As part of a Special Report on Energy & Natural Resources, which appears in the October 2018 issue of Financier Worldwide, Oxera energy experts Helen Jenkins, Jostein Kristensen and Sahar Shamsi participated in a Q&A Forum on ‘Energy Investigations’.
In addition to assessing the status quo, our experts looked at how energy investigations might change in the near future and beyond.
The panel considered the effects of politics, with Helen speaking about how a number of countries have embarked on ambitious reforms to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and transition towards environmentally friendly energy. She goes on to explain how these reforms have unintended ramifications, particularly on policy and regulation, that could lead to unexpected market outcomes.
Jostein commented on the energy sector being one area where major policy reforms are increasingly seen as necessary to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Sahar then went on to say that as a growing number of countries embark on energy transitions to tackle climate change and meet other environmental targets, and as the myriad effects of the adoption of new energy sources and technologies disrupt the political, regulatory and commercial status quo, energy investigations are expected to increase in frequency.
Oxera experts have helped many energy companies navigate their way through the complexities of energy investigations. Once an investigation is under way, taking steps in the early stages to ensure positive outcomes is paramount. Getting the right advice, getting up to speed on the nature of the allegation, and engaging with the investigating authority are crucial to secure successful outcomes.