Michael Barron Consulting -

About

We help you navigate Middle Eastern politics and business issues based on more than twenty five years experience of engagement in the region including at the highest levels of government. We can help you with country entry (and exit), understanding the implications of public policy and political agendas for your business and managing complex issues that could impact your reputation.

“Michael knows more about this region than anyone else I have ever met and can explain complex situations in a very easy to understand manner - He was an extremely useful contact to know when I was doing M&A in the region!”
- Former M&A Manager, FTSE 100 energy company

Michael Barron

Director

Michael has more than 25 years experience visiting, analysing, living and working in the Middle East and North Africa including engagement at the highest levels of government. He has more than 12 years experience working for a FTSE 100 oil and gas company with assignments in Egypt, Oman and Thailand. He also has experience of South East Asian affairs and an in depth knowledge of transparency issues, particularly the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and EU legislation in this area.

Michael studied Arabic at the University of Edinburgh, including spending time in Cairo. After graduation, he worked in the newsroom of Middle East Broadcasting before joining Control Risks Group as a senior Middle East analyst. He then worked as a freelance consultant for three years before joining BG Group where he worked as a government and public affairs manger for more than 12 years. After leaving BG, he worked for a year with the leading political risk consultancy Eurasia Group as a director in its energy practice.

He is a keen long distance runner and has completed more than 20 marathons.

Case Studies

Politically Controversial Energy Project

Michael provided leadership in political risk analysis, government relations and stakeholder management for the Gaza Marine project, one of the most politically controversial upstream oil and gas projects. The project involves developing gas reserves offshore the Gaza Strip and marketing the natural gas to regional markets including Israel. Agreement between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority is a necessary prerequisite for the project to go ahead. Michael implemented a government relations strategy in support of negotiations with both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority as well as liaison with other stakeholders including the British and US governments and the Office of the Quartet Representative.

Country Entry

Michael has considerable experience of government relations and stakeholder management for country entry in both the Middle East and South East Asia. He was a member of the leadership team that established BG Group’s presence in Oman. This included undertaking political risk analysis, writing the Board paper seeking approval for country entry and establishing BG’s presence in country including positioning the company as a preferred partner. Hew was also a member of the project team for Myanmar country entry. He was a member of the BG delegation that first visited the country, managed the government relations strategy to position BG as a responsible investor through to the successful bid for four offshore blocks.

Recommendations To Government On Energy Subsidies

Michael co-ordinated an industry study into energy subsidies in Egypt in 2003-04. A group of nine international oil and gas companies funded the study by an external consultant. Energy subsidies lie at the heart of the issue of outstanding government debts to international oil and gas companies for natural gas sales. The study analysed the issue, provided case studies of countries that had successfully dismantled energy subsidy regimes and provided recommendations to the government. The government welcomed the study and started a dialogue at ministerial level on how to implement the recommendations. Energy subsidies remain a politically controversial issue in Egypt and continue to tarnish the country’s reputation as an investment destination. While the Egyptian government remains committed to addressing energy subsidies, other priorities have prevented substantive action.

Placing Transparency On The Policy Agenda

In Thailand, Michael succeeded in getting the issue of extractive industry transparency on the policy agenda as part of the solution to overcoming deep-seated public distrust of the oil and gas sector. International oil and gas companies faced considerable difficulties in getting the government to take decisive action on a number of key issues. Holding the government back was concern about the political capital the opposition would make from the decisions despite resolution of the issues being in the long term economic interest of the country. Candidacy of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) was promoted through the industry association including a key note speech by EITI’s secretary-general at a major industry event. EITI candidacy was included in an energy manifesto issued by a former energy minister shortly after the May 2014 coup and is now part of the dialogue on reform of the sector in Thailand.

Blog

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Welcome to Michael Barron Consulting

About

Michael Barron

Case Studies

Blog

Piloting a way to oil sales transparency

EU need transparency for your company ownership structure

Investing in Palestinian unity needed for more secure region

Narrowing the Gulf: Improving GCC-Israel relations

Why these seven Muslim majority countries? A Marathon Runner’s Guide to Middle Eastern Politics, part 2

A Marathon Runner’s Guide to Middle Eastern Politics, part 1

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Mediterranean migrant crisis

Economic reform in the GCC: Red sky at night or red sky in the morning?

First Blog Post

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