Adnan Adams Mohammed
The world at large are keeping their fingers crossed and preparing for spillover from the Ukraine invasion by Russia and the possible sanctions from United States of America and European Union.
Although, the likely and unlikely spillovers could be felt in the short and medium term, especially in the energy sector, Ghana is told that any increase in oil prices will be in the short term in the $100-110 per bbl range and that the year average will stay between $80-90 per bbl and as such the world market oil prices will not be the dominant factor in determining our fuel pump prices.
A finance and energy analyst has assured Ghanaians to lose no sleep as the fallout from the Ukraine invasion will have no immediate effect on prices of our petroleum products. Rather, he advised the managers of the economy and the forex market regulators to put in measures to control the escalating exchange rate as witnessed in the past few weeks.
“Although Ghana is vulnerable to world oil prices spikes, any such spikes will be temporary as the market players shall adjust for any shortfalls and speculations that could contribute to the spike. Rather, our concerns should be more of the forex exchange of which we have more control”, Alex Mould, former executive director of Standard Chartered Bank and past CEO Ghana National Petroleum Commission has posited. “The untamed and recent runaway Cedi to dollar exchange rate is what is going to be the main contributor of increased fuel prices in Ghana in the short and long term.”
Although, current price as of yesterday, Tuesday, March 1 2022, at 23:00GMT, the Brent crude price had jumped to US$107, Mr Mould asserted it is an expected temporary situation mainly due to speculators while supply and demand data takes time to surface. Adding that, the global crude price will still fall within the revised forecasted benchmark price of US$85 per barrel for 2022 unless in a situation where NATO joins the conflict which will then prolong the consequence of the crisis.
Initial forecast for 2022 by analysts prior to invasion was at $75 per bbl
On the forecasts, there are two schools of thought: a temporary blip and year average remains in 80-90 range, or a permanent new highs over $100.
Many analysts suggest It will correct itself soon; as soon as some agreement is reached; but the highs we see will only be prolonged if NATO get into the conflict.”
Consensus by most researchers is that the supply effect is not going to be immediate, although they have expected over supply of crude oil on the market because Iran oil will be available soon. They have now increased their 2022 forecast for the average price of Brent oil from US$75 to US$85 per barrel.
The spike we see where price is up over US$100 for the first time since 2014 is just a response by speculators and traders who believe that the Russia-Ukraine crisis is going to cause a supply and demand problem, but there is excess supply in the world.
While Russia, Saudi and USA each produce about 12 million barrels per day,
U.S consumes the most oil in the world and Russia exports about 4 milion barrels a day. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members have the capacity to increase exports by over 5 million barrels per day enough to augment the more than Russia’s 4 million export.
Europe’s vulnerability
Meanwhile, there are issues to do with Russia not supplying gas to Europe, because Europe need that gas badly.
Europe and U.S are not going to put sanction on gas in the short term. However, Europe is receiving gas and oil supply from other Asian countries just to ensure that Putin will not hoard knowing that we are at the peak of the winter. This is where it will be disaster in Europe. Most people cannot switch from gas to liquid maybe Diesel or Crude Oil to power their plants or for heating in their houses. It is only Germany, really, that the capacity to gear up to do that.
“Europe is very vulnerable as we speak and Putin and U.S know that; the Biden administration announced that they will not put sanctions on Russia’s oil because that will hurt U.S consumers directly and not Putin. But knowing U.S, and how they are quick to change their policy, this view could change soon”, Mr Mould juxtaposed.
The other issue is the corporate concern where there are a lot of companies in Russia own by U.S and Europe citizens.
Possible collateral damage from sanctions on Russia
Already, President Biden has announced a “first tranche” of economic sanctions on two Russian banks with about US$80 billion in assets and five Russian oligarchs and their families, and prohibited U.S. entities from purchasing Russian sovereign debt.
More sanctions are expected to follow in response to what Biden said is a “needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.” The forthcoming sanctions could include restrictions on major Russian banks that would dramatically affect Russia’s ability to conduct international business.
Severe U.S. sanctions could drive up prices for everyday Russians or cause Russia’s currency or markets to crash. Because the U.S. does not rely much on trade with Russia, it is somewhat insulated from direct consequences. Europe is more directly affected. But certain sectors of the U.S. economy rely on highly specific Russian exports, primarily raw commodities.
“The premise of sanctions is to hurt the other guy more than you hurt your own interests. But that does not mean there will not be some collateral damage,” said Doug Rediker, a partner at International Capital Strategies.
Global markets could drop
The invasion rattled investors which sent the prices of traditional investment safe havens higher, with gold up more than 1.5% overnight.
“Markets are fundamentally not prepared for a land war in Europe in the 21st century,” Rediker said. “It’s something people just have not contemplated.”
The U.S. stock market has already been unusually volatile in recent weeks, churning over inflation, moves by the Federal Reserve to curb its stimulus programs and the looming conflict in Ukraine.
“Historically, the market has bounced back relatively quickly after geopolitical events. That’s what’s most likely today too, analysts say, so the effect on people with 401(k) accounts may be short term”, an article by Becky Sullivan on the npr.org said.
“But if the conflict causes long-lasting disruption of energy markets and other exports, investors could rethink that conventional wisdom.
“You’re potentially at a point where not only are we looking at Russia potentially invading Ukraine and sanctions and countermeasures, but you are also looking at a rise of China that doesn’t necessarily agree with the American perspective on the world anyway,” Rediker said last week, before the invasion. “Are we looking at a point in which some of the major premises that people take for granted have to be reassessed?”
Other industries to be affected
Russia is a major exporter of rare-earth minerals and heavy metals such as; titanium used in airplanes. Russia supplies about a third of the world’s palladium, a rare metal used in catalytic converters, and its price has soared in recent weeks over fears of a conflict.
Ukrainian economic output and industry will likely be significantly disrupted. The country is a major source of neon, which is used in manufacturing semiconductors.
As a result, U.S. officials have warned various sectors, including the semiconductor and aerospace industries, to brace for supply chain disruptions.
Fertilizer is produced in major quantities in both Ukraine and Russia. Disruptions to those exports would mostly affect agriculture in Europe, but food prices around the world could rise as a result.
Russia could launch disruptive cyberattacks
Subtlely, Russia could respond to U.S. sanctions through cyberattacks and influence campaigns.
Already, various federal agencies, including the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security, have warned of possible cyberattacks on targets like big banks and power grid operators.
“They have been warning everyone about Russia’s very specific tactics about the possibility of attacks on critical infrastructure,” Katerina Sedova, a researcher at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, told NPR.
Russian cyberattacks have targeted Ukraine relentlessly in recent years, including attacks on the capital city of Kyiv’s power grid in 2015 and 2016. But a major escalation could shift focus to U.S. targets.
An escalated war would likely spark a refugee crisis
The invasion could send 1 million to 5 million refugees fleeing Ukraine, U.S. officials and humanitarian agencies have warned.
“It will be a continent-wide humanitarian disaster with millions of refugees seeking protection in neighbouring European countries,” Agnès Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said last month in statement.
Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and is already home to more than a million Ukrainians, would likely see the most refugees. Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said his country was preparing for an “influx of refugees” from Ukraine.
At the largest scale, a refugee crisis would not be contained to Europe, the U.S would likely see refugees seeking asylum too.
