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Matt Simmons who first advocated the ‘Peak Oil’ theory that suggested the world was fast reaching peak oil production capacity, died suddenly on Sunday at his home in the state of Maine in the US.
Bloomberg reported local officials saying the cause of the death was accidental drowning.
Simmons is the author of the 2005 book “Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy,” which laid out an argument of peak oil, that the world was approaching peak oil production.
Simmons founded investment bank Simmons & Co. International which serves energy companies, in 1974. Â In early summer, the former George W. Bush energy advisor predicted that BP would need to file for bankruptcy protection as a consequence of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Â
He also said that there were two more leaks in the Gulf of Mexico apart from the much publicised gushing Macondo well.
Following these comments, Simmons & Co. cut ties with its founder who until that point served as its chairman emeritus.
More recently and after retirement, Simmons founded the Ocean Energy Research Institute in Rockland, Maine to research and develop wind and tidal energy sources.
In response to the news, Simmons & Co. posted the following statement on their website:Â “We are deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of a true visionary and friend, Matt Simmons. As a pivotal figure in the lives of many of our employees, and countless others across the energy industry, Matt will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Simmons is survived by his wife, Ellen, and their five daughters.
