This photo shows a sketch of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC). KAPSARC is co-hosting the 44th International Conference of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) with Saudi Association for Energy Economics (SAEE). (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

An international forum that focuses on creating a clean and sustainable energy future will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from Feb 4 to 9 to lay the groundwork for “pathways to a clean, stable, and sustainable energy future”.

The 44th International Conference of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) is to be held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) - a region that accounts for over 40 percent of the global oil and gas production.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s minister of energy, will inaugurate the annual conference by delivering his keynote speech at the opening ceremony later on Feb 4. This will be followed by the energy minister’s conversation with Daniel Yergin, vice-chairman at S&P Global.

Over 500 delegates - comprising of government officials, institutional and corporate leaders, and renowned academics from more than 40 countries - are expected to attend this year’s event.  

The six-day event is hosted by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) and Saudi Association for Energy Economics (SAEE).

Over 500 delegates - comprising of government officials, institutional and corporate leaders, and renowned academics from more than 40 countries - are expected to attend this year’s event.  Discussions will focus on the conference theme “pathways to a clean, stable, and sustainable energy future”. 

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In a statement released in December, Fahad Alajlan, president of KAPSARC, said that as accelerating the energy transition becomes ever more imperative for achieving net zero emissions and overcoming the evolving climate crisis in due course, the global community “has a unique opportunity to work together to realize mutual aspirations”.

He said the 44th IAEE Conference represents another key chapter in facilitating dialogue and exchanging knowledge and innovation on the local, regional, and international levels.

Majid Al Moneef, SAEE’s chairman, said the “timely conference” will address the energy and environmental issues facing the region and the world and that  Saudi Arabia “has been an active player in the global energy and climate change fora”, having launched the Saudi and Middle East green initiatives.

Ten plenary sessions are scheduled to be held from Feb 5 to Feb 8. Some of the topics that will be discussed include pathways to energy transitions; economy and energy diversification in MENA; energy efficiency and industrial competitiveness; and energy volatility, security, and access.

An invitation-only IAEE Council meeting followed by a Young Professionals and Scholars Day in Hilton Riyadh will also be held prior to Prince Abdulaziz’s keynote speech on Feb 4.

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The conference will conclude on Feb 9 with a tour of the Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah Oil Production Facility at the Rub' Al-Khali desert and the Shaybah Wildlife Sanctuary.

Prime Sarmiento contributed to this report.

See more at https://iaee2023.saudi-aee.sa/