YPFB remained as a state-owned service company for the hydrocarbon sector.

In March 2005, the Algerian parliament adopted the hydrocarbon reform bill, encouraging international oil company (IOC) investment in the hydrocarbon sector, which Sonatrach previously dominated.

L&T has also executed several major projects in the mid and downstream hydrocarbon sector, including Cairn India's Mangala and Raageshwari oil field facilities.

PM Brown wants to target the Iranian hydrocarbon sector, but through the UN, not through unilateral action, and is opposed to any USG legislation which is extraterritorial.

In 2006, PETROPERU invested $4.5 billion in the hydrocarbon sector.

However, the importance of the hydrocarbon sector to Iran's economy has been far greater.

Owing to its hydrocarbon resources and associated infrastructure and its location close to Europe (which was the major market for its minerals), Algeria's hydrocarbon sector is expected to continue to attract foreign direct investment.

The Gas Initiative is the first major reopening of Saudi Arabia's upstream hydrocarbon sector since nationalization in the 1970s.

It has taken on an active diversification and liberalisation programme to reduce the UAE's reliance on the hydrocarbon sector.

Shell, which owns 25 percent of an oil and gas pipeline company here, already broke with the other companies by announcing that it remains interested in continuing to "participate in Bolivia's hydrocarbon sector."