Abu Dhabi to host energy roundtable of global CEOs

The invitation-only forum will provide a high-level platform for discussion on key issues such as energy market dynamics

The forum will be held on the sidelines of the annual Adipec which takes place virtually this year, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Bloomberg

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company will convene a roundtable of 30 global chief executives in the energy industry on Wednesday to address issues critical to the sector following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The invitation-only forum will provide a high-level platform for discussion on key issues including energy market dynamics and a post-pandemic economic recovery.

The latest edition of the Abu Dhabi CEO Roundtable will "build on the productive discussions at the last roundtable held in June”, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Adnoc group chief executive and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said.

The forum "will enable us to share perspectives on the role of the industry in the energy transition and how our industry can reinforce its resilience, operate more sustainably and remain competitive in a fast-evolving energy landscape,” he added.

The sessions will be attended by CEOs from major global oil companies like Exxon Mobil, Occidental and BP. They will be moderated by energy historian and economist Daniel Yergin.

The forum will be held on the sidelines of the annual Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec), which takes place online this year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The roundtable "will tackle the critical question of resilience – both economic and physical – in the post-Covid world”, Mr Yergin said in a statement.

The author of The Prize, which chronicles the boom and bust of the US shale basins and the predominance of oil in the global energy industry, has released a new book, The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations.

"The global oil industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience in seamlessly operating and delivering supplies to consumers worldwide in the face of both the massive Covid disruption and a demand requirement that is down only 10 per cent for the year, despite lockdowns,” he added.

The theme for this year's Adipec is Examining the Oil and Gas Industry's Response to Unparalleled Change. It will address current energy market dynamics and the implications Covid-19 has on energy transition. Abu Dhabi's flagship energy event will take place over four days, beginning on Monday. and will feature more than 700 speakers participating in 135 online sessions.

Ministers speaking at the event include Dr Al Jaber, UAE Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei and Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.