The New Era --- NOC’s Reach Out for Resources

 Today’s high prices and increasing energy demand has created a new set of challenges for the energy industry. Everyone, producers, consumers, governments and private producers, is now concerned about future energy security. Moreover, as production declines in some countries, their role is changing from one of supplier to consumer. And with high prices, the consumers are worried about the cost of energy.  All this has created “ the Dawn of a New Era” as CERA terms it.

National Oil Companies (NOC’s) are a major force in the new Era, with control of more than 80% of the total Global conventional resource base. Key issues as a result are related to access, profitability and cost.

National Oil Companies are adapting quickly to this new era. Many are splitting into two—a regulator charged with managing the in country resources; and an international company, charged with securing supply and market outlets. A serious of maps shows the extent of the march aboard by several select NOC’s—Petrobras, Petronas, Statoil. A further few maps shows the long reach of the Asia companies—China and India. And finally the last map shows, the emergence of a new group from the Middle East.

These players are changing the way we all do business and compete for resources. IOC’s are adapting in a variety of ways and thinking more strategically about partnerships with NOC’s. Some however are finding opportunities at home more profitable; hence, the new era of mergers and acquisitions in the US and Canada.

This talk will look at the new global setting and feature some of the issues companies face in competing in this environment.