October 23, 2025
Dubai Energy Briefing
Almas Conference Centre, Jumeirah Lake Towers
We are delighted to invite you to our annual Dubai Energy Briefing, in partnership with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) on October 23, 2025.
Join us for an engaging event where industry leaders and experts will gather to explore the latest developments in the global oil, refined products and shipping markets. This year’s agenda includes insightful presentations and discussions on critical topics such as global benchmarks, the evolving dynamics of Middle East crude markets, and the impact of sanctions on oil flows and trade patterns. Attendees will gain valuable insights into refined products, biofuels, and shipping trends.
Connect with peers and industry professionals while engaging with our experts, who will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Key themes:
- Updates on global benchmarks
- Developments in Middle East crude markets
- Shipping and tanker market insights
- The implications of sanctions on traditional shipping routes
- Middle East refined product market updates
- Dynamics of the biofuels market and regulatory influences
Agenda
12:30 pm - Registration and Networking
1:30 pm - Opening remarks, DMCC
Patrick Ghata, Associate Director of Financial Services, DMCC
1:40 pm - Opening remarks, S&P Global Commodity Insights
Peter Galbraith, Senior Commercial Director
1:45 pm - The new world of hyper-uncertainty
- Has US tariff policy stabilized, or are there more surprises ahead?
- Will efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine succeed – and how will Russian oil and gas be affected?
- How will political and economic uncertainty affect energy markets and investments over the next year?
Laurent Ruseckas, Research and Analysis Executive Director
2:00 pm - Global benchmarks update
- How do global oil benchmarks adjust to tariff uncertainty and amidst changing trade flows?
- Update on Platts Dated Brent and new oil market assessments
Vera Blei, Head of Market Reporting and Trading Solutions
2:20 pm - Changing dynamics in the Middle East crude market
- Middle East crude market update
- Platts Middle East crude methodology
Daniel Colover, Head of Oils & Chemicals, EMEA Engagement
2:40 pm - Oil market outlook
- Has the Middle East's ambitious refining capacity expansion reached its zenith, or is there more to come?
- In what ways will the region's enhanced refining capabilities impact refined products trade flows?
- How did the summer oil burn elevate demand and influence cracks of HSFO?
Dong Wang, Principal Research Analyst, Middle East Oil Markets
*Agenda is subject to change.
3:00 pm - Tankers: navigating tariffs and geopolitical waves
- USTR rulings may create two-tier markets
- Geopolitical uncertainty is creating inefficiencies, impacting freight
- Tanker order book starting to soar
Peter Norfolk, Global Director, Price Reporting - Shipping & Freight
3:20 pm - The effects of sanctions on oil flows and trade patterns
- How sanctions are altering traditional shipping routes and flows
- The rise of the shadow fleet
- Deceptive shipping practices and impact on the overall fleet
Yen Ling Song, Associate Director, Crude and Refined Product Flows
3:35 pm - Leveraging AI tools and Commodity Research
Laura Mora, Senior Datafeed Sales Manager
3:45 pm - Networking break
4:15 pm - Latest developments in the Middle East refined product markets
- Middle East refined product market developments
- Fujairah reporting and infrastructure update
Daniel Colover, Head of Oils & Chemicals, EMEA Engagement
4:35 pm - From feedstocks to fuels: unlocking the biofuels equation for decarbonization
- Update on biofuel and biofuel feedstocks production and availability
- Impact on market dynamics by policy and regulatory frameworks
- Platts biofuel price assessments and methodology update
Wesley Monteiro, Middle East Market Engagement Lead
4:55 pm - Panel discussion: Navigating tariffs, sanctions, and emerging trade flows
Panelists:
Laurent Ruseckas, Research and Analysis Executive Director
Claire Godard, Senior Director
Daniel Colover, Head of Oils & Chemicals, EMEA Engagement
Dong Wang, Principal Research Analyst, Middle East Oil Markets
Moderator: Lauren Holtmeier, Senior Editor, Middle East Energy News
5:20 pm - Closing remarks
Peter Galbraith, Senior Commercial Director
5:25 pm - Networking drinks reception
Speakers
S&P Global Energy
Vera Blei
Head of Market Reporting and Trading Solutions
Patrick Ghata
Associate Director of Financial Services , DMCC
S&P Global Energy
Peter Galbraith
Senior Commercial Director
S&P Global Energy
Dong Wang
Principal Research Analyst, Middle East Oil Markets
S&P Global Energy
Daniel Colover
Head of Oil & Chemicals, EMEA Engagement
S&P Global Energy
Yen Ling Song
Associate Director, Crude and Refined Product Flows
S&P Global Energy
Laurent Ruseckas
Research and Analysis Executive Director
Laurent is a leading authority on the gas industry in Europe and Eurasia, with a special focus on gas supply and transportation and a regional focus on the Caspian Sea region, southeastern Europe, Turkey, Ukraine and the Eastern Mediterranean. He has published client research on topics including EU gas regulation, Russian-Ukrainian gas arbitration, and the gas sectors in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. He has worked for more than two decades advising international oil and gas companies and institutional investors on energy investment in Eurasia, and has led assignments in which S&P Global served as Lenders' Market Consultant in support of project financings on numerous occasions. Laurent first joined CERA (a predecessor company of S&P Global) in 1991 and led CERA's Caspian Energy practice from 1997 to 2003. Laurent co-managed the Caspian Development Corporation project carried out for the World Bank and European Commission (DG Energy) during the period 2009-2011. From 2006 to 2008, Laurent was based in Baku, Azerbaijan as Director of Business Development and head of strategy for a company in the oil transportation sector.
A Russian speaker, Laurent holds a B.A. with honors in Russian and Soviet Studies from Harvard University (Cambridge, USA), and he passed comprehensive examinations in the Ph.D. program in Political Science at Columbia University (New York, USA).
S&P Global Energy
Peter Norfolk
Global Director, Price Reporting - Shipping & Freight
S&P Global Energy
Wesley Monteiro
Middle East Market Engagement Lead
Wesley is the Middle East Market Engagement Lead at S&P Global Energy (Platts).
He has developed strong relationships with numerous international organizations and led strategic engagements with key players across the commodity industry, including producers, traders, investors, consumers, and technology providers. Wesley has been instrumental in educating the market on Platts’ pricing methodology, offering valuable market insights and intelligence, and fostering commercial collaboration.
With over 15 years of experience, Wesley spent 12 years in the energy sector at Petrobras, a leading national oil and gas company, and one year as a Consultant at Bain & Company, a globally renowned strategy consulting firm, before joining S&P Global.
Wesley has delivered presentations at major international conferences, engaging senior and executive audiences in countries such as Colombia, Switzerland, Brazil, Paraguay, the Bahamas, Chile, India, the Netherlands, Bahrain, and Singapore.
Currently based in the UAE, Wesley is an international professional with experience in Brazil and Switzerland. He holds an MBA from IMD – International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from IFBA.