Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy President and CEO, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, has underscored the critical need for global energy security to remain unaffected by political conflicts. Speaking at the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh, Al Kaabi warned that regional conflicts have precipitated a severe global energy crisis, disrupting the flow of approximately 20 percent of the world’s hydrocarbon supplies.
Al Kaabi stressed that energy security is intrinsically linked to geopolitical stability and is vital for the global economy. He highlighted that attacks on energy infrastructure have resulted in billions of dollars in damages, exacerbating market volatility. To counter these challenges, Al Kaabi called for enhanced international cooperation to protect energy infrastructure, bolster supply chains, and ensure the reliability of energy supplies amid escalating regional tensions.
Qatar expressed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia during the forum, which convened energy ministers, government representatives, industry leaders, and international organizations to deliberate on energy security, supply chain resilience, and the evolving dynamics of global energy demand and supply.
Al Kaabi’s remarks come at a time when the ongoing regional turmoil underscores the vulnerability of energy systems to political strife. By advocating for a framework that decouples energy supplies from political disputes, he seeks to promote stability and predictability in global energy markets.
The meeting in Riyadh provided a platform for key stakeholders to address the pressing issues of energy security and the need for a collective response to protect critical energy infrastructure from the adverse impacts of geopolitical tensions.