We need to keep energy above politics: minister

His Excellency Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs and president of QatarEnergy, has advocated for an energy order that remains separate from politics. He made this statement during the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh, which focused on energy security through market fundamentals, supply chain resilience, and the changing dynamics of demand and supply.

The event was opened by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al-Saud, along with energy ministers, government representatives, industry leaders, and international organizations. Al-Kaabi began his remarks by expressing Qatar's unwavering support for Saudi Arabia and its people in the wake of recent attacks, while also extending condolences to those who lost their lives and wishing a swift recovery to the injured.

The minister highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict in the region, which has caused the world's most severe energy crisis, disrupting approximately 20% of global hydrocarbon supplies. He added that the attacks have targeted numerous energy assets, resulting in tens of billions of dollars in damages and significant market volatility.

Al-Kaabi emphasized that energy security, while crucial to the global economy, is deeply intertwined with geopolitical security and remains highly vulnerable. He underscored the human consequences of the crisis, noting that 1 billion people still lack access to electricity and that about 4 billion people rely on food produced using manufactured fertilizers.

Al-Kaabi stressed the shared responsibility to safeguard energy security, protect the free flow of energy, and keep energy separate from politics and conflicts. He urged the Forum to explore all possible avenues to shield energy infrastructure during conflicts, stating that energy infrastructure has become both an economic asset and a strategic military target. He stressed that energy security must unite rather than divide us and must be protected, not weaponized.