OIES trying to fuel debate on energy markets, says Fattouh

Unlike other research houses, the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies does not toe a single editorial line and occasionally publishes opposing views on the same topic. But far from being a drawback, that is what makes the institute great, argues institute director Bassam Fattouh. By Stella Farrington

OIES originally focused on oil and the Middle East

Strong and widely divergent views sit at the heart of almost every debate in energy markets – whether it is the impact of speculation on oil prices, the easiest way to reduce carbon emissions, or the merits of using derivatives to manage risk. With a diverse range of stakeholders – including governments, regulators, corporations, environmentalists, commodity traders and industrial consumers – the viewpoints of energy market actors can often be poles apart. For this reason, the Oxford Institute