political changes at work, the importance of Africa's oil and the likely effects of the new oil rush. This article focuses on the US, China and some developing countries, such as Malaysia, Brazil, India or South Korea, who are also making efforts to secure access to African oil resources.

Extraits

[...] This article aims to scrutinize the claim that Africa is facing a New Scramble, analyzing the nature of the economic and political changes at work, the importance of Africa's oil, and the likely effects of the new oil rush. New Scramble for Africa Over the last decade, there is evidence of a greater involvement of both China and the US in Africa. - In 2006, China was Africa's third most important trading partner, behind the US and France. In of Chinese crude oil imports derived from African oil-producing countries. - African oil imports to the United States account for some 20% of total US imports. The US already imports more oil from Africa than from the Persian Gulf. [...]

[...] New Scramble from a business perspective African oil and gas resources offer great commercial advantages to international oil firms. That is probably why African oil production over the next decade will be expanded at a quicker pace than the world average. Unlike to Middle Eastern countries, African countries are willing to develop oil production at a very fast speed. These country are much attractive to foreign investors and their fiscal regimes as well as the low commercial costs of oil exploration and production increase their attractiveness. [...]

[...] Some key features of the nineteenth century scramble are different from the current one. The most important one being the role of Africans in the process. Africans now act as decision-makers. The 1960s Scramble from African oil was much more neo-colonialist than the current one. Former colonial powers secured privileged access in their former colonies ( Algeria for France, Nigeria for the UK It is African governments, not external actors, who dictate terms for foreign investors today. From a historical perspective, the claim of a Scramble” can hardly be supposed. [...]

[...] Oil revenues make the country richer ( Libya for instance ) but investments in the oil sector do not generate employment as this is a business that require few workers. Petro-states suffer from the resource curse. They have lots of natural resources but they still experience economic underdevelopment, political mismanagement, bad governance These oil-producing countries failed to establish stabilization funds aiming at providing for future generations. Oil sector investment is unlikely to generate economic prosperity short of radical solutions. Conclusion The existence of a New Scramble or a US-Chinese race should be treated with some caution and the use of terms such as scramble and race is perhaps misleading. [...]

[...] Similarly, China developed a new strategic partnership with African countries ( e.g. the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Not only is energy security Beijing's engagement in Africa primary motive, it is also diplomatic and economic. First, China seeks African supports for its emerging status of leading power and it tries to undermine Taiwan's diplomatic recognition in the continent. Second, China's booming economy requires a lot of African raw materials and a market for its goods. The US government used diplomatic instruments, economic incentives and military aid to help develop their oil interests in Africa. [...]