In addition to its energy exploration holdings, Empire also owns 47 percent of a food processing company based in China.

     Al Sehsuvaroglu, who was named Empire Energy’s new Chief Executive Officer last month, has nearly 30 years experience in the oil and gas industry, having served as president and CEO of Big Sky Energy Corporation in Alberta, Canada, and as vice-chairman of the Kazakhstan Petroleum Association. He was Country Director for Kazakhstan in Halliburton’s Kellogg Brown & Root division. For more than 20 years he served in various engineering and management roles with Halliburton in Europe, Central Asia and Africa.

Recently Ingram’s Magazine conducted an interview with Sehsuvaroglu.   

 

What are your immediate priorities in your new position?

When taking an executive position with a publicly listed company, the first task is to spend time on the front lines long enough to get to know the staff, and familiarize himself with the day-to-day operations. This approach has always allowed me to grasp the broader picture more rapidly and provided me with a clearer view of the road ahead. Concurrent with this activity,

I am now instigating more vigorous Corporate Governance

and Government Compliance procedures to ensure that Empire enhances both its public responsibility and responsiveness. 

 

How easy or difficult is it for an energy company to conduct business from Kansas?

Having grown up in Kansas (Arkansas City) I am naturally inclined to say it’s easy to conduct business from Kansas.

Despite its central location (away from the busy coastal areas), Kansas provides an excellent recruitment ground for corporate talent and reasonable fiscal and cost structures for growing a small-cap energy company.

 

Energy issues are critical to the world’s political and economic stability. How does Empire fit into that overall picture?

In the short term, Empire sits at a very unique position as being the first energy company to look for commercial hydrocarbons onshore in Tasmania. The finding of oil or natural gas will have an immediate and real effect on the local Tasmanian economy by providing a reasonably priced energy source and giving the island energy autonomy. In the long term, Empire is considering alternate locations for oil and gas exploration. This diversification should provide a better balanced portfolio for our shareholders and ensure that Empire becomes a value accretive investment opportunity in the immediate future.  

 

Forecast the future of your company. Where will it be five years from now? 

Based on the preliminary basin and seismic studies conducted in Tasmania, we expect to make significant hydrocarbon discoveries. Looking at our longer term business plan, I see Empire spreading into the renewable energy markets as well as expanding its existing fossil fuel focus. In the next five to ten years the company should be exploring and producing in key areas of the world such as North and East Africa or Central Asia.