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 [email protected]

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-report

HC 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 [email protected]

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.