Former IEA Oil Market Chief Joins National Center for Energy Analytics as Visiting Fellow
National Center for Energy Analytics (NCEA), a Washington, D.C.-based energy think tank, announced today it has added Neil Atkinson as a visiting fellow. In this role, he will provide research and analysis of oil market issues.
Atkinson is a Paris-based independent energy analyst who advises financial institutions, and participates in consulting projects, including for the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries and the World Petroleum Council. He is also a columnist for the Petroleum Economist magazine.
As a well-respected authority on the energy industry, he is sought after for his perspective from policy-making institutions, both domestic and abroad, including the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and NATO. Prior to formally joining NCEA, Atkinson and NCEA’s executive director Mark P. Mills co-authored a report criticizing the IEA’s forecast of peak global oil demand. Their analysis pinpointed 23 flawed assumptions used by the agency to frame its scenarios. The report was accompanied by a public briefing on Capitol Hill where Atkinson delivered remarks based on their findings.
“I’ve long admired Neil’s scholarship and viewpoints on energy, as well as his career achievements. Adding him to our growing list of accomplished scholars will continue to advance our research efforts to ensure more fact-based perspectives are available for policymakers,” said Mills.
Atkinson’s energy career spans more than 40 years, beginning in 1979 when he joined Petróleos de Venezuela (UK) SA. He left the company in 1998 and served in a succession of senior positions at Platts, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Energy Intelligence Group, KBC Energy Economics, Datamonitor Energy and Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Most recently, he served as the head of the oil industry and markets division at the IEA.
In addition to his professional duties, Atkinson served as the Honorary Secretary of the British Institute of Energy Economics, and will shortly be elected as a Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers in London.
Atkinson commented: “The world will need a lot more energy as far ahead as we can see, and it is important that analysts provide balanced, objective research and policy advice that ignores policy aspirations in favor of what is happening in the real world. I hope my experience of the oil market will help to bolster NCEA’s mission.”
About the National Center for Energy Analytics (NCEA):
The National Center for Energy Analytics is a think tank devoted to data-driven analyses of policies, plans, and technologies surrounding the supply and use of energy essential for human flourishing. Through objective analyses of energy policies and their implications, NCEA aims to inform policymakers, industry leaders, and the public on critical energy issues.