The HC Insider Podcast

oday, we return to energy and AI. What will AI mean in terms of global energy consumption up to 2030 and beyond? And could that be offset by efficiencies and transformations generated by AI in our daily lives? Could AI even accelerating the energy transition? To do that, we are discussing International Energy Agency's latest paper -  Energy and AI (https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-and-ai). A comprehensive review and deep dive in AI's impacts on our world energy map. Our guests are the lead authors, Siddharth Singh and Thomas Spencer. Both are also part of the team that produce the World Energy Outlook annually.For more on our senior advisory network, Enco Insights visit - www.encoinsights.com For more on www.Hyperionsearch.com - our clean energy search firmFor commodities search visit www.hcgroup.global    

We discuss the trilemma facing the energy and commodities markets -  between security, affordability, and sustainability, what now matters in policy and investment decisions? In the previous US administration and in Europe, sustainability was a key policy driver. Under the new Trump administration, and indeed globally since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, security has come to the forefront. How should organizations think about these three facets? How is the world changing and what does that mean for the energy and commodities sector? Our guest is Clay Seigle, Senior Fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Clay holds the James R. Schlesinger chair in Energy and Geopolitics and is an experienced energy industry analyst with specialization in market intelligence and political risk. Clay provides policymakers and corporate leaders with thought leadership and strategic insights to navigate regional and global energy security challenges.

  If uncertainty is the new normal – how can the commodities markets and participants adapt? What does that mean for costs, supply chains and people.  In May we held our latest Live Event in London, in partnership with ITFA. The event was hosted by Aon, with additional sponsorship by Atradius, Brown Brothers Harriman, Coface, Natixis Partners, Pole Star Global, The Mercury Group and RESCOM. Our panellists debated themes including the sources of uncertainty, and what it means for markets, prices and participants. What are the impacts of tariffs and geopolitical tensions? What is the state of the talent landscape as a new generation of professionals, and new businesses, confront these challenges? Is a new generation of deep specialists ready? Joining podcast host, Paul Chapman was Stuart Lawson, Global Head at Aon Credit Solutions; Khushroo Pochkhanawalla, Commodity Risk Director at The Heineken Company; Matthew Chamberlain, CEO at the London Metal Exchange; Marieke Franssen, Managing Director of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking and William Tully, Head of Business Development at Brown Brothers Harriman Commodities & Logistics.

Today, we discuss credit risk and stress testing in volatile and uncertain times. What is the function of credit risk within the commodities sector? How crucial is it? What does good look like - how best to organize, lead and deliver it? And what do we mean by stress testing? And how can organizations make themselves more robust for the future? Our guest is Jan-Peter Onstwedder. Jan-Peter has been head of commodity risk groups for global banks as well as at trading organizations and is now  an Enco Insight Partner. As an Enco Insight partner, JP is providing independent, peer -to -peer, advice and to leaders within organizations that are developing or strengthening their risk and trading functions. For more on Enco's advisory network visit: https://www.encoinsights.com/solutions/insight-partners

Today, we return to the subject of Renewable Natural Gas, which could be as much as 15 % of global natural gas supply by 2050, offering significant advantages both in its carbon intensity as well as driving a powerful circularity, capturing waste methane that would otherwise go into the atmosphere, driving biodiversity and providing significant optionality in trading. What is RNG? Where does it sit today in terms of  global policy support and participants and what does its future hold? Our guests are Warren Feather and Ben Kruger. Warren was a Managing Director of Cargill and led their global oilseeds processing and renewables solutions businesses before joining Roeslein as a board advisor while Ben Kruger has joined Roeslein and Associates as the SVP of Renewables after a 25 -year career at Cargill, where he latterly was Director of Renewable Natural Gas and Specialty Oil Seeds. Roeslein itself is a global technology and engineering company that, through its Roeslein Renewables Group, is now developing projects around the world in renewable natural gas, offering turnkey solutions to agricultural customers,including finance and all technical aspects of project development. 

Today we return to the oil market, a market that is in flux, both from a traditional supply and demand picture, but that is now also embroiled in geopolitics, an uncertain global trade environment and a potential recession. Is oil going lower for longer? And what about volatility? The last month or so has seen a dramatic return of volatility and associated results for traders, positive and negative. Is that set to continue? Our guest is Matt Smith, lead energy analyst for the US at the data and analytics company Kpler 

Since 2017, the West's awareness of its strategic vulnerabilities in critical minerals has been growing – yet in reality little progress has been made. How have various policies progressed or hindered the development of a domestic supply chain in the US and the West more broadly? What is the new Trump administration's approach to critical minerals? How is that impacting former efforts like the Inflation Reduction Act? And what does it mean for China and its response? Just how close are we to experiencing an outright scarcity on these critical minerals in the US and the West? And what would that mean for our economies?  Our guest is mining entrepreneur and former Deputy Director for Batteries and Critical Materials at the US Department of Energy, Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes.

Today we're releasing an episode outside of our normal schedule on tariffs and those on metals in particular. What tariffs are in place on metals and critical minerals? What has been the response particularly from China? What is the legal underpinning of those tariffs and how does that create uncertainty? What are the administration's goals? And what does it mean for contracts? What does it mean for M&A? And what does it mean for markets? Our guest is Guy Winter, partner at Fasken, the global law firm, in their Global Mining Group. Guy is also on the advisory board of the Critical Minerals Association in the UK and on the UK's Department of Business and Trade Critical Minerals Expert Committee. He is also an author of fiction books - his latest two were The Billionaire Suicide Club and The Billionaire Suicide Club 2; Red queen Rising.to RSVP for our May 15 Live Event email antonposner@mercuryresources.com For more on Enco Insights Expert witness offering visit: www.encoinsights.com 

Today we're releasing an episode outside of our normal schedule on tariffs and those on metals in particular. What tariffs are in place on metals and critical minerals? What has been the response particularly from China? What is the legal underpinning of those tariffs and how does that create uncertainty? What are the administration's goals? And what does it mean for contracts? What does it mean for M&A? And what does it mean for markets? Our guest is Guy Winter, partner at Fasken, the global law firm, in their Global Mining Group. Guy is also on the advisory board of the Critical Minerals Association in the UK and on the UK's Department of Business and Trade Critical Minerals Expert Committee. He is also an author of fiction books - his latest two were The Billionaire Suicide Club and The Billionaire Suicide Club 2; Red queen Rising. For more on Enco Insights Expert witness offering visit: www.encoinsights.com 

In Part 2, we continue our discussion on navigating the new Trump Administration. Why are metals and critical minerals central to the administrations agenda? What does it mean to prioritize security over economics and sustainability?  How to manage the inherent internal conflicts between co-existing policies and statements and what the trading opportunities might be for the energy & commodities sector.  We welcome back with Nick Kumleben, the Energy and Commodities Director at Green Mantle, the geopolitical and macro advisory firm that weaves in historical context to help organizations understand the current markets and opportunities within them. 

The commodities sector faces a new and uncertain world.  In this episode, we look at how to understand and how to navigatethe new Trump administration and its impact on domestic and global markets, particularly around energy and commodities using analogies from history.  What is signal…and what is noise.  Our guest is Nick Kumleben. Nick is the energy and commodities director at Greenmantle, the advisory firm founded by Niall Ferguson, focused on geopolitical and macroeconomics, taking a deep understanding of history, to learn the lessons that can be applied to today's world. They advise funds, traders, and governments.For more on experts and advisors that can support decision making in energy & commodities visit: www.encoinsights.com  

Head of Talent Intelligence for HC Group, Amelia Chahal, joins us to discuss their offering and the Global Energy Trading Compensation Report 2025 available for purchase.To register interest in the report visit: https://www.hcgroup.global/energy-trading-reportHC Talent Intelligence provides critical and tailored talent data insights for our clients across global energy and commodities markets. The platform was created to address the growing demand for real-time, accurate, and credible talent market data. Their mission is to help organisations make informed decisions on everything from minor compensation adjustments to large-scale workforce and operational transformations.Our dedicated Talent Intelligence team manages HC Group's advisory services, including Compensation Data and Advisory; Diversity & Inclusion Studies; Competitive Analysis; Talent Pipelining and Succession Planning; and Talent Analytics & Assessment.For more on HC visit www.hcgroup.global or contact Amelia at achahal@hcgroup.global  

In this episode, we stress test and challenge some of the key recent narratives in the energy world. Will we still see peak oil demand by 2030? Is there under investment in oil production that could lead to energy shocks in our near future? And is the energy transition dead, alive or somewhere in between? Our guest is Jarand Rystad, CEO and founder of Rystad Energy, the independent research and energy intelligence company, providing clients with data, insights, and education that better empowers decision making. 

Today we are focused on China and its oil market. How has their oil sector developed over the last 50 years? Who are the teapot refiners? And how is the market now structured in the wake of COVID, sanctions and the EV revolution? How consequential is China now to global crude pricing and market dynamics? Our guest is Tom Reed, Vice President of China Crude at Argus Media, the independent price reporting agency. Tom has spent a career watching China, understanding the details from this very opaque but consequential market.

Once again, we attended (Www.hcgroup.global) the Financial Times Commodities Global Summit in Lausanne. Leaders in the commodities sector gather for this excellent event to share their views on the state of the sector. Host Paul Chapman provides his reflections on the key topics that drove conversations and presentations. 

Today we're talking about data centers and the global arms race to develop them. What is driving that demand? What are the demands of the AI sector and how is technology changing to meet it? And what does that mean for the twin imperatives of both providing the energy to run the data centers as well as to cool them? How is the energy sector going to meet those demands and what opportunities does it generate? Our guest is Adam Mirick. Adam is head of strategy for Prometheus Hyperscale, who are developing the next generation of data centers here in the US, as well as globally. Adam has had a stellar career in the energy markets and  latterly head of U .S. power trading at BP. 

Today we return to the subject of ESG and sustainability. In the wake of COVID, organizations globally made huge commitments around ESG goals. Sustainability teams were hired and grew rapidly. Today, we face a global vibe shift in the wake of economic realities, political change and shifting policy. What does that mean for ESG? What does that mean for sustainability? The reality is, in part, it's not going away, but it's certainly more focused on organizational goals and driving customer value. Our guest who helps clients with just these types of issues is Anastasia Kuskova, co-founder and CEO of Sirius, a sustainability intelligence platform for metals and mining, working with ArcelorMittal, Freeport, and other majors. She spent 8 years at the European Resources Group as Head of Sustainability and started her career in strategy consulting.www.besirius.io  

Oil Trading remains the preserve of wealthy industry participants. Few organizations have the means and access to trade the myriad OTC contracts that underpin the markets. However, much as we have seen the democratization of equities and FX markets, could oil and its products go the same way?  What would that mean for organizations, individuals, brokers and markets. Our guest is trying to revolutionize the oil market through just that - it's democratization. Greg Newman, founder and CEO of Onyx Group, returns to discuss 

This is Part 2 of our mini-series on Asset-Backed Trading. In the previous episode, we covered the key  reasons and decision points in creating asset-backed trading organizations. In this episode, we draw on the experience of Savvas Manousos and Niels Henrik Lindegaard on the key learnings and challenges that arise in implementation. From the inevitable challenges and even crises that arise and, ultimately, the two key roles of any leader - how to build a high -performing team and how to execute on a strategy with the flexibility and resilience needed in a more volatile world. Savvas Manousos spent 25 years with BP before developing global Asset-Backed Trading platforms at Reliance, Maersk and CEPSA. Savvas is now an Enco Insight Partner at HC Group's sister company Enco Insights, providing independent, peer-to-peer, advisory to organizations embarking on this journey. Niels Henrik Lindegaard spent 40 years with Maersk and spent a decade leading their trading transformation through Maersk Oil Trading.For more on Enco Insights visit www.encoinsights.com 

On February 6, host Paul Chapman was invited to be on a panel at the Argus Crude Summit Americas in Houston. Moderated by Matthew Oatway, Peter Keavey, Global Head of Energy and Environmental Products at CME Group and Paul discuss the changing landscape of crude oil trading – especially the rise of Asset Backed Traders and Hedge Funds. What does that mean for how makets trade and the people who trade them.  For more on HC Group visit www.hcgroup.globalFor more on Enco Insights visit www.encoinsights.com 

In Part One of our miniseries on Asset-Backed Trading, Savvas Manouson and Niels Henrik Lindegaard  join us to discuss why commodity producers, refiners and wholesalers are developing value-chain optimization through trading and the basic building blocks.  What are the key drivers behind this global trend? What are the key decision points around people, platform and operating model? What approaches and resources best ensure success? Savvas Manousos spent 25 years with BP before developing global Asset-Backed Trading platforms at Reliance, Maersk and CEPSA. Savvas is now an Enco Insight Partner at HC Group's sister company Enco Insights, providing independent, peer-to-peer, advisory to organizations embarking on this journey. Niels Henrik Lindegaard spent 40 years with Maersk and spent a decade leading their trading transformation through Maersk Oil Trading. For more information on Enco Insights visit www.encoinsights.com 

In this episode, we dive into Liquified Petroleum Gas trading. What is LPG used for, where is it produced and how has the market developed since the advent of shale? How is trading LPG different from other commodities  and what does it herald for other fuels? What is its role in the energy transition and what is its future? Our guest is Jack Nugent. Jack brings a unique perspective. From his early days in LPG broking, to living and working in both Europe and Asia as a LPG trader, he later co-founded his own successful LPG trading company. Jack is the CEO and Founder of Tradavex, a consultancy that helps organizations bridge the interface between technology and business.Relevant Linkswww.encoinsights.comwww.hcgroup.globalwww.tradavex.com

Today we return to the fuels industry. What is the latest in global fuel supply and demand? What is the impact of ongoing electrification on fuel demand? Have we seen peak gasoline demand even in the US? And how is AI and technology changing fuels trading and the convenience industry that attaches to it? Returning to the show is Doug Haugh. Doug has over twenty five year's experience working in the energy, technology and convenience retail industries. He serves on the board of Bioblend Renewable Resources, Trux  and Ergon and Board Chairman at New Tide AIFor more on HC Group visit www.hcgroup.globalFor Enco Insights visit www.encoinsights.com 

How did seed oils and biofuels fair in 2024? Wild price swings dominated as the markets reacted to changing yields and biofuel demand. At the same time, the markets braced for a change in the US administration and the policies left ill-defined by the previous one. Why did the US suddenly become the world's largest Used Cooking Oil importer? What could 2025 bring?  And what will the Trump Administration bring – not least with RFK's views on seed oils and health? Returning to the show is Walter Cronin. Walter is the co-founder and president of White River Nutrition, a soy processing company dedicated to better nutritional outcomes via superior vegetable protein meal. Walter's an investor and on various  boards across the agri and renewable fuels sector. Link to Argus Global Crude Conference: https://www.argusmedia.com/en/events/conferences/americas-crude-summit/agenda

Another global commodity, present in our daily lives, without an established price index or futures contract, with a unique supply chain: Tea. How does Tea reach our tables? Where does tea come from? How does it trade? And how is the tea market navigating climate change, ever lower prices and changes in demand? Indeed, which nations drink the most tea? Our guest is Jem McDowell, Vice-President of Trading  and Universal Commodities (Tea) Trading Inc. Jem is based in the US but has had a global career in trading tea.

For producers, refiners, processors & miners building a risk management and trading capability is moving from a value-add to a ‘must have'. However, building such a capability is a challenge, requiring a clear plan to win, constant communication and the right operation model and systems. Over the last 5 years some transformations have succeeded, others remain stalled. What are the key accelerators and derailers in such a process? What are the people implications – both the required leadership and the skill-sets needed. Our guest is Talis Bennett-Verschure, Director of Commodity and Energy Trading at the management consultancy Baringa, who has been at the forefront of helping organizations build this vital capability.www.encoinsights.comwww.hcgroup.global 

Ten percent of the global tanker fleet has gone dark and the number is growing. What is the Dark Fleet? Why does it exist and why is it growing? Who is using the fleet and who owns it? What are the risks for the market, the environment and traders? And what does a shadow fleet mean for world security and criminal enterprises? Our guest is David Tannenbaum, Director at Blackstone Compliance  Services, a sanctions and anti -money laundering advisory group, providing support to financial institutions and commodity trades alike and a Partner at Polestar Global, a sanctions and maritime intelligence firm where he runs the threat intelligence group.https://www.blackstonecompliance.com/www.encoinsights.comwww.hcgroup.global 

A brief final episode of 2024. Host Paul Chapman reflects on some of the key themes of the year, offers his deepest thanks to listeners, guests and his colleagues at HC Group (www.hcgroup.global) and Enco Insights (www.encoinsights.com) and looks at the coming year and goals for the podcast. Please do leave a positive review on the platform you are listening on to help support the show and our work. 

A still timely discussion as the Federal Reserve comes under pressure to decrease rates... How low interest rates since the financial crisis have caused inequality, populism and inflation. Christmas re-release of one of host Paul Chapman's favorite discussions. Award-winning, financial journalist and historian Edward Chancellor join us to discuss interest rates and the impact on the commodities sector. Interest rates – the price of money and time – have been unnaturally low since the global financial crisis. This has led to a profound impact on finance and society. Global corporates found financial engineering more “profitable” than focusing on products and operations. Assets inflated and inequality widened. In the commodities world, the cost of carry and cost of finance, was essentially zero. Energy tech plays were awash in money and valuations sky high. Rates are now rising and those same engineered corporates are becoming zombies. China risks economic Armageddon as the global carry trade ends. Assets prices are falling and financially stressed commodity traders, now face higher rates. Edward argues higher rates will return the world to profitable growth and risk allocation unless political will to reverse rates wins…

he skillsets required to be in a commodity trading team have always been evolving. However, that evolution is accelerating in the wake of new technologies and especially AI. In this episode we trace the changing roles and skills traders have needed over the last century and what the future holds as AI becomes ever more involved in the day to day activities of a trading desk. What are the skillsets of the past and their future? Are they fundamentally different? How is AI already affecting teams?  And how will AI shape the teams, careers and opportunities within the sector?  Our guest is Daf Davies, long time commodity trader, and founder and CEO of Deus AI – a consulting firm focused on preparing companies for the commodity trading future.

Will nuclear fusion change the world and if so how far away is it? What is fusion power? What are the technological, regulatory and financial developments that are accelerating our path to it? What has changed that has meant private companies are now racing to develop it alongside governments? And what will it mean for fusion power to be deployed at scale. Our guest is Jay Brister, an independent investor and consultant with over 40 years experience in the nuclear sector who has focused on fusion over the last five years

Award winning journalist and author, Vince Beiser, joins us again to talk about his new book; Power Metal: The Race for the Resources that will Shape the Future. The energy transition consumes immense amounts of critical metals and minerals. What are the trade-offs being made in mining and processing them? How and where is recycling of these metals ongoing? What are the human stories and impacts behind this enormous industry and what might the solutions be to make the transition more sustainable and achievable? Vince's book is out and available in all good book stores and published by Penguin Random House. 

Weather is a key driver in energy markets – from trading in the day ahead markets to weather events that can disrupt operations for months on end. Accurate forecasting has always been an edge. New technologies are making some aspects of forecasting ever more accurate. At the same time, climate change is making extreme events more frequent and significant. What keeps a meteorologist up at night? Why do energy traders employ meteorologists? How is technology changing the profession? Our guest is Matt Lanza, who has over 20 year's experience working on trading floors as a meteorologist . 

In the wake of the energy crisis and the demands of the energy transition, the EU has enacted a series of regulations, and considering more, in the European energy markets. These will bring changes to how power, carbon and gas markets operate and some proposals under consideration could have profound effects. What are these changes? What is the impact on how markets operate and the opportunity for participants?  And are we entering a period of re-regulation and intervention after the steady march of liberalization over the past 25 years? To discuss this and more is our guest Bart Verest, the Lead Partner at E&C Consultants, an international consultancy focused on energy procurement and markets with their headquarters in Belgium. Bart is an expert in energy markets and energy contracts. 

Metals have had an interesting year so far. Prices have been volatile along with sentiment and narratives. Trading Houses have been rapidly expanding metals trading teams and funds have piled in. In this episode, David Wilson, Senior Commodities Desk Strategist at BNP Paribas Markets 360, takes an in depth look at the reality behind these trends across copper, aluminum, nickel, gold and the battery metals in 2024 and what that may presage for 2025.

May you live in interesting times - as the proverb goes. Will those times continue? On October 16th, at the Yale Club in New York City, we held our latest Live Event hosted by ITFA with additional sponsorship from Brown Brothers Harriman, Goba Capital and HC Group. The commodities sector has seen unprecedented volatility. What has that meant for the sector's ecosystem? How has it shaped the opportunities and risks? Is the volatility structural or ephemeral? A group of leaders from across the sector  joined our panel to discuss in front of an audience of 150 industry participants. Rob Walsh, CEO of IMI,  William Tully,Head of Business Development, BBH Commodities & Logistics, Sunil George, Head of Client Financing Solutions for the Americas at Louis Dreyfus Company, Todd Lynady, Regional Head of Financial Solutions @ WTW  and Alexandre Lacreu Chief Underwriting Officer, Coface North America moderated by podcast host Paul Chapman.

In mid -November, in Azerbaijan at COP29, momentous decisions could be made that would advance the carbon markets globally. What are they and what are the chances of that happening and what is the state of the carbon market today? Our guest is Nick Marshall, co -founder of TASC, a project developer focused on channeling funds into carbon reduction projects around the world. 

Commodities sit at the heart of global trade and as such are at the center of the rise of protectionism. After a long period of globalization and ever freer trade, there is a perceptible and growing shift back to mercantilism and protectionism. This is driven by great-power competition with the energy transition being a key driver. Tariffs, sanctions and direct market intervention are ever more commonplace. To discuss this trend, its causes and its impact on our sector is Alex Tuckett, Head of Economics at CRU, the independent commodity analytics, consulting and pricing agency. 

Utility scale batteries are proliferating across Western power grids, particularly in the US. And far more are set to come. These batteries offer the ability to manage grids, especially with the influx of renewables, or make economic returns on trading around them. Yet, their very presence is changing the dynamics of power markets. What are these batteries, where are they placed and who owns them? How and who trades around them and what do they mean for the future of power markets? All this and more is answered by our guest Casey Keller, Head of Assets and Development at Caerus Commodities.    

Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered an avalanche of economics sanctions by the West. What followed was an undeniably world-changing financial experiment that risked throwing the world into a devastating recession, testing the very limits of economic warfare and Western cohesion. Commodities sit at the heart of this story with profound ramifications for the global sector. But is it succeeding? Our guest is Russia expert and veteran Bloomberg investigative journalist Stephanie Baker who's new book - Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia - explains in fascinating detail how this furious shadow-war unfolded: its causes, how it is being executed, and its ability to affect Russia and the course of history.   

Over the next two years, the US is set to export some 12bcf/d extra of LNG. What does this mean for the US market? Where will it go? And can supply keep up? Will there be sufficient demand in Europe? And what does this mean for traders - is a global footprint now a must?  Are the gas markets entering a new truly globalized era where US supply sets the price? All that and more is discussed in this special live event recording of The HC Commodities Podcast held on September 19th in Houston. The event was hosted by Six One Commodities and co-sponsored by Bridge Alternatives and Phillips66. Our panelists were Harrison DeStefano, CCO of Six One Commodities, Nathan Arentz, MD, Skylar Capital Management, Anne-Sophie Corbeau, Global Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy and Graham Fisher, Head of Natural Gas Trading at P66. To sign up for future events, including one in NYC on October 16, visit www.hcgroup.global and contact us 

Shale Oil & Gas has turned the US into an energy power house over the last 15 years. Will it disappear as quickly as it arrived or will it set to US apart for years to come? Within its short life, it has evolved quickly and our guest Matthew Bernstein now characterizes it as Shale 4.0. What were the previous iterations in participants, economics and output and what does the future hold? Matthew Berntstein is the Manager of Shale Analytics at Rystad Energy, the independent energy data and analytics firm.  

A commodity close to many of our hearts, but how does it end up in our mugs? Where is it grown, how is it processed and who trades it? How do the derivative contracts work and what might the future hold as climate, geopolitics and consumer tastes evolve? Our guest is Charlie Stephens, President of Amarella Café, an independent specialty coffee trader in the Americas. Still in his twenties, Charlie also shares his story on how he launched his own trading company. 

Is the commodities world lagging behind in AI adoption? And if so, how should the sector's leadership think about applications and use? What even is it and how is it being used by other sectors? Our guest is Seth Dobrin, CEO of QuantmA1, an AI consultancy and General Partner at 1Infinity Ventures, a VC fund. Seth was former Global Chief AI Officer at IBM and Head of Digital Strategies at Monsanto. 

As we head toward the end of the year and into 2025 where are oil prices headed? In this episode we recap the major events and decisions since COVID and the key drivers of oil prices. Then we turn to the outlook for the next two years. What is the supply and demand picture? What could OPEC's upcoming decision mean – could a new price war start? And what are the potential disrupters in a more volatile geopolitical landscape. Returning to the show is Aldo Spanjer, Senior Commodity Strategist at BNP Paribas.To attend our upcoming HC Commodities Podcast Live Event please RSVP here: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/hc-commodities-podcast-houston

Brazil has been steadily deregulating its power market over the last two decades. This combined with one of the largest share of renewables in the generation mix of any advanced economy, alongside hydrocarbon production in the ‘Pe-salt' off the coast, has made it a hugely dynamic market with lots of opportunity for participants, both domestic and international. What is Brazil's generation mix and power market structure? How volatile is the market and why? What pressures do participants face? How liberalization survived multiple political changes and what might the future hold? Our guest is Adriana Waltrick, CEO of SPIC, the fifth largest power generation company in the country. To attend our upcoming HC Commodities Podcast Live Event on September 19 in Houston please visit: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/hc-commodities-podcast-houston

Are we seeing a regime change in Europeangas and power markets? Is Europe now entering a period of structurally lower energy prices and economic advantage as its decades long investment in renewables starts to pay off? Will other countries have to go through this journey? What does this mean for power trading opportunities? As we approach winter, is the European Energy Crisis in the rearview mirror? What of natural gas? Huge amounts of LNG are forecasted to arrive on European shores in the coming years. What will this mean for Europe's gas markets and what's the impact on the US, the main exporter, as well as other parties along the gas value chain? Our guests are Senior Commodities Strategists, Aldo Spanjer and James Huckstepp from BNP Paribas. To attend our upcoming HC Commodities Podcast Live Event in Houston on September 19 please RSVP here (in person event only):https://www.eventcreate.com/e/hc-commodities-podcast-houston  

The UN predicts global population will peak sometime in 2080s around 10 billion people. Companies, countries (think global social security schemes) and the commodities sector predicates forecasts on these assumptions. Yet, there is a growing body of evidence that these assumptions are far too optimistic and that not only will global population peak earlier but will subsequently decline much more rapidly. Already much of the West and Asia is in decline and replacement rates of falling at an accelerated pace. Is this a long-range risk no board rooms are talking about? Our guest is analyst, futurist and swine consultant Todd Thurman who has become a global authority on the subject on how it will impact the commodities world.  We also have an upcoming HC Commodities Live Event in Houston on September 19th. To RSVP (for free) please click here:https://www.eventcreate.com/e/hc-commodities-podcast-houston

Global regulators are narrowing their focus on the commodities sector and billions of dollars have been paid in fines. The world has become both more transparent and more risky in the wake of deglobalization, sanctions and the energy transition bringing its increased public scrutiny. The risks are enormous both the companies and individuals. And as such, compliance is an ever more important topic. To discuss compliance, enforcement and best practice is Gerben Schreurs, Partner at the Forensic Risk Alliance, or FRA, an independent forensics firm that conducts investigations, monitorships and compliance reviews, as well as Barry Vitou, Partner at HFW, the global law firm, where he is Head of Investigations, White Collar and Compliance. As always, you can really support the show by leaving us a positive review on the platform you're listening on.

show. Jonathan's new book - Commodity Professionals: The people behind the trade – is a collection of interviews spanning all the professions that create the commodity supply chains. How have these roles evolved in a more volatile world? How are the trading houses fairing since we last caught up with Jonathan?For more on HC Group visit: www.hcgroup.global

The energy transition is complex. That complexity tends to be papered over with simplifications and beliefs, even myths, both within the sector and the broader public on both sides of the debate. Yet, to make the right investments and decisions as companies and societies, it requires careful analysis and ultimately managing the inherent trade-offs. In this episode, we zoom in on the reality of the energy transition, the science required and the competing philosophies. Our guest is Marco Raugei, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Oxford Brooks University. He is an Environmental Scientist with a PhD in Chemical Sciences and lectures on energy systems and Life Cycle Assessments. Marco has spent his career researching the very energy systems, particularly in transportation, that drive our economies today and in those of the future.