Royal Dutch Shell’s £47 billion takeover of smaller rival BG Group has sparked speculation that more oil deals are imminent -- a view shared by Blackstone’s energy chief for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in an interview with Financial News.

Mustafa Siddiqui, the man who Blackstone relocated to London from New York last year for a newly-created role leading the buyout firm's energy activities in the Emea region, had just got his feet under the desk when the oil price collapsed.