The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held, in Doha, State of Qatar, from December 11 to 12, 2023, the 12th Arab Energy Conference under the slogan “Energy and Global Cooperation”.

The conference was attended bydelegations from 17 Arab countries, including their ministers and oil officials,and representatives of Arab and regional authorities and institutions. An elite of specialistsand expertsfrom many Arab and international companies and research centers have joined the conference.

Many discussions have taken place regarding energy markets and their developments in Arab countries. In addition, different issues have been addressed, including climate change, the environment, and sustainable development, as well as issues relating to global and Arab energy resources, petroleum industries, technological progress, and their effects on the energy sector.

The conference, which continued for two days, has reached seven essential recommendations, aiming for an energy transition, as well as urging Arab countries to reduce oil and gas emissions. At the top of such recommendations was the pledge to use clean technologies when dealing with hydrocarbon sources to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The recommendations have highlighted the need to adopt balanced development policies by considering the environmental aspect, diversifying economic resources, using clean technologies in producing energy resources, and reducing emissions with environmental standards to achieve sustainable development.

The participating countries have confirmed the need to increase the nuclear power role in their national strategy, as it is an essential resource for clean energy, reduce emissions for the gradual transition to clean energy, and conserve fossil fuel sources of gas and oil, which will remain at the forefront of the energy resources for the next few years, to avoid crises in the future.

They have also emphasized the importance of energy efficiency in all sectors by making partnerships between the private and public sectors and developing and implementing plans and programs to diversify energy resources to maintain growth in energy consumption rates and achieve sustainable development in all sectors.

The recommendations concluded with the need to use Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and implement them in the gas and oil sectors, combine AI technology, and increase its operational efficiency, in addition to focusing on scientific research in the energy field and following global developments regarding the use of modern technological techniques that are effective for the fields of energy and oil.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the final recommendations that designated Riyadh as the host city for the conference’s 2027 edition.