In a documentary published by Erem Business, Dr. Carole Nakhle, CEO of Crystol Energy, shared her perspective on why major energy companies often look further ahead than governments when assessing risks, crises, and long term market shifts.
Key takeaways:
- Major energy companies have lived through wars, oil price collapses, technological disruption, and major shifts in global demand. Their long history gives them a deeper understanding of how energy markets evolve over time.
- Oil and gas projects require long planning horizons. A single project can take five to ten years before production starts, while some liquefied natural gas projects can cost more than 30 billion dollars. This makes short term decision making unsuitable for investments of this scale.
- Large energy companies use advanced scenario planning to prepare for future shocks. These scenarios may cover shipping disruptions, supply chain risks, changes in interest rates, and geopolitical tensions.
- In the Middle East, some companies have already reassessed shipping risks and adjusted trading strategies before the full political picture became clear. This does not mean they can predict the future. It means they prepare for several possible futures before a crisis reaches the headlines.
- Energy companies tend to communicate more carefully during periods of uncertainty. While political and media reactions may focus on the immediate disruption, companies assess whether the event changes the long term direction of the market.
Related Analysis
“Crisis without collapse: The Middle East oil shock“, Dr Carole Nakhle, Apr 2026
Related Comments
“What measures could EU countries consider to reduce fuel demand?“, Christof Rühl, Apr 2026
“War puts key Iranian oil terminals at risk“, Dr Carole Nakhle, Mar 2026
