Outlook 2022: The future of oil majors in the energy transition
The big oil and gas companies are faced with the prospect of losing a large part of their market as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. Can they carve out a positive role for themselves?
Oil supply will increase by 6pc by 2030 under stated government policies, but decline by 27pc in a scenario leading to net zero by 2050, according to the IEA. For gas, the figures are plus 10pc and minus 9pc. That is a wide range of uncertainty. And stated government policies would require an investment of nearly $700bn/yr in upstream oil from 2030—well above current levels—whereas on the net-zero-by-2050 trajectory there will be no need for investment in new fields. With reasonable optimism about global progress in converting to clean energy, a tipping point will eventually occur when prices will decline closer to the production costs of the lowest-cost fields, mainly in Opec countries. Tha
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined






