Podcasts
April - 2024
Fueling the Future: Transforming Waste into Energy with Heinrich Hafner
In this podcast, the Foundation is joined by Heinrich Hafner, the CEO of Hafner Energy from Waste Products. Hafner Energy from Waste Products has been active for about 40 years in the field of waste incineration. It is engaged with all facets of complex incineration plant development - from waste management techniques to energy recovery in the form of hot water, steam, and electrical power.
During the discussion, the following questions are explored:
• How is energy extracted from waste?
• How is the energy generated by incinerators typically utilised?
• Can flue gas emissions be controlled?
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March - 2024
Small States and the Global Energy Landscape with Rory Miller
In this podcast, the Foundation is joined by Rory Miller, Professor of International Politics, Director of the Energy Studies Certificate program, and Co-Director of the small states research program at Georgetown University in Qatar. Professor Miller is the author and editor of 11 books, including "Desert Kingdoms to Global Powers: The Rise of the Arab Gulf," and "Overcoming Smallness: Challenges and Opportunities for Small States in Global Affairs."
During the discussion, the following questions are explored:
• Will some small states' influence decline if fossil fuel sales dip in the future?
• Will small states convert into knowledge or science-based economies?
• Does investing in soft power assets help build goodwill and gain political influence?
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February - 2024
Exploring Gas Demand in a Changing Landscape with Bill Farren-Price
In this podcast, the Foundation is joined by Bill Farren-Price, a Senior Research Fellow and Head of Gas Research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Until early 2023, he was the Director, Head of Global Energy Macro Research at Enverus, a leading US oil and gas data analytics firm. Mr Farren-Price has reported and researched the Middle East energy industry for 25 years as a specialist journalist, and for the past 16 years, in research and advisory roles.
During the discussion, the following questions are explored:
How does the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies conduct its gas research?
Is there a genuine supply risk that is factored into LNG supplies?
Does coal to gas and gas to coal switching take place in some national economies?
Will global demand for natural gas up to 2050 go up; driven by population growth or down because of a move towards non-fossil fuels for electricity generation?
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February - 2024
Unpackaging COP28 and Its Impact on the Energy Transition With Dr. Laurent Lambert
the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Dr. Laurent Lambert, a faculty member at the School of Public Administration and Development Economics at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. At the institute, he oversees courses on energy policy and sustainability. Previously, he served as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) and as a Senior Administrator of the Qatar Humanitarian Innovation Lab initiative (QHIL) at Qatar University.
In the interview, the following questions and more are discussed:
Was COP28 a success, failure, or just as much as could be expected?
Will Middle Eastern nations struggle to create and adhere to their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?
What is the Global Stocktake, and has progress been made in the race to achieve net zero by mid-century?
What will be the role of Artificial Intelligence in the energy transition and climate action?
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February - 2024
Firefighting and Championing Women's Rights in Kuwait With Sara Akbar
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Sara Akbar, a Kuwaiti chemical petroleum engineer, women's rights advocate, and co-founder and former chief executive officer of Kuwait Energy. She is recognised as a "national hero" due to her firefighting efforts in the Kuwaiti oil fires and was subsequently awarded the Global 500 Roll of Honour from the United Nations Environmental Program. Ms. Akbar’s tenacity was also depicted in the Academy Award nominated documentary “Fires of Kuwait”.
In the interview, the following questions and more are discussed:
What were your firefighting exploits during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in the early 1990s?
How will Kuwait cope with changing industry dynamics with regards to climate change and the energy transition?
How has the role of women in the energy industry grown over the past few decades?
As the energy transition proceeds, is there a great danger of stranded assets both above and below the ground in the region?
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January - 2024
Climate Change and the Energy Transition in the Gulf with Marie van den Bosch
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Marie van den Bosch.
Marie van den Bosch is a visiting scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Her research currently focuses on green energy and democratisation, the effect of climate change on regime survival, and energy transition in the Gulf. She is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, where she teaches classes on oil and authoritarian politics and literature and politics in the Department of Government.
In the interview, the following questions are answered:
- Will the global efforts to combat climate change force political change and if so, in what direction might those changes occur?
- How will the rentier economies manage with a fall in income?
- Will the Gulf’s economic prominence decline as the energy transition proceeds?
- As the energy transition proceeds, is there a great danger of stranded assets both above and below the ground in the region?
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November - 2023
Social Transformations and Economic Reforms in the
the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Professor Fadwa Eljack from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Qatar University (QU).
Professor Eljack's research focuses mainly in the area of Process System Engineering that includes optimisation and management of gas processing facilities, flare reduction, risk assessment and the inclusion of safety in design.
In the interview, the following questions are discussed:
• What is the importance of studying hydrogen?
• Will its significance to Qatar go over and above the traditional uses of desulphurisation in refineries?
• Can hydrogen be used in electricity-generating plants in Qatar?
• If hydrogen produced in Qatar is sold to other countries for export, how could it be transported?
• Methane pyrolysis is widely regarded as
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November - 2023
The Energy Landscape in Asia with Vandana Hari
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Ms Vandana Hari. Ms Hari is Founder and CEO of Vanda Insights which provides macro-analysis of the global oil markets through publications, bespoke research projects and corporate briefings.
In her career spanning mainstream socio-political journalism as well as specialised market intelligence, Ms Hari has worked in New Delhi, Hong Kong and Singapore. Her skills include market analysis, topical research, external stakeholder engagement, leadership, projects and initiatives. In the interview, the following questions are discussed:
- When will demand for fuels in China rise again?
- What is the status of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline that will export natural gas from Russia's Western Siberia Altai region to northeastern China?
- Will Asian countries ever give up coal?
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October - 2023
Social Transformations and Economic Reforms in the Gulf With Tim Callen
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Mr Tim Callen. Mr Callen is a visiting Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW) and specialises on the economics of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.
His impressive background includes over 30 years at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he was Mission Chief to Saudi Arabia, Head of the GCC Division, and Special Advisor to the Executive Director for Saudi Arabia.
In the interview, the following questions are discussed:
• Are Gulf countries now more willing to publish their population statistics than in previous years?
• What is the effect of this low number of citizens among the general population on government policy?
• Are we in the midst of a cultural shift where women are having more active roles in the public and private sectors in the Gulf?
• Do you anticipate a decline in the Gulf region’s economic prominence as the "energy transition" proceeds?
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September - 2023
Rentier States – Overcoming the Dutch Disease With Giacomo Luciani
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Giacomo Luciani, a leading expert on the geopolitics of energy.
Mr. Luciani is primarily known for his seminal contributions to the theory of the rentier state and is currently an adjunct professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and scientific advisor of the Master in International Energy the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po in Paris.
In the interview the following questions and more are discussed:
- Currently, rentier states are more likely to be fossil fuel rich suppliers that are not industrialised. Do you agree with this assertion?
- What strategies could rentier states implement to make them more economically competitive?
- How is the transition to clean energy progressing and is limiting the rise to 1.5 C by 2050 still achievable?
- The energy industry and politics are inextricably linked. Do you believe this will always be the case?
- Looking ahead, what will be the major sources of energy post 2050?
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September - 2023
Inspiring a Generation of Women with Tofol Al Nasr
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Ms. Tofol Al-Nasr. Ms. Al-Nasr is a partner at Daleelaq Consulting with a diverse range of American, Asian, Qatari, and Gulf-based clients. In 2017, Ms. Al-Nasr was nominated by HE Dr. Al-Sada, then Qatar’s minister of energy and industry, to join OPEC as a diplomat, becoming the first Qatari woman to serve her country in this capacity.
In the interview, Ms. Al-Nasr discusses the following questions and more:
- What is the core function of Daleelaq Consulting and your role within the organisation?
- What were your duties at OPEC?
- Despite its residual oil production, Qatar is no longer a member of OPEC. What are your views on Qatar’s OPEC exit?
- Do you feel the Gulf region’s prominence will decline as the “Energy Transition” proceeds?
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September - 2023
The Availability of Hydrogen for the Energy Transition with Professor Graham Weale
the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Professor Graham Weale.
Professor Weale is a recognised authority on energy markets with over 40 years’ experience. He has been Professor of Energy Economics at the Ruhr University Bochum since 2016.
His expertise lies in carbon pricing and the EU Emissions Trading System; German power market – renewables, thermal plants and power prices; energy intensive industry decarbonisation; hydrogen economics and projects in Northwest Europe; and more.
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August - 2023
The Future of Solar Energy in the Middle East with Joumana Hosri
the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Joumana Hosri, board member of the Fernand Hosri Group, to discuss the future of solar power in the global energy mix, women in construction and her various leadership roles.
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June - 2023
Growing Demand for Coal in Volatile Times With Neil Fleming
In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Neil Fleming - the Global Head of Editorial Argus Media - to discuss peak oil, growing coal demand and more.
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June - 2023
KPC Bullish on Its Role in the Global Oil Market
The Al-Attiyah Foundation and Sheikh Nawaf Saud Nasir Al-Sabah, the Deputy Chairman and CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), discuss Kuwait's role in the global energy market, the country's sustainability goals and COP28.
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May - 2023
The Future of Oil Demand in a Changing World With Joel Couse
Joel Couse is a special advisor to the International Energy Agency – commonly referred to as the IEA – specialising in Energy Markets and Security. Previously he was Chief Energy Economist for Total Energy.
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April - 2023
Dragon Rising: China’s Role in the Global Energy Industry with Dr. Michal Meidan
the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Dr. Michal Meidan to discuss China's role in the global energy industry.
Dr. Meidan is the Director of China Energy Research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES). Before joining OIES in July 2019, she was Vice President Research at Energy Aspects and headed China Matters, an independent research consultancy.
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March - 2023
A Changing World and the Energy Transition with Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega
Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega is the Director of the Centre for Energy at the French Institute of International Relations, commonly known as IFRI. Prior to joining IFRI, he spent six years at the International Energy Agency (IEA), mostly notably as Russian and Sub-Saharan Africa Programme Manager where he conducted oil and gas market analysis and was responsible for institutional relations with these countries and regions. In this podcast, Mr Eyl-Mazzega talks about the European Union's Green Deal, the effect of Africa's population boom on the energy transition and the conflict in Ukraine.
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February - 2023
The Big Picture - 2023 and Beyond with Jihad Azour
AIn this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Mr. Jihad Azour the Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
AT the IMF, Mr. Azour oversees the Fund’s work in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Caucasus. Previously, he served as Lebanon’s Finance Minister in 2005-08, during which time he coordinated the implementation of important reforms, including modernizing the country’s tax and customs systems.
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November - 2022
A New Normal - The Changing Future of Energy with Saad Rahim
Mr Saad Rahim is Chief Economist at the Trafigura Group, a Singapore based multinational commodity trading company founded in 1993. The Trafigura Group trades in base metals and energy. It is the world's largest private metals trader and second largest oil trader having built or purchased stakes in pipelines, mines, smelters, and ports.
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November - 2022
A New Normal - The Changing Future of Energy with Laurent Vivier
In this latest podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Mr Laurent Vivier, Senior Vice President MENA - Exploration & Production, TotalEnergies. Mr Vivier has been with TotalEnergies for 26 years, beginning his career in 1996 in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) trading. In 2011, after holding a number of positions, he was appointed Vice President Strategic Planning for the Gas & Power branch of the company. In 2015, Mr Vivier became the group’s Senior Vice President for Gas, a position he held until 2020.|
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October - 2022
Gas and Its Infrastructure - Trends in France and the Rest of Europe
In the Al-Attiyah Foundation's latest podcast, recorded on 19/10/2022, Stephen Cole is joined by the former Vice President for External Relations of Engie, Mr. Jean-Marc Leroy. Mr. Leroy holds several non-executive roles. He is President of Gas Infrastructure Europe, a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Gas Centre within the World Energy Council, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GRDF, the French gas distribution affiliate of ENGIE. In this discussion, Mr Leroy offers his thoughts on the growing number of women in high level positions in major companies in France, the race to net-zero and current energy crises in Europe.
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September - 2022
After the Crash – Progress so Far with Dr. Tatiana Mitrova
Dr. Mitrova is a Research Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.
She has twenty-five years of experience in dealing with Russian, and global energy markets. From February 2017 to December 2020, she was the Executive Director of the Energy Centre of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, a graduate business-school.
Furthermore, Dr. Mitrova is a member of the board of directors of the global oil service company Schlumberger, and a co-author of the bestselling book, The 8 and 1/2 SteTM: How to Live, Love and Work At Full Capacity.
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June - 2022
Computing Developments with Mohamed Hasan
Mohamed Hasan has 15 years of Energy Industry Experience and is Microsoft’s Energy Industry and Sustainability Director for MEA region. He joined Microsoft in February 2020 to launch and operate Energy Core as Microsoft’s first global centre of Excellence for AI, Cloud & IOT in energy sector. Mohamed is responsible for driving energy business growth and supporting energy customers digital Transformation through Cloud & AI adoption while doing sustainable business - leading to net zero targets achievement. Mohamed’s experience is mainly around O&G digital transformation and sustainability. Prior to joining Microsoft he held various technical and business leadership roles across MEA with multinational organisations like Emerson and Schneider Electric, leading strategic projects, developing the accounts of major IOCs and business development.
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May - 2022
A New Normal - The Changing Future of Energy with Alain Bifani
In 2000, Alain was appointed Director General of the Ministry of Finance, the youngest person to be appointed a director general in Lebanon. He is notable for successfully implementing change in a complex multicultural environment, where it is said obedience to clans supersedes allegiance to institutions.
Throughout his career, Bifani was able to implement major reforms despite strong resistance from the establishment. He has proven successful in managing national finances during major crises and the absence of a government budget for more than 12 years!
Transparency was at the heart of Bifani’s work. He introduced electronic taxation, taxpayers’ services, and a code of ethics. He was known for having reconstructed 27 years of financial accounts for the government, thus leading the way towards accountability.
He holds a B.Eng in Optics and Telecommunications from the Institut d’Optique Graduate School (France) and a higher degree in Management and Finance from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC), France.
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April - 2022
Energy Security in Europe with Roger Diwan
Mr. Roger Diwan is a Vice President for IHS Markit Energy and heads a dedicated research team that provides integrated energy advisory to the financial sector.
He has over 25 years of experience in advising financial institutions on strategies in the oil and gas markets, energy trends and companies’ strategy, with a renewed focus on the capital dimension of the energy transition.
Mr. Diwan leads a team of analysts and strategists to advise over 150 Asset Managers, Hedge Funds and Private Equity firms by providing customized analysis on market developments for oil, gas, power, and renewables, with a focus on spending, company strategies and capital markets developments. Recently, his work has focused on the risks of under-investment for oil during the energy transition, the capital transition challenges that energy systems face in the next 10 years, but also all current energy geopolitical questions facing oil, gas and the manufacturing of renewables.
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April - 2022
The Future of Energy With Stephane Michel
Mr Stéphane Michel is the President of Gas, Renewables & Power at TotalEnergies SE and a Senior Vice President at Total E&P Qatar Ltd. Mr Michel was previously employed as a Managing Director by Total E&P Libye, after joining the Group in 2005, working for Downstream Asia, based in Singapore. He has also formerly served on the board at Dolphin Energy Ltd.
Mr Stéphane Michel received his undergraduate degree from Ecole Polytechnique and an undergraduate degree from École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris.
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March - 2022
The Practical Use of Hydrogen With Abdurrahman Khalidi
Mr Abdurrahman Khalidi is the Chief Technology Officer at GE Gas Power, for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He holds a PhD in architectural engineering from Cornell University and was formerly a Senior Mechanical engineer in GE global research in Niskayuna. Mr Khalidi also served as the Project manager in the Structural Mechanicals and Dynamics Lab in Niskayuna, New York. And, during his work on dynamics and vibrations, design and motion control of mechanical systems, he filed 28 US patents in various fields of technology.
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February - 2022
Interview With H.E. Dr Leila Benali
Interview With H.E. Dr Leila Benali
About the Guest:H.E. Dr Leila Benali is a Moroccan economist and politician who was appointed as the countries Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in October 2021.
H.E. Dr Benali studied engineering at the Ecole Central de Paris and Ecole Mohammadia School and obtained a Master of Arts in engineering. She has also received a Master of Arts in politics in Politics and a Ph.D. in economics from Sciences Po in Paris.
H.E. Dr Benali's professional career is extensive, with roles including Chief Economist to the IEF, and Chief Economist and Head of Strategy and Sustainability at the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP). Previously, she was also head of energy policy and gas strategy at Saudi Aramco; director at IHS, a global research firm and consultancy in security and energy; a professor at Sciences Po; and an industrial engineer at Schlumberger.
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December - 2021
The Changing Future of European Energy with Arnaud Breuillac
Mr Arnaud Breuillac is the former President of Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies, a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity.
Mr Breuillac is a graduate of the French engineering school Ecole Centrale de Lyon. He joined Total in 1982. He has held various positions in Exploration & Production in France, Abu Dhabi, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Angola and in Refining in France.
Between 2004 and 2006, he served as Vice President, Iran, in the Middle East Divison, and in December 2006, he was appointed to Exploration & Production’s Management Committee in his position as Senior Vice President, Continental Europe and Central Asia.
On July 1, 2010, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Middle East in Exploration & Production. On January 1, 2011, he was appointed to Total’s Management Committee.
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December - 2021
Insights and Analysis on Hydrogen and Natural Gas with Anne-Sophie Corbeau
Anne-Sophie Corbeau is a Global Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Her research focuses on hydrogen and natural gas. Anne-Sophie has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry and is a recognized expert on natural gas. She is the author of many publications focusing on gas, LNG markets, Asia, China, India and Africa, including the book “LNG markets in transition: the great reconfiguration” (Oxford, 2016). She is also a member of the Gastech governing body.
Prior to joining the Center, Mrs. Corbeau was a senior Leader and head of gas analysis at BP, where she was responsible for advising the Leadership Team on gas market developments and long term pricing assumptions. As part of the Economic and Energy Insights team, she was leading the Energy Outlook’s analysis on gas, industry, nuclear and hydrogen. She also served as a member of BP France’s Comex (board).
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November - 2021
Energy Transitions in the MENA Region With Dr. Mostefa Ouki
Dr Mostefa Ouki is an independent energy consultant and has over thirty years of experience in developing, executing, and managing gas and energy-related techno-economic projects throughout the world. He led numerous consulting and advisory assignments commissioned by governments; national and international energy companies; and, international financial institutions. He also executed and led a number of consulting assignments on the planning and implementation of oil, gas and petrochemical infrastructure projects in key hydrocarbon producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Dr Ouki worked closely with government and private sector policy decision-makers in a number of countries on the formulation, funding and implementation of energy and infrastructure projects and policies. He advised project lenders and financial advisors on the development of energy and infrastructure projects.
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November - 2021
Knowledge Sharing Between Oil & Gas Producers With Dr. Valerie Marcel
Dr Valérie Marcel is the project lead for the New Producers Group, a South-South knowledge-sharing network of 30 emerging oil and gas producer countries. She is an established expert on national oil companies, petroleum-sector governance and emerging strategic issues shaping the energy sector.She is the author of Oil Titans: National Oil Companies in the Middle East (Chatham House/Brookings, 2006). Recent publications include Fostering Resilience in Emerging Oil Producers in 2020 and The Cost of An Emerging National Oil Company, the most read Chatham House publication in 2016, with 41,000 downloads.
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October - 2021
LNG - A Time of Change in the USA - With Mr Charif Souki
Mr Charif Souki is the Executive Chairman of the Board at Tellurian. He co-founded Tellurian and serves as Executive Chairman of the Board. He also founded Cheniere Energy, Inc. in 1996 and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President until December 2015. Prior to Cheniere, Charif was an investment banker. He serves on the board of trustees of the American University of Beirut and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. Charif received a B.A. from Colgate University and an MBA from Columbia University.
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October - 2021
Energy & Climate Change in the Middle East With Ali Al-Saffar
Mr Ali Al-Saffar is the Middle East and North Africa Program Manager at the International Energy Agency in Paris and an author on seven editions of the IEA’s long-term forecast, the World Energy Outlook, including the “Outlook for Producer Economies.” Prior to joining the IEA in 2012, he served as a Middle East economist and chief automotive analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit in London. He has degrees in economics and development studies.|
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October - 2021
Clean Energy & New Fuels in the Gulf With Jeffrey Beyer
Jeffrey Beyer is a sustainability strategist with international expertise across climate and energy policy, corporate strategy, green finance, clean tech innovation and business planning. He has helped establish renewable energy Centres of Excellence and was instrumental in launching the UK's first £40m Clean Growth venture capital fund as a public-private partnership.Jeffrey has worked with utilities to prioritise and implement innovative solutions to prepare for low carbon transition. And, working with national governments and multilateral organisations, he has developed and implemented climate policy, sustainability strategy and energy efficiency programmes.
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September - 2021
Affordable & Clean Energy With Mr Hongpeng Liu
Mr Hongpeng Liu is the Director, Energy Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). He is currently leading the energy team in ESCAP to promote regional energy cooperation with a focus on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 7 in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and energy connectivity for regional economic cooperation and integration. His work ranges from conducting policy studies, organizing intergovernmental meetings & policy dialogues and providing advisory services to facilitating regional cooperation on sustainable energy development in Asia and the Pacific.
Mr Liu has over 30 years of experience in sustainable energy. Prior to joining the United Nations, he served as a government official in charge of energy policies and plans, new and renewable energy industry development, energy and water conservation, environment industry development at different Ministries and Commissions of the central government of China.
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August - 2021
Gas, CCUS, Net-zero, & Hydrogen With Dr James Henderson
This interview was conducted in August of 2021 with Dr James Henderson, the Director of the Natural Gas Programme at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES). Within this 20 min session, Dr James Henderson provides his insights into a variety of prevalent topics in the energy and sustainable development industries, including gas, CCUS, hydrogen, methane emissions, and much more.About the Guest:Dr James Henderson is Director of the Natural Gas Programme at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) and he has been writing for and working with the Institute since 2010. He produces research for both the Gas and Oil Programmes covering Russia and CIS issues as well as global energy matters that affect the region. He is a Visiting Professor at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic and at the College of Europe in Natolin, Warsaw, and has lectured on energy economics and security of supply at a number of universities in Europe and the US. He has worked in the oil sector for US company Amerada Hess, as well as spending time as a consultant and investment banker. He obtained a PhD in Social Sciences from London University in 2010.
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August - 2021
The Methane Conundrum With Mr Braulio Pikman
As countries continue to ramp up their climate change ambitions, the use of coal for energy generation is expected to diminish significantly. Consequently, the role of natural gas would be enhanced, as burning natural gas produces less greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) than burning coal and crude oil. Natural gas is, therefore, generally considered the cleanest fossil fuel.
However, methane emissions from the production, transport and use of natural gas present a challenge to the sustainability credentials of the natural gas industry. For gas to be widely accepted as more climate-friendly than coal, companies producing, processing, and transporting gas need to ensure that methane leaks are kept to a minimum. The International Energy Agency (IEA) identified ‘reducing upstream emissions as one of five key climate policy priorities in the energy sector if the world is to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement.
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July - 2021
Forced Changes In The Energy Industry With Mr Tom Ellacott
This interview was conducted in July of 2021 with Mr Tom Ellacott, an SVP on Wood Mackenzie's Corporate Research team. Within this 20 min session, Mr Ellacott provides his insights into recent 'upsets' with major IOCs, from ExxonMobil and Chevron's landmark board meetings to a recent court ruling calling for Shell to cut its absolute carbon emissions. In the second half of the interview, Mr Ellacott shares his thoughts on US shale oil and gas, the future role of NOCs, and the potential for Blue Hydrogen.
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July - 2021
Towards Net-Zero With Ms Marzia Zafar
This interview was conducted in July of 2021 with Ms Marzia Zafar, Director of Sustainability & Policy at Kaluza. Within this 20 min session, Ms Zafar provides a behind the scenes look at Kaluza and its industry-leading work on the digital integration of Net-zero efforts, as well as smart grid technology.
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May - 2021
The Changing Future of Energy With Dr. Axel Wietfeld
In this Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast, Dr. Axel Wietfeld, CEO of Uniper Hydrogen and President of Gas Storage Europe (GSE), provides his insights on the future of hydrogen in the Middle East, energy transition, and the potential for a hydrogen trading market.
Prior to becoming CEO at Uniper Hydrogen, Dr. Wietfeld held a number of executive positions in the company’s gas supply/LNG and renewables operations in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, and South Africa. In his recent position as Managing Director of Uniper Energy Storage (2016 to 2020), Dr. Wietfeld led one of Europe’s largest gas storage operators.
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May - 2021
New Fuels, New Energy Sources (Part II) With Dr. Veronica Bermudez Benito
Dr. Benito is Senior Research Director at QEERI (Qatar Environment Research Institute) where she is the Director of the Energy Center and leads the efforts in research, technology development, and innovation in Energy.
Under her leadership, QEERI works in Energy Management (smart grids, EV, demand-response, power management, etc.), Energy Storage (high capacity concepts and outdoor test and reliability), Energy Conversion (mainly downstream PV and adaptability and durability to Harsh Climates), Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development, Catalysis and Process Technologies for Added Value products and Disruptive Technologies (mainly Solar Rectennas and Sensors).
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May - 2021
Interview With Dr. Bassam Fattouh, Director, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
In this Podcast, Dr. Bassam Fattouh, the Director of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and Professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, joins us to talk about international oil pricing systems, peak oil, hydrogen, gas, OPEC pricing power and the dynamics of oil prices and oil price differentials.
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May - 2021
New Fuels, New Energy Sources (Part I) With Dr. Marcello Contestabile
In this Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast, Dr. Marcello Contestabile joins the Foundation to share his thoughts and insights on our new podcast series topic "Energy Transition to combat Climate Change".
The final fuel mix will be diverse with many different local solutions probably in place around the world. We look at where economic research is leading towards local solutions for Qatar by discussing this topic with one of the leading local experts from QEERI.
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April - 2021
Hydrogen and Carbon Free Energy With Mr Martin O'Neill
Mr. Martin O'Neill is Vice President of Product Management at GE Gas Power and leads the activities of GE’s Center for Decarbonization, as part of its steering committee.
Martin is a seasoned senior executive who brings deep domain expertise in product design, program and technical leadership spanning across the Power Generation, Marine, Aviation and Transportation sectors. He has worked at GE for over 10 years - split equally between the US & Europe - and has a keen interest in the developing power market, technological and commercial disruptors and geo-political factors that are influencing the pace of the energy transition globally. With broad experience in multiple sectors, he is as happy discussing controls, nuclear and software solutions, as he is talking about turbines, electrical equipment and plant design.
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March - 2021
The Changing Future of Energy With Ms Mechthild Wörsdörfer
This interview was conducted in March of 2021 with Ms. Mechthild Wörsdörfer (@MWorsdorfer). In 2018 Ms. Wörsdörfer joined the IEA as the Director of Sustainability, Technology & Outlooks (STO). Ms. Wörsdörfer plans and co-ordinates the IEA’s work on energy sustainability, encompassing clean energy technologies and climate change policy.
Previously, Ms. Wörsdörfer held several senior management positions in the European Commission, where she coordinated the work on the 2030 Energy and Climate Framework, the Clean Energy Package, and the 2050 Energy Roadmap. She had been involved with the IEA for a number of years as IEA Governing Board Representative for the EU, and served in the Cabinet of Commissioners, in charge of industry, competitiveness, trade, and digital economy.
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March - 2021
Interview With Mr. Bart Wauterickx, CEO, The Sniffers
The gas industry is currently facing growing global competition from renewable sources of energy. For both electricity generation and domestic heating, gas compares favorably against coal for both efficiencies and for reduced carbon dioxide emissions. However, there is growing awareness that methane emissions from the gas industry can significantly affect climate change.
In this Al-Attiyah Foundation podcast, Mr. Bart Wauterickx, the CEO of Dutch-based company “The Sniffers” joins us to discuss the effects of Methane emissions, how they can be reduced, and what role they will play in the process of an energy transition, and in combating Climate Change.
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March - 2021
Interview With Ms. Béatrice Buffon, Executive Vice President, EDF Renewables
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine with Mrs. Béatrice Buffon, Executive Vice President, EDF Renewables in March of 2021. Within this Q&A interview Ms. Buffon provides insight into her extensive work in the fields sustainable energy, her work on offshore wind power in France, and her thoughts on the future of hydrogen.
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March - 2021
Environmental Bodies in Energy Transition With Mr Harry Sealy
In this Al-Attiyah Foundation podcast, Mr. Harry Sealy, joins the Foundation to share his thoughts and insights on our new podcast series topic “Energy Transitions, or Back to Business as Usual?”.
Mr. Sealy is the Chairman and Founding Member of the Middle East and North African Chapter of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment or (IEMA), which is an international body comprising over 16,000 sustainability and environmental professionals collectively working to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable world. IEMA’s “raison d’etre” or reason for being includes provision of support to advance the profession of those who manage and assess aspects of environmental change.
Harry Sealy is also a Fellow of IEMA organisation. He has over 20-years’ experience in environmental management that has spanned working on the planning, design, and environmental compliance of a wide variety of major projects from offshore marine renewables and interconnector power cables to onshore gas-pipelines, from major tunnelling/expressway projects to coastal resorts, ports, marinas. His journey has taken him from Europe to Eastern Siberia, and Qatar.
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February - 2021
Interview With Mr. Kamel Ben-Naceur, CEO of Nomadia Energy Consulting, and Former Minister of Industry, Energy & Mines, Tunisia
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine in February of 2021 with Mr. Kamel Ben-Naceur, CEO of Nomadia Energy Consulting, and former Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Tunisia. Within this 30 min session, Mr. Kamel Ben-Naceur, provides insight into his work with Nomadia, the IEA, and the Tunisian government, as well as shares his thoughts and opinions on climate change, and the evolution of the energy industry.
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February - 2021
The Future Role of Carbon Markets With Mr Simon Henry
In this podcast, Simon Henry, Director of Carbon Markets at IETA joins the Foundation to discuss the role carbon markets will have within the context of decarbonising the global economy and achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Many world leaders, captains of industry, and civil society organisations see the Paris Agreement as the last hope for humanity to address climate change’s catastrophic impact and preserve foundations for a healthy planet. Yet the current commitments by all signatories are insufficient to meet the goal of keeping global temperature rise to below 2°C.
Consequently, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, recently announced the launch of a comprehensive road map for the global energy sector to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The roadmap report, expected in May, will serve as a guide for countries preparing to convene for the COP26 UN Climate Conference in November.
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January - 2021
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: Back To Business As Usual in 2021?
The world economy is currently caught between two strong influences. The need for change to less carbon-intensive energy fuels is gathering in strength, and action needs to be taken now if the international community will meet the deadlines for limiting global warming to two degrees. However, the Covid-19 virus has hit demand for fuels. Economic recovery and hence energy demand appear to be patchy at best. How will these two influences affect the demand for the various fuel sources?
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January - 2021
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: Outlook for LNG Worldwide
In this Podcast interview, Patricia Roberts from LNG-Worldwide Ltd joins the Al-Attiyah Foundation to discuss the future of LNG. LNG-Worldwide was incorporated in 2005 and has advised clients on large-scale LNG infrastructure projects and commercial arrangements for businesses under development, in start-up and ongoing operations. As the Managing Director, Patricia is actively involved in all the consulting projects and offers 39 years of international experience in the oil and gas industries.
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December - 2020
Interview With Mr. Jean-Marie Dauger, Chairman, The World Energy Council
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine in December 2020 with Mr. Jean-Marie Dauger, Chairman of The World Energy Council. Within this 40 min session, Mr. Dauger provides insight into the WEC and its work, and his thoughts and opinions on climate change, renewable energy, and the future of hydrogen.
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December - 2020
Interview With Mr. Serge Tchuruk, Former Chairman & CEO, Alcatel and Total SA
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine in December 2020 with Mr. Serge Tchuruk, former Chairman and CEO of Alcatel and Total SA Within this 20min session, Mr. Tchuruk provides his insight and thoughts about his time with Mobil and Total, as well as his opinions on climate change, CO2 emissions, and France's nuclear programme.
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December - 2020
Interview With Mr. Pierre-Franck Chevet, Chairman & CEO, IFP Energies Nouvelles
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine in December 2020 with Mr. Pierre-Franck Chevet, Chairman and CEO of IFP Energies Nouvelles. Within this 20min session, Mr. Chevet provides his insight and thoughts about the IFP and its work in 'new energy', and his opinions on climate change, and hydrogen.
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November - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: Implications for Energy policy after the 2020 US Elections
Marianne Kah joins the Foundation in this Podcast to discuss Implications for Energy policy after the 2020 US Elections. Ms. Marianne Kah is a Senior Research Scholar and Advisory Board Member at The Centre on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA and was previously the Chief Economist of ConocoPhillips at its Houston headquarters for 25 years where she was responsible for developing the company’s market outlooks for oil and natural gas and was the company’s expert in scenario planning.
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November - 2020
Mr. Claude Mandil, Former Executive Director, IEA
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine with Mr. Claude Mandil on 3 November 2020, who sat down together to speak about the future of fossil fuels; the premise of peak oil, industrial waste management, a decarbonised energy industry, and the future and logistics of carbon storage.
November - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: The Reuse of Treated Industrial Wastewater
This special edition of the Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast invites three special guests to look into the challenges faced by freshwater supplies on the planet, and a possible solution. Though freshwater supplies could support the world’s population needs, their uneven distribution has pushed several regions to adopt alternative water resources, which are less environmentally friendly. For GCC countries, most municipal water comes from energy-intensive seawater desalination, with the GCC home to 20 of the world’s largest desalination plants.
The reuse of treated wastewater provides a more sustainable approach, requiring about nine times less energy and produces biosolids, a solid, organic, nutrient-rich by-product of wastewater. Biosolids can enhance the soil characteristics of countries with low fertility. The major hurdle to the implementation of treated water, however, resides in public perception.
All three speakers in this podcast join us from The Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar and have played an integral role in investigating the public’s perception over treated industrial wastewater and biosolids generated from Qatar’s oil and gas industry.
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October - 2020
Mr. Tim Gould, Head Energy Supply & Investment, IEA
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine with Mr. Tim Gould on 21 October 2020, and provides his insight and thoughts on the future of fossil fuels; his opinion on the energy outlook for 2021, what could delay recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, and what could improve sustained growth for the industry as a whole.
October - 2020
Mr. Olivier Appert, Former CEO, IFP Energies Nouvelles
This interview was conducted by Ms. Randa Takieddine with Mr. Olivier Appert on 23 October 2020 on the topics of; the future of fossil fuels, Mr. Appert’s thoughts on the new reality for energy after the pandemic, and the future of climate change policy between governments.
October - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: Hydrogen, New Industries & Tackling Climate Change
As the world looks for a solution to its energy-devouring paradigm, the energy industry has set its sights firmly on green growth. However, finding a balance between a high-energy substitute to carbon, which can also mollify and solve environmental problems, has been problematic. One budding option coming into view, which could build new industries and substitute for carbon without the negative consequences, is hydrogen.
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September - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast - The Role of Oil & Gas in a Low Carbon Economy
Dramatic changes are occurring in the oil industry, in both obvious and subtle ways. Changes propelled by various weighing influences reported on every day, such as climate change and the ongoing global agenda to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. These changes have come from an undeniable growing need for energy and the inescapable fact that 'green growth' is essential.
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September - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: Will The Pandemic Also Claim Refinery Victims?
Alan Gelder, Vice President of Refining, Chemicals & Oil Markets with Wood Mackenzie Ltd. joins the Foundation in this podcast interview, to delve into refineries. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a reduction in demand for crude oil. However, what is less spoken about is how that reduction affects the chain of actors in the oil production process.
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September - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: The Circular Economy & Future Developments
The actions needed to combat climate change are quickly becoming well established. However, the idea that the world should simply use less new material of all types and more recycled material is substantially less established. The talk today explores what needs to be done to establish the concepts behind The Circular Economy as a part of normal business practice, and how the concept may be affected as we move to “A New Normal”.
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August - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: 2020 Has Been An Interesting Year For LNG. What Might 2021 Bring?
The world, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, is seeing infection and death rates reducing in some countries, and increasing in others. The growing global debate across all industries and sectors is “has the world changed?” and/or “what is the new normal?” Major reductions in demand for energy fuels have been felt worldwide, promoting the question, will the planet go back to its pre-Covid-19 patterns of growth or has the globe changed forever? In this current series of podcasts, the Al-Attiyah Foundation will seek to explore this topic with a series of distinguished speakers.
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July - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: A New Normal - Will There Be New Technology Trends Post Covid-19?
Welcome to the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s latest interview, in a series of podcasts where we seek to address the urgent energy topics of today, by hearing the opinions and insights from our invited experts. Before the outbreak of coronavirus, substantial progress had been made in the pursuit of the goal of providing access to sustainable energy for all. A recent multi-institutional report indicated that the global population without access to electricity decreased to about 840 million in 2017 from 1.2 billion in 2010.
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July - 2020
Construction Energy Efficiency & Climate Change With Dr Alex Amato
Welcome to the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s fourth in our 'New Normal' series of podcasts where we seek to address the urgent energy topics of today, by hearing the opinions and insights from our invited experts.
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is an independent think tank aiming to provide robust and practical knowledge and insights on global energy and sustainable development topics and communicate these for the benefit of the Foundation’s Members and community.
In our rapidly changing world, where Covid-19 may be abating in some places but obviously not in others, climate change issues have not gone away. There are signs that building activity in now starting to pick up in OECD countries. But are we building in the right way towards more sustainable and energy efficient buildings or are we rushing to just get economic activity going? And will this sector be affected by the “New Normal” we are hearing so much about?
In this episode, Dr Alex Amato who is Head of Sustainability at the Qatar Green Building Council shares some perspectives on how energy efficient buildings will assist the fight against climate change.
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July - 2020
The Changing World of Natural Gas With HE Dr Yury Sentyurin
The world, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, is seeing infection and death rates reducing in some countries, and increasing in others. The growing global debate across all industries and sectors is “has the world changed?” and/or “what is the new normal?” Major reductions in demand for energy fuels have been felt worldwide, promoting the question, will the planet go back to its pre-Covid-19 patterns of growth or has the globe changed forever? In this current series of podcasts, the Al-Attiyah Foundation will seek to explore this topic with a series of distinguished speakers.
In this episode, His Excellency, Dr Yury Sentyurin, the Secretary General of The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), joins us in his expert capacity to discuss “The Changing World of Natural Gas – A New Normal”.
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June - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: The 'New Normal' in Energy & Sustainable Development
Jos Delbeke, Professor at the European University Institute and at the KU Leuven, and also the Former Director-General of the European Commission's DG for Climate Action, joined the Al-Attiyah Foundation to share his insights on:
- The role of energy in a post-COVID world.
- What does the “New Normal” entail for the energy sector?
- Stimulus packages for revitalising economies.
- A carbon tax, international co-operation, and policymaking.
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June - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: The Economics of Transforming to a Sustainable Energy Future”
Providing access to sustainable energy for all is currently one of the top priority issues in the global sustainability agenda. The quest for a transition to a less carbon-intensive and more sustainable energy system is becoming more urgent, particularly in the face of growing concerns about the impact of climate change.
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May - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: After the Crash - Progress so Far
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is pleased to share the second episode in a new interview series. Professor Paul Stevens, Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House joins us in his expert capacity as a professor of Petroleum Policy and Economics to discuss:
1. “Demand Destruction”.
2. The OPEC+ cuts, are they too little too late?
3. The changing landscape of fuel supply.
4. After the pandemic is over, what of the future?
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April - 2020
Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast: After the Crash - Short-Term Oil Price Behaviour
The Al-Attiyah Foundation is pleased to share our first episode in a new interview series. Robin Mills, CEO at Qamar Energy and Fellow at Columbia University's SIPA joins us in his expert capacity as an energy strategist and fuel economist to discuss:
1. The unprecedented volatility currently seen in the crude oil markets.
2. The OPEC+ cuts and their effect on supply.
3. Gas price implications as a result of low crude oil prices.
4. Challenges ahead for oil-producing countries and balancing of fiscal budgets.
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