August 2017
How did you come to be in the oil ad gas industry?
In 1998, I replied to a Newspaper advert by Total, titled “North Sea Natural Gas Operation Staff Required”. I started working in Total, where I was fortunate to spend almost 20 years, leading various gas, power and LNG businesses. It was lucky I bought that newspaper.
Aside from low commodity prices what do you believe is the greatest challenge to our industry’s future growth?
One of the greatest challenges today is surely to increase the access and penetration of affordable energy. This must be delivered in a cleaner and more reliable way. The industry is meeting this challenge, by adding more clean-burning natural gas fired power generation and ramping up gas use in transportation.
Where do you see the greatest opportunity in today’s global oil and gas markets and how are you positioned to capture this opportunity?
The LNG to power sector! The greatest opportunity today is the accelerating marriage between highly efficient, gas fired power generation with clean, but intermittent renewable sources. This marriage will replace inefficient, expensive and polluting oil and coal fired generation. This will be the Venture Global LNG story from 2020 to 2040.
If you could wave a magic wand over our industry, what would you change and why?
To wake up one morning and find that the world had replaced all the old power generation plants with efficiency rates of 35%….with new 62% efficient plants. This change would bring affordable electrification to so many people.
What are the strategic priorities for your company in the next 12 months?
Venture Global LNG plans to deliver to long term, low priced LNG from the United States basin to our customers around the world. Our priorities are to continue finding the right partners for the exciting 20 years ahead.
What differentiates your company from similar companies working in Asia-Pacific?
Our price.
How would you describe your company in one sentence to a new client/partner/investor?
The highest quality new LNG company in the United States
What is your goal in attending this event and what takeaways would you like other attendees to go home with regarding your company and your work both in Asia and further afield?
Meeting old friends and building new, long-term partnerships. The takeaway is the quality of our team at Venture Global LNG and our ability to deliver low cost LNG to the buyers worldwide.
What advice would you pass onto a recent graduate wishing to work in oil & gas?
Never stop exploring new ideas! Be bold…in the world of energy, the unexpected is often possible.
How do you prefer to spend your spare time?
I spend my time on our cattle farm in England. It’s a great, refreshing contrast! I try to ride horses when I can and of course, spend time with my family.
What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Being at home on the farm!
el, international cuisine, badminton and spending time with family
What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Santa Barbara, California
About Tom Earl
Tom Earl is the Chief Commercial Officer of the Company. Tom previously served as Vice President at the international oil company Total, focusing on the development of its global LNG business.
After graduating from City University in London with a degree in Engineering, Tom joined Total’s newly formed gas marketing and trading team in 1998. After various responsibilities within the trading division of the newly combined Total, Elf and Petrofina operations, he managed the natural gas option desk and gas trading desk. Tom successfully led significant commercial negotiations on long-term gas and LNG contracts in countries such as Russia, Norway and Qatar.
In 2015, Tom was appointed Vice President of Development for Total’s global LNG activities. Tom led Total’s most recent and highly regarded global expansion into new LNG markets. This work has included innovative new LNG terminal projects and new downstream asset transactions across the world.
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