Tertzakian, Peter

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Tertzakian, Peter

PERSONAL:

Married; children: two. Education: University of Alberta, B.S.; University of Southampton, England, graduate degree; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, M.S.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Agent—Julia Tanen, Mavens & Moguls, 46 Winterberry Dr., Franklin, MA 02038.

CAREER:

ARC Financial Corporation, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, chief energy economist; frequent guest on television and radio programs, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; frequent guest speaker for various organizations.

WRITINGS:

A Thousand Barrels a Second: The Coming Oil Break Point and the Challenges Facing an Energy Dependent World, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 2006.

Writes a weekly column, "ARC Energy Charts." Contributor to periodicals, including the Globe and Mail and Forbes.com.

SIDELIGHTS:

Peter Tertzakian is a writer and economist who serves as the chief energy economist of ARC Financial Corporation, a major international energy investment firm located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Tertzakian graduated from the University of Alberta with an undergraduate degree in geophysics, then went on to study econometrics at the University of Southampton, earning a graduate degree. He also has a master of science degree in management of technology, which he earned at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. Starting his career doing field work, Tertzakian swiftly rose through the ranks due to his independent spirit, as well as his solid knowledge of geophysics, finance, and economics. He ultimately entered management and became known as one of the foremost experts in the world regarding all areas of energy. He speaks frequently for organizations and on both radio and television, and has been quoted in and/or contributed to numerous periodicals and online publications, including U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, and the Globe and Mail. He is also the author of a weekly industry column, "ARC Energy Charts."

In addition to his work for ARC Financial Corporation, Tertzakian is the author of a well-respected book regarding the potential for a worldwide energy crisis titled, A Thousand Barrels a Second: The Coming Oil Break Point and the Challenges Facing an Energy Dependent World. The book addresses the issue of oil consumption, and the number of barrels of oil that are depleted by the population of the world every second of every day—a number that reached one thousand in 2006, when Tertzakian's book was published. He analyzes the way oil consumption has changed, and how these differences in our global approach to energy usage are leading the planet to a point of crisis. In addition, he attempts to answer a number of questions that are frequently presented by the world's leaders as well as prominent businessmen and policy makers. Richard Drezen, in a review for the Library Journal, commented that "Tertzakian provides a great deal of data, which may overwhelm the reader, but there is no mistaking his point." Patrick Clawson, reviewing for the Middle East Quarterly, opined that "the most original and important contribution Tertzakian makes is providing much perspective about the grand sweep of history." In a review for Booklist, contributor Brendan Driscoll remarked of the book: "Refreshingly measured and pragmatic, this account also is illuminating as a quick historical primer of the oil industry."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 15, 2006, Brendan Driscoll, review of A Thousand Barrels a Second: The Coming Oil Break Point and the Challenges Facing an Energy Dependent World, p. 27.

Choice, July 1, 2006, A. Klinghoffer, review of A Thousand Barrels a Second, p. 2044.

CMA Management, April, 2006, review of A Thousand Barrels a Second, p. 6.

Library Journal, February 15, 2006, Richard Drezen, review of A Thousand Barrels a Second, p. 129.

Middle East Quarterly, summer, 2007, Patrick Clawson, review of A Thousand Barrels a Second.