The opening ceremony of the International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) took place on 13 January
Hosted by Saudi Aramco, and held under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the leading international oil and gas conference takes place from 13-15 January in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
It is the first time this leading international oil and gas conference is being held in Saudi Arabia, and has attracted more than 15,000 delegates from 70 countries.
As the Kingdom prepares to host the G-20 summit this year, Saudi Aramco president and CEO Amin H. Nasser congratulated Saudi government entities for their successful efforts in securing the prestigious industry conference to be held in the Kingdom.
Nasser emphasised the need to transition to a lower-carbon energy mix and highlighted the role the energy industry has played in creating the economic prosperity the world enjoys today.
“With IPTC 2020, we have the perfect platform to push forward in our efforts to demonstrate that our industry is an integral part of the long-term solution to global energy challenges. As part of the energy transition, I firmly believe, oil and gas will continue to play a significant role for a long time to come.”
He added: “We have the capability to be leaders when it comes to addressing the need for more energy with less emissions and I am confident that our industry has the talent and the innovative mindset, which is required to find the best and most pragmatic solutions.”
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister HRH Prince Salman Al-Saud, highlighted the ambitious agenda and vision being pursued by the Kingdom in the energy sector as well as its global role in global energy and prosperity and in stabilising the oil market.
“As for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Kingdom is setting the base for the energy transition and we hope the rest of the industry will follow our lead with the same vigour,” he said.
“Our most pressing mission and challenge is to reduce the carbon footprint of energy projects. Science, technology and innovation will be game-changers,” he commented.
He noted the Kingdom’s progress in energy price reform, energy efficiency programmes and reducing emissions as well as its ambitious renewable energy targets. The Kingdom has joined the World Bank’s Zero flaring by 2030 initiative. “We are confident we will achieve this target,” he said.
HE Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Saudi Aramco, stressed the need for a “more pragmatic narrative“regarding the energy transition, saying that there will be multiple energy transitions in different parts of the world taking place at different speeds. “If we can offer real solutions to the real energy needs of the world, our industry’s place at the heart of the global energy will be assured,” he said.
Mahmoud M. Abdulbaqi, chairman of ARGAS said, “The issues facing us are getting more complex, requiring the most advanced technology and more integrated solutions. The IPTC provides a platform to discuss and exchange ideas on this.”
The Conference will, for the first time, incorporate workshops examining the importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the sector, an area in which Saudi Aramco has significantly advanced in recent years. It was noteworthy that at the opening ceremony was addressed by two of Saudi Aramco’s young petroleum engineers, Sheika AlDossary and Rowa Taufiq.
Rowa Taufiq commented, “We are reimagining what is possible and looking to the future with excitement. As we work to meet the increasing energy demand, we need affordable, accessible energy solutions.”
