The energy transition is unfolding in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made urgent both the European decoupling of Russia’s oil and gas, and the acceleration of the energy transition.

The Middle East, especially Gulf countries, has been a key hydrocarbons’ supplier to Europe and the current energy crisis may increase its role in contributing to European energy security. Nevertheless, the energy transition poses the Middle East significant challenges, both regarding geopolitics and energy futures.

What could be its role in the current energy crisis? Which energy transition pathways are Middle East countries following? How can the European Union and Gulf countries cooperate in renewable’s deployment and carbon markets? What could be the geopolitical implications of the energy transition for the Middle East?

The seminar explores these and other related questions with the contributions of experts in different aspects of the region’s energy transition and geopolitical trends.

Programme

Welcome address:

Francisco Reynés, President, Naturgy.
José Juan Ruiz, Chairman, Elcano Royal Institute | @ElcanoJjRuiz;

Keynote address:

Bassam Fattouh, Director, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies | @OxfordEnergy

Roundtable:

Noura Mansouri, Research Fellow, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC) and Researcher Affiliate at MIT | @KAPSARC
Chloe Berger, Faculty Adviser and Researcher, NATO Defense College | @NATO_DefCollege
Carlos Gascó, Energy Policy Executive Director, Department of Energy, United Arab Emirates.
Mariana Liakopoulou, Markets and Policy Associate, European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET) | @liakopoulouma94

Chair: Gonzalo Escribano, Senior Analyst and Director of the Energy and Climate Change Programme, and Elcano Royal Institute | @g_escribano

Closing remarks:

Rafael Villaseca, President, Naturgy Foundation | @NaturgyFnd

Hashtag: #TransEnerGeo.
Thursday, 19^th May 2022, from 12:00 to 14:00 h. CEST (UTC+2).

Recording of the event’s live stream (original audio, Spanish or English depending on the speaker’s language)