"Energy Cooperation in the Western Hemisphere is extremely timely, as energy has risen to the forefront among the hemisphere's critical issues. This book captures the essence of these energy issues and discusses the opportunities and challenges ahead for the political leadership in the countries involved. Kudos to Sidney Weintraub and his team of authors."—Guy Caruso, Administrator, Energy Information Administration

". . . provides a comprehensive picture of vital assets and calls attention to the badly needed coordination of policies to promote economic and social development in the region."—Enrique Iglesias, Secretary General, Iberoamerican General Secretariat

". . . Weintraub and his team separate fiction and false promises from reality and viability . . . [and offer] a set of guidelines that, if followed, would translate into a seamless energy platform with large added value for the region."—Luis E. Giusti, Senior Adviser, CSIS, and former CEO, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.

Is there a model for Western Hemisphere energy cooperation? How would individual countries and the hemisphere as a whole benefit from cooperative understandings for hemispheric oil and natural gas? What are the impediments to creating cooperative agreements, and how can the region overcome them? What would be the consequences of not adopting a plan for energy cooperation in the Americas?

Energy Cooperation in the Western Hemisphere examines the state of energy cooperation among Western Hemisphere oil and natural gas producers and the opportunities for greater cooperation. The result of more than two years of extensive in-country research and interviews with key stakeholders including governments and major oil and gas interests, the study is distinguished by its comprehensive approach and detailed country-by-country analysis of current conditions and future projects. Sidney Weintraub and his coauthors examine the critical historical factors, technical challenges, dangerous conditions, and political tensions, divisions, and disagreements that have hampered hemispheric cooperation. The authors offer predictions and suggestions in hopes of stimulating dispassionate discussion in the countries themselves and contributing toward a more stable, energy-cooperative hemisphere.

Sidney Weintraub holds the William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy at CSIS. Annette Hester is an economist and a senior associate with the Simon Chair. Veronica R. Prado is a program officer with the Council of the Americas and a former fellow with the Simon Chair.

Contributors: Anthony T. Bryan, Rafael Fernández de Castro, Peter DeShazo, Joseph M. Dukert, Lowell R. Fleischer, Michelle Michot Foss, Alan Hegburg, Annette Hester, Wenran Jiang, Georges Landau, José Leal, Philip McLean, Thomas Andrew O'Keefe, Veronica R. Prado, Joseluis Samaniego, Frank Verrastro, Dmitry Volkov, Miranda Ferrell Wainberg, Carol Wise