English edit

Etymology edit

Blend of petro- +‎ oligarch

Noun edit

petrogarch (plural petrogarchs)

  1. Someone who is part of a small group that controls the petroleum industry, and hence has power over lives and governments similar to the powers of an oligarch.
    • 2012, J. Rauch, “Ban Gasoline”, in The Atlantic:
      Why focus on gas in particular? Because gasoline is where the world’s petrogarchs have us by the short hairs.
    • 2010, B. Dowbiggin, “Pursuing MLSE a survival strategy for Rogers”, in The Globe and Mail:
      ... selling out to the petrogarchs of Russia and Qatar was simply a master stroke of evil genius.