January 2016

Following on from the uncertainty in the Chinese stock markets in January and late-2015, the global energy business began to feel the pinch. Oil prices are predicted to continue tumbling, investment is expected to slow and the constant problem of demand outstripping supply is expected to continue; pilling pressure on local governments and producers.

For end consumers, the falling price of oil is perhaps a welcome respite after years of high prices. In recent times, prices have dropped by more than 60% since June 2014, from $115 per barrel to less than $35. But for producers, this of course represents a big problem. The IEA has reported that Opec members lost about $500 billion in revenue last year alone.

And with renewable producers becoming cheaper, more efficient and more stable than ever, and nuclear getting an increasing amount of attention, it seems like oil and gas is going to face significant trials in the coming months and years.

But fortunately, that’s what we like. We want to see how company’s overcome these challenges. In this edition we look at E.ON, which has had to navigate the web of regulations surrounding building offshore windfarms in Europe, and US-based ExxonMobil which has had to find themselves a suitable replacement for long-term President, Rex Tillerson.