Mauro Ristorto Senior Consultant    Areas of Focus   Mauro specializes in the Venezuelan gas sector, as well as the country’s oil and power markets. He provides economic and financial analysis and market research, with a particular focus on the economic and fiscal framework of energy projects, to assist IPD clients in their business development. Using his broad background, Mauro develops in-depth analyses, including risk analysis, and advises clients on project opportunities and financing. He is an expert at developing financial models and risk analysis assessments for energy projects.   Previous Work Experience   Prior to joining IPD, Mauro worked with PDVSA for thirteen years, focusing on the company's natural gas business. He began his career as a project engineer involved with both industrial and residential gas infrastructure. He was involved in the restructuring of departments within PDVSA and the creation of new companies and affiliates. Mauro was an integral participant in the organizational design of Corpoven’s Gas Department restructuring in 1996, and the creation of PDVSA Gas in 1997.    The bulk of Mauro's experience was obtained in PDVSA's planning and new businesses development departments. He was part of the team responsible for the outsourcing (BOO) of a US$ 640 million NGL complex in eastern Venezuela, which was successfully executed in 1998. In 1999 he helped write a proposal, directed to the Venezuelan Government, for developing Venezuela’s gas business. This proposal resulted in the creation of the Organic Gaseous Hydrocarbons Law as well as the Anaco non-associated gas development plan. Mauro has also worked extensively in the development of regulatory and tariff framework for gas distribution. In 2001 Mauro was part of the PDVSA team in charge of negotiations and analysis for Mariscal Sucre LNG, a US$ 2.7 billion venture. Mauro also participated in the multidisciplinary team that developed the natural gas pricing policy that has been enforced since 2001.   Education   Mauro graduated with honors from UCAB (Universidad Catolica Andres Bello), where he obtained a degree in Civil Engineering. He also earned an MBA from the same university, and has undertaken further courses in finance, business development and planning.     Languages Spoken   Spanish, English, Italian