IEA, IEF, and OPEC Unite Industry Leaders for Crucial Talks on Energy Security.
The International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Energy Forum (IEF), and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) brought together top policymakers and industry leaders today at the 15th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks.
This annual flagship event fosters vital discussions between energy producers and consumers, focusing on energy security and the pursuit of shared climate and sustainable development goals. The symposium serves as an inclusive platform for open dialogue, helping to bridge differing perspectives and enhance understanding among key stakeholders.
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, and hosted by the IEF, the event coincided with the release of the IEF Outlooks Comparison Report. This report evaluates the key scenarios and methodologies from the IEA and OPEC’s latest energy outlooks, offering crucial insights to enhance market predictability and inform investment decisions.
High-Level Participation and Key Insights
Held at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), the symposium featured welcome remarks from IEF Secretary General Jassim Alshirawi, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, and IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security Keisuke Sadamori.
Also contributing to discussions were Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, and Francesco La Camera, Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), who shared insights on the evolving landscape of energy governance and technology.
IEF Secretary General Jassim Alshirawi highlighted the importance of dialogue in navigating market volatility, geopolitical shifts, and uncertainties in energy forecasts. He emphasized that a closer alignment of energy scenarios would enable policymakers to create a clearer, more predictable investment climate.
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais underscored the role of global cooperation in maintaining stability in oil and energy markets for the benefit of both producers and consumers. He reiterated OPEC’s commitment to accurate, data-driven analysis, free from ideological bias, to support informed decision-making.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol stressed the critical role of energy in economic growth and improving living standards. He called for continuous, constructive dialogue among governments and industry stakeholders to better understand market dynamics and uncertainties affecting energy demand and supply.
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Global Participation and Collaboration
The event also welcomed Tommy Joyce, Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy, on his first international visit in this role. He participated in a special session chaired by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, alongside George Thomas, Deputy Secretary of International Cooperation at India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and other senior officials from IEF member countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Norway, the UAE, and Venezuela.
The IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks is part of a broader joint initiative established at the 12th International Energy Forum in Cancún, Mexico, in 2010. Endorsed by energy ministers under the Cancún Declaration, this ongoing collaboration aims to strengthen global energy dialogue and policy coordination.
