41. Isam bin Saud Al Zadjali, CEO, Oman Oil Company
Through its subsidiaries, Oman Oil Company offers integrated upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas services. Founded in 1992, the company’s work ranges from exploration and production to shipping and power infrastructure. In addition, it has a strategic partnership with Kuwait Petroleum International to cooperate in the development of Duqm complex, a project that is expected to bring sustainability to the energy sector of Oman as well as the entire region. Isamn bin Saud Al Zadjali became the head of the company in August 2014, shortly before the oil slump began. Prior to that, he had been working in Occidental Oman since 2001, where he assumed a number of leadership roles that led the company’s operations.
42. Dinesh K Sarraf, Chairman, ONGC
Engaged mainly in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas, ONGC’s operations include onshore, offshore and deep sea explorations on the east and west coasts of India. Abroad, it has joint ventures in oilfields in Vietnam, Norway, Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, and Australia. Some of its subsidiaries include ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Limited. Heading this entity, which is considred to be one of India’s most valuable public sector enterprise, is 59-year-old Dinesh K Sarraf. Having worked in the company since 1991, he is also the chairman of OVL and MRPL. Under his watch, the company has made significant asset acquisitions in Egypt, Syria, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba and Myanmar.
43. Andrew Stuart Mackenzie, CEO, BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton operates worldwide, discovering, acquiring, developing and marketing natural resources. Founded in 1851 in Melbourne, Australia, it was formerly known as BHP until 2001 as a subsidiary of BHP Billiton Group, a natural resources company. Today, it is considered to be among the world’s top producers of major commodities like iron ore with a substantial interest in oil, gas, and energy coal. With a team of more than 65,000 employees and contractors, BHP Billiton’s size and scope allows it to make significant contributions to the global oil and gas market. Andrew Mackenzie, who has significant experience in the field, was appointed director and CEO of BHP Billiton in May 2013.
44. Josu Jon Imaz San Miguel, CEO, Repsol
Repsol is an integrated energy company that engages in upstream and downstream activities worldwide. Headquarted in Madrid, Spain, the company was founded in 1927 and went by the name of Repsol YPF until it was renamed in 2012. Today, it operates in over 40 countries with 25,000 employees. Like some of his peers on our Power 50 list this year, CEO and executive director Josu Imaz San Miguel assumed his role shortly before the oil slump in April 2014. It was under his leadership that Repsol acquired the Canadian Talisman Energy for $8.3bn in 2015, significantly increasing Repsol’s presence in more than 50 countries. The acquisition also made it more upstream focussed.
45. Benoît de la Fouchardiere, CEO, Perenco
Considered to be Europe’s leading independent oil and gas company, Perenco produces 450,000 boepd, of which 250,000 boepd is net to the company. Since its inception in 1975, the group’s growth has been driven by acquisitions. In late 2016, it acquired from Repsol a 70% interest in the Teak, Samaan, and Poui Block, offshore Trinidad and Tobago, where production is 14,000 boepd.
46. Murat Özgül, Genel Energy
Genel Energy is one of the largest holders of reserves and resources in Kurdistan, Iraq. Production from Taq Taq and Tawke averaged 56,400 bpd in H2 2016, while Miran and Bina Bawi gas fields have gross proven and probable (2P) reserves of around 715mn barrels of oil and gross proven, probable and possible reserves of over 1bn barrels of oil. The projects are underpinned by the KRI-Turkey Gas Sales Agreement. Representing the company since 2008 is CEO Murat Özgül. With over 20 years of experience, he previously served as CEO of the imaging satellite operating INTA Spaceturk.
47. Wissam Chbat, Chairman, Lebanese Petroleum Administration
The Lebanese Petroleum Administration, a regulating body in charge of managing Lebanon’s oil and gas industry, was established in December 2012. Just recently, Lebanon announced its intention to restart its first oil and gas licensing round, inviting international companies to bid for five offshore blocks, a bidding round that was delayed for several years due to internal political deadlock. The announcement was seen as a significant step for the much-needed development of the local hydrocarbon industry.
48. Ali Shadad Al Fares, Basra Gas Company
The Iraqi Government established Basrah Gas Company in May 2013 to meet the challenge of turning Basrah’s gas wealth into a profitable industry. The Basrah province has always been rich with gas and currently produces enough quantities to create electricity for more than 11mn homes, according to BGC’s website. Given the fact that the company is a public/private joint venture, its structure is unique to the Iraqi market. South Gas Company, which has a a workforce of 5,500 mostly Iraqi employees, is a majority shareholder, sharing the entity with other partners like Shell and Mitsubishi.
49. Mohammad Iravani, CEO, Dana Energy
The Iranian Dana Energy is operating in three different business segments including exploration and production, upstream services, and energy trading. The company’s E&P activities include geology and reservoir engineering, all targeted at discovering, and unlocking asset potential of new hydrocarbon reserves in Iran. Currently, the company, which was founded in 2000, generates revenue of $435mn, owns total assets of $670mn, and has a total current project value of $2.5bn. This is all done with the help of 1730 employees working in seven different international offices. As major IOCs rush to re-enter the Iranian market, it is local players like Dana Energy who will be benefiting the most.
50. Ye Jianming, Chairman, CEFC China
One of the main strategies adopted by CEFC China is to expand international economic cooperation in the energy sector in what the company called the ‘go global’ strategy. Founded in 2002 by current chairman 39-year-old Ye Jianming, the company today has almost 30,000 employees, and comrpises three group companies, 15 level-one subsidiaries as investment platforms and an A-share listed company. According to an article by the South China Morning Post, the company’s revenue doubled to $38.3bn between 2012 and 2015, making it the largest oil trader in China. Holding shares of several global companies, CEFC recently won a 4% stake in ADNOC’s ADCO concession for $888mn, giving the company a firm start in the region.
