Aligning the interests of trading desks and refineries

The interests of trading desks may not always be aligned with the best interests of a vertically integrated company’s assets. Charles Ford discusses some approaches that address this issue

Manufacturing-based firms – the ‘super majors’ and large integrated refiner marketers – are in an excellent position to set up sophisticated trading operations aimed at capturing the often significant incremental returns presented by the energy commodity marketplace. They have a natural position in the market and expertise in assessing market data, as well as in-depth knowledge of the sectors in which their assets operate. Not surprisingly, many firms have exploited these advantages and set up