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Energy

The panel emphasised South-South collaboration. (Image source: Alain Charles Publishing)

During a panel session at ADIPEC 2024, industry stakeholders discussed ways to increase collaboration between countries in the global South and the global North.

The discussion focused on energy transitions and the role of OPEC in ensuring energy access. Key points included the need for diverse energy sources, with OPEC advocating for all forms of energy, not just renewables. The conversation highlighted energy inequalities, such as Heathrow Airport consuming more energy than Sierra Leone.

The Paris Agreement was emphasised as a reduction of emissions, not a phase-out of fossil fuels. The East Africa pipeline and Uganda's oil projects faced financing challenges but are progressing.

The importance of South-South cooperation and regional collaboration in energy projects was underscored, with examples from Uganda, Cyprus, and Sierra Leone.

His Excellency Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, explained why fossil fuels will continue to play an important role in the global South.

“We talk about the importance of another factor, which is urbanisation. By 2030 which is less than six years from today, we're going to have over 582 million people, nearly 600 million people, moving into new cities all around the world, again in non OECD developing parts of the world,” he said.

“The Paris Agreement, ladies and gentlemen, is about reduction of emissions. It's not about phasing out or phasing down or keeping the oil under the ground. It's about reducing emissions that includes technology, that includes investing in renewables, investing in all sources of energy.”

“We have the OPEC Fund for International Development, an agency, a sister agency, based in Vienna, that is very active in Africa and other parts of the world in developing and promoting socio economic development projects, energy projects as well as renewable energy projects.”

“We also have the charter of cooperation, which we signed in 2019 which is a platform that is open for oil producers to participate in, whether it's exchange of technologies, exchange of experiences between various member countries and non OPEC producers who are not members of OPEC that can participate in this platform to gain access to the best practices being implemented in our member countries.”

Growing South-South collaboration

Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa, said, “The East African crude oil pipeline was a negotiated project, and it was a win-win. My president wanted all the oil refined in Uganda, but because we didn't have money to do it by ourselves, we collaborated with investors and we let some of the crude leave the country, while some is refined, which will come with industrialisation.”

Deputy Minister of Energy for Sierra Leone Edmond Nonie, said, “We have big clients in the mining sector who have the capital to pay and have the willingness to pay for lower priced electricity from the grid. So we are embarking on a campaign to connect these mining companies, and once we have these transmission lines out to these companies, we can then do the further, last mile connection to our communities.”

Meanwhile, Cyprus is collaborating with Egypt for energy transmission.

The country’s Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou, said, “The conversation with my colleagues in Egypt is to utilise the [Egyptian] infrastructure [for export]. Secondly, there are pipelines that cross the eastern Mediterranean, which reach Egypt. And the infrastructure in Egypt, there are two LNG terminals, liquefaction plants in Egypt, which are under-utilised.

“This is possibly the destination in order to reach the markets. Of course, there is the domestic market of Egypt as well, which is very important. We all know that power generation in this country is mostly coming from natural gas. Cyprus is very well positioned, and at the right time in order to support and provide the natural gas and use the infrastructure in order to reach the international markets.”

ADIPEC 2024 is spotlighting the pivotal role of AI in the energy transition. (Image source: ACP)

On 4 November, Abu Dhabi welcomed the global energy sector to the UAE as ADIPEC 2024, the world’s largest energy event, opened at the ADNEC Centre

Hosted by ADNOC and themed 'Connecting Minds. Transforming Energy', ADIPEC 2024 is spotlighting the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the energy transition, while introducing new insights from finance, technology, and the Global South, as well as youth perspectives, to promote a sustainable, secure, and equitable energy future.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said at the opening ceremony, “Energy markets must shift and grow, and energy systems must be transformed.” He said that by 2050, “Wind and solar will expand seven times. LNG will grow by at least 65% and oil will continue to be used for fuel and as a building block for many essential products.”

These growing demands can only be met via artificial intelligence, he said. “AI is one of those areas defining breakthroughs that are changing the pace of change itself. It is redefining the boundaries of productivity and emissions, and it has the potential to accelerate the transformation of energy systems and to supercharge low carbon growth.”

“As AI expands, it will rely on a massive scale up of data centres for its huge and fast growing computational needs. Over the next six years, data centres will more than double, requiring at least 150 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and doubling again by 2040. No single source of energy is going to be enough to meet this demand. We need to integrate renewable energy, nuclear energy and gas in the most cost and carbon efficient way.”

The keynote speech by Al Jaber was followed by a ministerial panel, where leaders from the UAE, India, Egypt and Uganda presented their positions.

“ّIn the UAE, we are privileged with a leadership that believes in investments in energy, and all forms of energy. Our president His Highness Mohammed bin Zayed is a visionary leader, for the role of different forms of energy. And as you can see, we are investing in renewable, nuclear, and conventional as well.”

“In India, I can tell you that today we are using artificial intelligence for refinery automation,” said Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. “We are using artificial energy intelligence for 2D and 3D seismic surveys, for finding oil and gas. We are using low cost solar energy in a way to boost our power in our data centres.”

Karim Badawi, Egypt’s recently-appointed Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, said, “Egypt's position as a regional hub, provides an ability to contribute to the petrochemical sector, in the refining sector, as well as export sector. We have the capacity to export refining capabilities of 40 million tons. So when we look at the situation in Egypt, we would like to leverage our position to be able to unlock the potential of the gas reserves, not only of Egypt, but of the region and of the Mediterranean.”

“Uganda's participation [in ADIPEC] will be to exploit the potential that you have in power generation, because advanced technology requires power and clean power,” said Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, who is Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development. She said that the country is equipped to diversify its energy mix, consisting of solar and hydro power. “We also have potential for nuclear power,” she said.

Uniting global tech leaders

This year’s event debuts the Energyai by ADNOC zone, where global tech leaders such as enercap, Accenture, AIQ, Microsoft, and Baker Hughes will present innovative AI solutions to address energy needs and drive emissions reduction. This dedicated AI area will feature the Energyai Conference, Creative AI Lab, Reskilling Lab, networking spaces, demo stations, and an interactive AI showcase, offering attendees a firsthand look at cutting-edge technologies and collaborative opportunities within the industry.

With an anticipated 184,000 attendees from 164 countries, ADIPEC 2024 will be the largest event in its history. The conference lineup will include over 1,800 speakers, featuring 40 ministers and 200 top executives from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, all engaging 16,500 delegates across more than 370 sessions. ADIPEC’s ten-conference series, including the flagship Strategic Conference, will bring together global business, political, and industry leaders to set a clear path for an inclusive and balanced energy transition.

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, ADIPEC 2024 is poised to deliver insights and innovations to shape the future of the energy industry. A convenient Park-and-Ride service will run every five minutes between Zayed Sports City and ADNEC from 6:00 to 19:00, ensuring easy access for all participants from 4–7 November 2024.

This MoU highlights Hassana and EIG’s shared vision to expand investments in regional infrastructure. (Image source: Canva)

Hassana Investment Company has signed an MoU with EIG, a prominent global investor in the energy and infrastructure sectors, to advance infrastructure and energy transition projects across the Middle East.

The collaboration will leverage EIG’s dedicated US$1bn regional fund, with Hassana considering an anchor investment of up to US$250mn.

This MoU highlights Hassana and EIG’s shared vision to expand investments in regional infrastructure and sustainable energy. By encouraging international investor participation and driving foreign direct investment, the partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, as well as the wider regional push towards sustainable energy solutions.

The agreement was formalised by Saad bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadly, CEO of Hassana, and R. Blair Thomas, chairman and CEO of EIG.

Mr. Al-Fadly said, “Hassana is pleased to expand our partnership with EIG, a leader in the global energy and infrastructure sectors. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to support the growth of infrastructure investments and the facilitation of the energy transition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region.”

Mr. Thomas commented, “We had the pleasure of partnering with Hassana on the Pearl Pipelines project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and now we look forward to taking our relationship to the next level.”

He added, “We believe energy transition is one of the defining investment themes of the next several decades and leading investors need to work together in an effort to deliver the reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy system that society requires. We are committed to doing exactly that.”

Abdulaziz Al-Gudaimi, chairman of EIG’s MENA Operations, said “Hassana and EIG continue to make a difference in the energy scene of the Middle East. By deploying capital into innovative energy transition projects, we are endeavoring to build a sustainable future, boost the economy, and reinforce the region's commitment to clean energy solutions for many years to come.”

HARTING also provides HDC push-in industrial connectors. (Image source: Harting)

Power and industrial connectors are essential and indispensable components of any machinery setup or production line.

They enable efficient and reliable transfer of energy and data. In today’s world, where automation, innovation, and technological advancement are key priorities, selecting the right connectors poses a significant challenge for designers and engineers.

German company HARTING is a prominent leader in the market, offering high-quality industrial connector solutions for decades. The TME catalog includes HARTING products, with thousands of options to choose from.

HAN S power connectors

Power connectors from the HAN® S 120 and HAN® S 200 families have been designed according to the latest trends in the energy storage market. The manufacturer has added to their portfolio 1-pole solutions, which can be mounted on the cable or on the panel. Moreover, both male and female connectors are compliant with the UL94V-0 flammability class, which ensures the flexibility and safety of installation.

They are made from polycarbonates and available in various colours, and their contacts are made of copper alloys. The HAN® S connectors are notable for their electrical parameters – they can operate with the maximum voltage of 1500 V and current of 120 A or 200 A, depending on the model.

Sleeve for energy storage systems

HARTING also offers a wide range of accessories for the HAN® S connectors which are available from the TME catalogue. When designing an industrial installation, you can make sure to use protection sleeves and covers. Such accessories improve the safety, but also the durability of the installation. Just like the connectors, they are compliant with the UL94V-0 flammability class.

HDC industrial connectors

HARTING also provides HDC push-in industrial connectors. These connectors are equipped with multiple contacts and are available in versions with 3, 4, 6, 8, or 12 pins, male or female. They are made from polycarbonates, thanks to which they are compliant with the UL94V-0 flammability class. The Han-Modular® line, to which they belong, is suitable for voltages from 250 V to 830 V and current of 10 A, 16 A, or 40 A, depending on the model. The connectors can operate in the temperature from -40°C to 125°C and last 500 cycles, and they are dedicated to create stable industrial connections between the machines or modules of the production line.

ADIPEC will bring together ministers and business leaders from across the globe. (Image source: dmg events)

Ministers, energy leaders and technology pioneers from across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas will convene in Abu Dhabi for ADIPEC 2024 to foster collaborative action, innovation and partnerships to accelerate the energy transition

Hosted by ADNOC from 4-7 November 2024, ADIPEC 2024 will take place under the theme ‘Connecting Minds. Transforming Energy,’ with a focus on the energy-AI nexus and next-generation technologies and AI solutions that are shaping the future of the energy sector.

His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 president, and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, will deliver a keynote address during the Opening Ceremony. Following the keynote, a ministerial panel titled ‘The new global leaders and the energy transition,’ will see energy ministers from the UAE, India, and Egypt explore how emerging economies are reshaping the global energy landscape by balancing unique challenges and opportunities in energy demand, technological progress, environmental stewardship and economic growth.

ADIPEC 2024 will feature 10 strategic and technical conferences, each addressing crucial aspects of the energy transition, including energy security and affordability in the Global South, accelerating the flow of investment in low-carbon projects and alternative fuels, and embracing AI’s role in facilitating the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors.

CEO panel

The lead CEO panel on day one of ADIPEC, titled 'Meeting escalating global energy demand whilst transitioning to a low carbon energy system,' will bring together industry leaders including Murray Auchincloss, CEO of bp; Wael Sawan, CEO of Shell; Tengku Muhammad Taufik, president & group CEO of PETRONAS; and Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni. This high-profile discussion will tackle the pressing challenge of balancing growing global energy needs with ambitious decarbonisation goals, exploring strategies for sustainable energy supply and resilience in a transforming industry landscape.

ADIPEC 2024 will feature leaders from a range of sectors, including technology, logistics and finance, showcasing the diverse expertise essential for advancing the global energy transition. Technology giants, including Microsoft, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Accenture, will share insights on digital transformation, while AI innovators such as Boomitra, Matroid, and AIQ will spotlight the potential of artificial intelligence to drive efficiency and decarbonisation across the energy sector.

Logistics powerhouses AD Ports Group and DP World will discuss optimising supply chains for a sustainable future, and, in finance, industry leaders from Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Bank of America, Standard Chartered, Barclays, J.P. Morgan, and Morgan Stanley will address the vital role of sustainable investment and financing models in supporting an equitable and low-carbon energy future.

Together, these key voices will share their perspectives on collaborative solutions that can drive forward a fundamental transformation of our energy and economic systems.

Tayba Al Hashemi, chair of ADIPEC 2024 and CEO of ADNOC Offshore, said, “ADIPEC 2024 will unite global industry and technology leaders to unlock opportunities that can accelerate the energy transition and catalyse innovative solutions to integrate the energy and AI sectors more effectively. I look forward to welcoming industry leaders, experts and pioneers from across the world at what promises to be a very exciting, solutions-oriented ADIPEC 2024.”

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