Gabriel Collins and Elsie Hung. “Using Satellite Data to Crack the Great Wall of Secrecy Around China’s Internal Oil Flows.” Baker Institute Report, 7 September 2018, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Houston, Texas. https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/using-satellites-study-chinese-oil/
–We propose creating a forum to more systematically collect and analyze satellite data capable of shedding more light on the inner workings of China’s oil sector.
–Even if data gatherers on the ground in China can be constrained by the risk of severe physical penalties, Chinese officials can do little to prevent remote sensors in space from gathering data on energy sector activities.
–Better data transparency would benefit oil producers and consumers both within and outside of China.
–Beijing cannot control access to such satellite information unless it wishes to launch an extraterritorial campaign against satellite image providers and their employees/investors— which it would have no legitimate, internationally recognized legal basis to do—or decides to physically shield energy sector infrastructure from satellite view.
–A simple model suggests that obtaining monthly high-resolution satellite views of China’s key oil storage infrastructure points (refineries and stand-alone crude oil and refined product tank terminals) could cost roughly $4.5 million per year, or a bit over $1.1 million per year if monitoring were done quarterly.
Full article available here: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/using-satellites-study-chinese-oil/
Please cite as:
Collins, Gabriel and Elsie Hung. “Using Satellite Data to Crack the Great Wall of Secrecy Around China’s Internal Oil Flows.” Baker Institute Report, 7 September 2018, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Houston, Texas. https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/using-satellites-study-chinese-oil/
