Industry optimism is on the rise, but so are costs
The oil and gas sector feels better able to survive oil price volatility, DNV GL’s boss tells Petroleum Economist, as long as spending is kept under control
The boom days may be over, but the oil and gas industry has emerged from the oil-price slump leaner, fitter and in a better position to cope with future volatility in the sector, says Liv Hovem, chief executive of DNV GL's oil and gas business. As a provider of testing, certification and advisory services, the Oslo-headquartered company is well placed to take the pulse of the industry. The regular surveys it carries out across the sector, along with analysis of demand patterns for its own services, give a good idea of current trends. DNV GL's latest report, an annual outlook for the oil and gas industry, suggests optimism is returning for both operators and suppliers. A survey of 791 senior
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy






