4th IEF-KAPSARC Thought-Leaders' Roundtable

The Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF), Dr Sun Xiansheng and the Head of Research at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), David Hobbs moderated dialogue on energy security in transition at the 4th IEF-KAPSARC Thought Leaders’ Roundtable meeting on 15 February 2018. Discussions, governed by Chatham House Rule, explored whether fossil fuels will share common or differentiated energy futures, and how energy transition policies influence oil and gas investment assessing realities and visions.

The roundtable examined the future of oil, gas, and coal in a low demand growth environment. Panelists highlighted how subsidies on both fossil-, and non-fossil fuels, from coal to renewables, affect supply and demand patterns in producer and consumer countries differently according to varying needs. Panelists from consumer countries emphasised the importance of infrastructure investment to ensure networks are sufficiently resilient and robust to accommodate new technologies and changing demand and supply patterns. Though technology breakthroughs in unconventional oil and gas production and decentralised electricity generation are difficult to foresee, producers and consumers who swiftly adapt to these developments will succeed in the new market environment. Producer country representatives underlined the importance of improving energy efficiency in energy supply chains and economic sectors that rely on fossil fuels. They also highlighted the importance of diversifying energy technologies by unlocking investment from the private sector.  

The roundtable follows up on a year-long engagement to explore scenarios for producers and consumers navigating the transition to a lower carbon energy future. The initiative was launched at the Third IEF-KAPSARC Thought Leaders’ Roundtable in 2017. Outcomes of these discussions will help to inform the global energy dialogue at the 16th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting under the theme "The Future of Global Energy Security, Transition, Technology, Trade, and Investment" hosted by India in New Delhi on 10-12 April 2018.

Opening Remarks

• Dr Sun Xiansheng, Secretary General, IEF

Session I: Common, or differentiated energy futures?

Moderated by David Hobbs Head of Research KAPSARC

• Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya, former Chairman of Coal India Ltd
• Chris Midgely, Global Director of Analytics S&P Global Platts
• Jamie Webster, Senior Director, Center for Energy Impact, The Boston Consulting Group
• Amos Hochstein, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Tellurian; former US Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs
• Ramón Espinasa, General Coordinator, Extractive Sector Initiative, Infrastructure and Energy Sector, Interamerican Development Bank

Session II: Energy security in transition; realities and visions

Moderated by Dr Sun Xiansheng, Secretary General, IEF

• Tatiana Mitrova, Director - Energy Center, Skolkovo Business School
• Majid Al Moneef, Advisor to the Royal Court, Chairman Advisory Council KAPSARC
• Luis Bertrán Rafecas, Secretary General International Gas Union

Key Links

• KAPSARC

Previous IEF Thought-Leaders Roundtables:

• 3rd IEF-KAPSARC Thought-Leaders' Roundtable
  16 February 2017, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• 2nd IEF-KAPSARC Thought-Leaders' Roundtable
  17 February 2016, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• IEF-KAPSARC Thought-Leaders Roundtable on Oil Market Volatility, Investment and Spare Capacity
  24 March 2015, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• IEF-KEEI Thought-Leaders Roundtable on The Rise of Unconventional Gas
  15 June 2014, Dubai, UAE
• IEF Thought-Leaders Roundtable on Unconventional Markets
  24 March 2014, Seoul, South Korea
• IEF Thought-Leaders Roundtable on Price Formation in Oil and Gas Markets
  22 March 2013, Vienna, Austria
• IEF Thought-Leaders Roundtable on the Increase in Unconventional Oil and Gas Production in North America
  23 January 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• IEF Thought-Leaders Roundtable on Gas
  5 October 2012, Paris, France