The world is getting a stark lesson on energy geopolitics and energy security in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It’s useful from time to time to view the decisions that major energy exporting nations are making that impact the energy security profile of consumer nations, and the risks of man-made catastrophic supply disruption, including the aftermath of the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

For example, China, as a big oil importer but with a strong industrial policy towards clean energy, will be able to seek favourable trade deals with exporters, in exchange for market access. On the horizon is the shift to new drivetrain technology for mobility. The list of countries that have banned the sale of internal combustion engine cars beyond 2030 is starting to grow impressively.

Digital issues factor into this kind of analysis, which gives rise to the question: how does digital innovation play into the geopolitics of the global oil industry? Digital innovations will increasingly play a role in the geopolitical world of oil and gas, and with unpredictable effects.