M.Econ. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2016 / Nigeria has earned huge revenues from the exploitation of oil resources in the Niger Delta since the discovery of oil in 1956. These huge economic gains have however, not been translated into sustainable growth and development. The Niger Delta is characterized by poverty and squalor which has been attributed to environmental degradation from the activities of oil exploitation by the Nigerian government and multi-national companies in the area and also poor governance. This study adopts an exploratory case study method to explores the interrelationship between Oil Exploitation, Environmental Impacts and Conflicts in the Niger Delta and tries to answer the question what is the nature of and inter-relationships between conflicts associated with oil exploitation in the Niger Delta Area? The Niger Delta area has experienced a lot of oil related conflicts over the decades, which have manifested in the form of peaceful protests, violence, combat with Nigerian military forces, rise of youth militia groups, illegal oil markets, vandalism of oil pipelines, hijacking of offshore and onshore oil vessels, hostage taking, kidnapping of expatriates and oil company workers in the region. Conflicts have also taken the form of inter-communal conflicts, intra-communal conflicts, inter-state conflicts and conflicts between the Nigerian Government Oil Companies and the affected communities. The root causes of conflicts include; the high dependence of the Niger government on oil revenue for economic growth, marginalisation and underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region, struggle for resource control and derivation formula, existing systems of neo-patrimonialism, corruption, land decrees and poor governance. The major findings include; the presence of crude oil in the Niger Delta is strongly linked to conflicts experienced in the area, rent seeking practices such as oil theft and bunkering, political thuggery, corruption and the struggle for economic and political power by political elites characterise the Niger Delta region. / XL2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Strategic Marketing, 2016 / Despite the continued popularity of social media (SM) platforms globally, limited research on their challenges and opportunities has been done in the South African (SA) petroleum industry context. A semi-automated qualitative study was conducted with the objective of gathering data from the five largest petroleum companies in SA through semi-structured interviews using a purposive sample to ascertain these challenges and opportunities. The data were gathered; pre-tested, transcribed, and then analysed using NVivo 11 software. The research findings of this study show that the key challenges marketing practitioners encounter in SA include the lack of leadership buy-in as well as the absence of risk of mitigation plans when participating on the dialogue medium. The key opportunities include real-time customer engagement, ease of market development, data access, data mining, and wider customer reach. Based on the findings, a framework for implementing SM strategies in the SA petroleum industry context is proposed to help marketers in mitigating the failure risk of SM campaigns contributing positively to their bottom line. Recommendations obtained from participants include implementation of processes and procedures for customer engagement through social media, exploitation of strategy partners who are already active in social media, and the development of content strategies. Limitations are highlighted and future research areas that can be used by the petroleum industry and contribute to the body of knowledge are recommended. Key words: Integrated marketing communication, petroleum, promotional mix, social media, South Africa. / GR2018

This study is concerned with the relationship between the Iranian Oil Industry and Iranian economy. Oil revenues have been the largest source for financing economic development plans and for obtaining foreign exchange. In this paper, the history of the Iranian oil industry is summarized, and five previously implemented developmental plans are analyzed. Additionally, the impact of oil on some economic sectors and its contribution to GNP is examined. The strong correlation between oil reserves and the economy may bring a problem in the future when oil reserves run out. Iranian economists believe that the economy must be industrialized in order to reduce the economy's reliance on oil. This paper recommends that all the economic sectors, particularly agriculture, should receive careful consideration, even though the national goal is to industrialize the economy.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries / Department: Economics.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH / Bibliography: leaves 75-76. / by Oscar Salazar Rodriguez. / M.C.P.

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This study was designed to determine whether Time, Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report news magazines expressed. opinions in their coverage of four topics concerning the 1979 energy crisis: United States government, OPEC, oil companies, and consumers. A content analysis of all stories in the three magazines from May to December 1979 indicated that Time was the most opinionated, U.S. News & World Report was second, and Newsweek was most neutral in coverage of the energy crisis. The percentage of article space allotted had no apparent effect upon the magazines' handling of those topics.

Since no local crude oil sources exist, every drop of petroleum consumed in Oregon originates from outside sources and is distributed multi-modally to consumers. As population continues to increase and oil sources dwindle, this reliance may add financial and environmental risks to Oregonian' s quality of life. This paper examines Oregon's oil distribution system, and analyzes the risks oil movements pose in the state. A comprehensive understanding of oil distribution in Oregon can best be gained geographically. Pipelines, ships, barges, railroads and trucks play different roles in this system, yet data for these transport modes are maintained by different groups and unstandardized. Therefore, the data must be normalized to present a map of how oil is being moved around the state. This study sets all levels to a barrels (42 U.S. gallons) per month (assumed 30 days) standard. Oil's role in the economy of our state, most noticeably in the sale of motor gasoline, creates different types of risk. The most obvious risk results from transportation, and Oregon is plagued daily by unintended releases. A second type of risk, supply risk, exists because of our reliance on the petroleum networks of Alaska, Washington and California, and was evident during the 1974 oil embargo. Lastly, economic risk should theoretically be present since Oregon is a downstream consumer from adjacent states. During times of shortages, Oregon should be at the mercy of those who provide its supply. The data do not support this, but suggest that oil is purely a global commodity, and price and supply are determined worldwide in response to typical marketing forces. The distribution systems detailed herein are dynamic, and outside forces such as the proposed export of Alaskan crude oil, the increased exploration of offshore oil fields, and the development of a cross-Cascades pipeline may alter this scheme. Oregonians can ensure the most effective petroleum distribution systems only by understanding them and their associated risks.

This study attempts to resolve two important issues. First, it investigates the diversification benefit of crude oil for equities. Second, it examines whether or not crude oil derivatives transactions by oil and gas producers can change shareholders' wealth. With these two major goals in mind, I study the risk and return profile of crude oil, the value effect of crude oil derivatives transactions, and the systematic risk exposure effect of crude oil derivatives transactions. In contrast with previous studies, this study applies the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI) methodology to measure the risk and return profile of crude oil. The results show that crude oil is negatively correlated with stocks so adding crude oil into a portfolio with equities can provide significant diversification benefits for the portfolio. Given the diversification benefit of crude oil mixed with equities, this study then examines the value effect of crude oil derivatives transactions by oil and gas producers. Differing from traditional corporate risk management literature, this study examines corporate derivatives transactions from the shareholders' portfolio perspective. The results show that crude oil derivatives transactions by oil and gas producers do impact value. If oil and gas producing companies stop shorting crude oil derivatives contracts, company stock prices increase significantly. In contrast, if oil and gas producing companies start shorting crude oil derivatives contracts, stock prices drop marginally significantly. Thus, hedging by producers is not necessarily good. This paper, however, finds that changes in policy regarding crude oil derivatives transactions cannot significantly affect the beta of shareholders' portfolios. The value effect, therefore, cannot be attributed to any systematic risk exposure change of shareholders' portfolios. Market completeness, transaction costs, and economies of scale are identified as possible sources of value effect. The following conclusions have been obtained in this study. Crude oil provides significant diversification benefits for equities. In the presence of market imperfections, crude oil derivatives transactions by oil and gas producers may change shareholders' wealth, even though crude oil derivatives transactions by oil and gas producers do not have significant effect on the systematic risk exposures of companies.