The US’ claim that it will become energy independent shortly on the back of the revolution in its shale resources technology has been followed by Washington’s announcement of its ‘rebalancing to Asia’ policy. These two factors have set off a debate on the tectonic shifts that may accrue in the geopolitical landscape of the world’s energy sector as well as global geopolitics. This monograph looks at the sustainability of the shale revolution, and whether the US’ claims are indeed justified and the geopolitical consequences and strategic implications thereof on the global energy scenario. It will also look at the impact of the ‘shale revolution’ on traditional energy producers, particularly the West Asian oil and gas producers and exporters on the one hand, as well as the impact and implications of these changes on the energy security policies of the large Asian energy consumers and importers, such as China and India, on the other.
Shebonti Ray Dadwal is a Research Fellow with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, specializing on energy security and climate change-related issues and has written several peer-reviewed articles and papers on her area of work. She has worked as Senior Editor in The Financial Express and she has served as Deputy Secretary at the National Security Council Secretariat. Ms. Dadwal was awarded the FCO Chevening Fellowship on The Economics of Energy in April 2009. In 2002, she published a book, Rethinking Energy Security in India.