Custom Courses Energy, Oil and Gas

Economy and trade in hydrocarbons Training

SAQA US AATICD-0281 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the global hydrocarbon economy, including trade dynamics, pricing mechanisms, and the impact of geopolitical factors. Participants will analyze supply chains, market structures, and regulatory environments to make informed business decisions in the oil and gas sector.

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze the global supply and demand dynamics of hydrocarbon markets.
  • Evaluate pricing mechanisms and the role of benchmarks like Brent and WTI.
  • Assess the impact of geopolitical events on hydrocarbon trade flows.
  • Apply trade finance instruments and risk management strategies in hydrocarbon transactions.
  • Interpret regulatory frameworks and trade agreements affecting the hydrocarbon industry.
  • Design strategies for optimizing supply chain logistics in hydrocarbon trade.

Target Audience

Professionals in the energy sector, including traders, analysts, managers, and consultants, who seek to deepen their knowledge of hydrocarbon markets and trade.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Hydrocarbon Economy and Trade

Objectives:
• Understand the global importance of hydrocarbons in energy and economy.
• Identify key hydrocarbon types and their sources.
• Explain the basic structure of the hydrocarbon value chain.
• Recognize major players in global hydrocarbon markets.

Topics:
• Overview of the hydrocarbon industry: oil, gas, and coal.
• Global energy demand and supply dynamics.
• Key producing and consuming regions.
• Introduction to hydrocarbon reserves, resources, and production.
• The value chain: upstream, midstream, downstream.
• Major companies and organizations (OPEC, IEA, etc.).
• Basic economic concepts: supply, demand, price formation.
• Environmental and geopolitical considerations.

Day 2: Hydrocarbon Markets and Pricing Mechanisms

Objectives:
• Describe how hydrocarbon prices are determined.
• Differentiate between spot markets, futures, and long-term contracts.
• Analyze factors influencing price volatility.
• Understand the role of benchmarks (Brent, WTI, etc.).

Topics:
• Global oil and gas pricing benchmarks.
• Spot markets vs. futures markets.
• Factors affecting prices: geopolitics, OPEC decisions, inventories.
• Long-term contracts and price formulas.
• Natural gas pricing: hub-based and oil-indexed.
• Impact of exchange rates and speculation.
• Price hedging and risk management.
• Case study: recent price shocks.

Day 3: Trade Flows, Logistics, and Infrastructure

Objectives:
• Map major trade routes for oil, gas, and coal.
• Understand transportation modes: pipelines, tankers, LNG carriers.
• Evaluate infrastructure requirements and constraints.
• Recognize the role of storage and strategic reserves.

Topics:
• Major crude oil and product trade routes.
• Natural gas trade: pipelines vs. LNG.
• Coal shipping and handling.
• Pipeline networks and key chokepoints (Strait of Hormuz, etc.).
• LNG value chain: liquefaction, shipping, regasification.
• Storage facilities and strategic petroleum reserves.
• Ports, terminals, and refining hubs.
• Logistics costs and their impact on trade.

Day 4: Economic Impacts and Policy Frameworks

Objectives:
• Analyze the contribution of hydrocarbons to national economies.
• Understand fiscal regimes and taxation in hydrocarbon-producing countries.
• Evaluate trade policies, sanctions, and their effects.
• Discuss the energy transition and its implications for hydrocarbon trade.

Topics:
• Hydrocarbon revenues and government budgets.
• Royalties, production sharing agreements, and taxes.
• Subsidies and price controls.
• Trade agreements and sanctions (e.g., OPEC+, Iran, Russia).
• National oil companies vs. international oil companies.
• Energy security and diversification.
• Climate policies and carbon pricing.
• The shift to renewables and future of hydrocarbon trade.

Day 5: Practical Applications and Case Studies

Objectives:
• Apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.
• Analyze a country's hydrocarbon trade balance.
• Evaluate the impact of a geopolitical event on markets.
• Develop a simple trading strategy or policy recommendation.

Topics:
• Case study: South Africa's hydrocarbon imports and exports.
• Simulation: trading oil futures or negotiating a contract.
• Group exercise: impact of a supply disruption.
• Presentation: energy transition and hydrocarbon demand outlook.
• Integrating course concepts into professional practice.
• Review and assessment.

Practicals

16 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house
Overview

Practical sessions involve hands-on analysis of real trade data, simulation of trading scenarios, and negotiation exercises. These activities reinforce theoretical concepts and develop skills in data interpretation, market analysis, and decision-making.

Practical Activities
  • Data Analysis and Market Simulation — Learners analyze historical price data and simulate trading decisions using a market simulation platform. (6h)
  • Trade Route and Logistics Exercise — Learners map a hydrocarbon supply chain from producer to consumer, identifying logistics challenges and costs. (4h)
  • Negotiation and Contract Simulation — Groups role-play as buyers and sellers negotiating a long-term gas supply agreement, including price and terms. (6h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) 100% 30%
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 50%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Jan 2027 Fri 08 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Feb 2027 Fri 05 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Jun 2027 Fri 25 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Sep 2027 Fri 24 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 424 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,916 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $5,238 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Harare, Zimbabwe Winter 2026 $3,078 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Shenzhen, China Winter 2026 $7,398 Register
Mon 24 Aug 2026 Fri 28 Aug 2026 Bangkok, Thailand Winter 2026 $6,318 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Oct 2026 Fri 16 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Feb 2027 Fri 12 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Jul 2027 Fri 16 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 10 Jan 2028 Fri 14 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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