The global upstream oil and gas sector is confronting a mounting crisis—access to capital. For over a decade, international producers, especially small- and mid-cap firms, have faced shrinking pools of funding as banks exit the space and public equity markets falter. Traditional sources of capital have dwindled, leaving many promising ventures stranded without the financial fuel they need to grow.

As capital constraints tighten, the sector’s self-depleting business model—where every produced barrel reduces tomorrow’s inventory—becomes unsustainable. The result? A looming risk of supply shortfalls, price shocks, and widening energy inequity, especially in underdeveloped economies. With traditional financing off the table, how can energy producers bridge this capital chasm?

In this episode, I sit down with Richard Naden, a seasoned executive and co-founder of Atlas Energy, to explore a breakthrough model inspired by royalty and streaming structures from mining and North American energy. Richard shares how Atlas provides not only innovative capital but also operational and technical expertise to its partners, creating an aligned and scalable funding approach. With a lean asset-light model, heavy on analytics and trust in data, Atlas aims to build a multi-billion dollar portfolio that could reshape how energy projects are financed around the world.

Richard Naden is a senior executive with Atlas Energy Corp., bringing nearly four decades of experience in engineering, operations, acquisitions, and executive leadership roles in the global energy industry. Raised on the gas fields of Alberta and trained as a mechanical engineer, Richard’s international career has spanned the Americas, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. His latest venture, Atlas Energy, combines his depth of industry knowledge with a passion for innovation and sustainable energy finance.

atlas-corp.ca

rwnaden@gmail.com

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The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not constitute professional advice.