How long will the shopping spree last?

China appears set on a programme of foreign energy asset acquisition. Maria Kielmas looks into the implications for the energy industry

Of all the factors that have influenced the course of the energy markets over the past year, China's strategy has been one of the most dominant. The country's need for fuel, minerals and basic commodities has been credited in business and political circles for maintaining high world prices and reviving the failing economic fortunes of multiple commodity exporters, such as Argentina.

China, in turn, has become a significant producer of cheap textiles and consumer goods, whose price and