Geopolitics of Central Asian Energy MECACS Seminar Series with Guest Speaker Dr Michael Denison (BP)

Central Asia is a major source of energy production with globally significant reserves of oil, gas, coal and uranium, and growing potential to develop wind and solar power. The region is also geopolitically complex: Russia and China are influential neighbours. Building rand running export systems to markets across geopolitical faultlines and areas of conflict has proved challenging. This talk looks at the context and trajectory of Central Asia's energy production and considers how the region might develop amid global geopolitical uncertainty.

Dr Michael Denison leads bp's International Advisory team, advising the firm's leadership and regional businesses on international political affairs, government relations and energy policy. Michael has over 30 years of commercial, government and academic experience in the energy sector, including working as Special Adviser to UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Michael's team is based in the UK and US and works closely with governments and bp's commercial partners to develop a range of projects across the energy value chain.
Prior to bp, Michael was Global Research Director at Control Risks. He is a former Visiting Fellow and Convenor of the Central Asian Studies M.Litt in MECACS, University of St Andrews.
He is a Fellow of the Energy Institute and is Chairman of the International Oil and Gas Producers Association's Arctic Committee. Michael also teaches Oil and Gas Law and Project Finance to LLM students at City Law School, London.

Education

PhD Political Science (Central Asia politics and economy), University of Leeds
LLM International Energy Law and Regulation, City Law School
MA Modern History, University of Oxford