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Strategic Conference
With a 45-year legacy Middle East Energy, formerly Middle East Electricty, has well established itself as the region’s most reputable and comprehensive energy event in the MENA region, where global buyers and sellers connect to discover products and showcase solutions to deliver cleaner energy and supply sustainable power.
Based on industry demand, the 48th Middle East Energy edition will host the first Strategic Conference; the only high-level forum exclusively focused on unpacking the complex opportunities and challenges for senior decision-makers in the energy and utilities sector in the Middle East and Africa.
Explore the latest insights and best practices in developing and implementing strategies to successfully facilitate the energy transition, stewardship of energy efficiency projects, all whilst enabling adequate energy generation to meet future needs.
Gain access to international and regional perspectives from governments, utilities and financiers, developers, technology providers, and EPCs under the themes highlighted.
Theme: Powering the energy transition
Bringing together the highest stakeholders within the energy communities, this comprehensive conference will be delivered by distinguished industry experts and influencers, focusing on addressing real-world commercial solutions to help fasten the road to global energy transition.
Day 1, Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Future Energy outlook in Middle East and Africa – planning and policies
Day 2, Wednesday, 8 March 2023
Decarbonising energy and utilities
Day 3, Thursday, 9 March 2023
Driving digitalisation and innovation in the power sector
Who will attend?
Conference Agenda
- Day 1 | Tuesday, 7th March 2023
- Day 2 | Wednesday, 8 March 2023
- Day 3 | Thursday, 9 March 2023
Theme: Future energy outlook in Middle East and Africa
10:00
Conference doors open | Networking
Session: Opening
10:45
Conference opening
10:50
Welcome speech
Senior representative, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
11:00
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Saudi Arabia on the Energy Transition
Explore the new geography of energy in Saudi Arabia, built upon the country’s great natural endowments of hydrocarbons, wind, and sunshine. Review progress toward green hydrogen, large-scale carbon capture projects, prospects for CCS and the market for carbon-free hydrogen.
Moderator: Amena Bakr, Dubai Deputy Bureau Chief and Chief OPEC Correspondent, Energy Intelligence
Speaker: Senior Government Official, Ministry of Energy – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
11:30
Opening speech
Senior representative, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
11:40
Welcome remarks by Informa
Azzan Mohamed, Exhibition Director, Energy – Middle East and Africa, Informa Markets
Session: Energy market trends
11:45
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Rwanda on the Energy Transition
The newly confident East African country, at the heart of the East African Rift System, faces many of Africa’s energy challenges but with great resources to meet them. The country is building a rich mix of energy resources, with creative applications of renewables adding to its hydroelectric base, in an effort to achieve 100% electricity access next year.
Moderator: Senior media representative
Speaker: Senior Government Official, Ministry of Infrastructure – Rwanda
12:15
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Morocco on the Energy Transition
Recognizing future challenges for energy supply and rising electricity demand, Morocco has set ambitious targets for the deployment of renewable energy sources for electricity generation (RES-E). The realization of these targets will lead to a fundamental transition of the Moroccan electricity sector and requires substantial public and private investment. However, different risks constitute barriers for private RES-E investments and lead to high financing costs. Tune in to this session to explore plans to encourage capital-intensive RES-E projects.
Moderator: Amena Bakr, Dubai Deputy Bureau Chief and Chief OPEC Correspondent, Energy Intelligence
Speaker: : HE Mrs Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Kingdom of Morocco
12:45
Keynote: Challenges and opportunities for the Energy Transition in the Middle East and North Africa
Given its natural resources, expertise on energy markets and investment capacity, the Middle East and North Africa has the conditions to lead on the energy transition. While some challenges are preventing this from happening, the opportunities remain enormous.
Speaker: Nicolas Daher, Lead Energy Analyst, The Economist Intelligence Unit - London
13:15
Panel: What electricity demand looks like in the future and what energy companies are doing to meet it and why?
Sub-topics:
- The impact of EVs on electricity demand
- Generation portfolio optimization
- Management models
- Internationalisation
- Infrastructure developments
Moderator: Nicolas Daher, Lead Energy Analyst, The Economist Intelligence Unit - London
Panellists:
- Dr Joseph Oketch, Director – Electricity and Renewable Energy, Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya
- Abhay Bhargava, Vice President– Energy & Environment, Industrial Practice, Frost & Sullivan MEASA
14:15
Networking break | Exhibition visit
Session: Funding the Energy Transition
14:45
How can large companies accelerate their innovation activities while maximising financial and environmental impact?
How energy companies can accelerate their transition to clean energy by combining Venture capital investing and a holistic Innovation ecosystem
Speaker: Brian Ryan, VP of Innovation, National Grid, USA
15:15
Panel: Bankability of renewable energy projects
Review the latest best practices in controlling project risks, securing revenues and putting in place adequate lender protections to ensure that lenders can be comfortable providing debt finance on a non-recourse or limited recourse basis.
Moderator: Oliver Phillips, Middle East & Africa Lead, Sustainable Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
Panellists:
- Dr. Mohsen Abou Bakr, General Manager - SMEs Corporate Banking Division, National Bank of Egypt NBE
- Dr. Ibrahim Saad Al-Mojel, CEO, Saudi Industrial Development Fund
- Sufyan Al Issa, Country Head, UAE, International Finance Corporation
- Maher Al Kaabi, Advisor to Group Chairman, Al Serkal Group of Companies, UAE
16:15
Framework for energy efficiency financing
Explore the financial tools necessary to de-risk energy efficiency financing and make private investments more attractive
Speaker: Azhar Hussain, Principal Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation
16:45
Closing Remarks
17:00
End of Day One
Theme: Decarbonising Energy & Utilities
Session: Through the Lens of the Future
10:45
Our Shared Future
An inspiring view of meeting future energy needs
Speaker: Licypriya Kangujam, 11-year-old Climate Activist
Session: Achieving Universal Electricity Access
11:00
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Kenya on the Energy Transition
Explore how Kenya is rapidly emerging as a renewable energy superpower in Africa, building up capacities and plans and projects to reach 100% clean energy by 2030
Moderator: Oliver Klaus, Dubai Bureau Chief; Eastern Hemisphere Head of Client Engagement & News Editor, Energy Intelligence
Speaker: Senior Government Official, Ministry of Energy Kenya
11:30
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Jordan on the Energy Transition
Jordan's energy transition has been rapid and ambitious. Review renewable energy and financial challenges, energy fund project, and megaprojects that enable energy transition strategies and priorities
Moderator: Oliver Klaus, Dubai Bureau Chief; Eastern Hemisphere Head of Client Engagement & News Editor, Energy Intelligence
Speakers:
- Mr. Rasmi Hamzeh, Director of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources - Jordan
- Mr. Eng Yacoub Marar, Director of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources – Jordan
12:00
Fire-side chat: Perspectives from Egypt on the Energy Transition
Following COP27, Egypt committed to enhance its Nationally Determined Contribution by quadrupling its installed renewables capacity share to 42 percent by 2030. Egypt further committed to adopt an ambitious 2050 long-term strategy with a view to explore a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target and kick-start the development of green hydrogen. The session provides a closer look at Egypt's energy transition model and pathway for decarbonisation
Moderator: Senior media representative
Speaker: Senior Government Officials from Egypt Energy Holding Company, Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company and New and Renewable Energy Authority
12:30
Panel: Net Zero Carbon roadmap implementation
What success would look like and what policies, systems, and strategies countries need to adopt to achieve universal electricity access through clean energy
Moderator: Baset Asaba, Editor, Utilities Middle East
Panellists:
- Ahmed Ali Al-Ebrahim, CEO, GCC Interconnection Authority
- Dr. Maged K. Mahmoud, Technical Director, Lead Renewable Energy Advisor, Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), Egypt
13:30
Networking break | Exhibition visit
Session: Hybridisation of Renewable Energy Projects
14:00
Fire-side chat: Strategies for hybridisation of renewable energy projects - wind and solar complementarity
The integration of hybrid systems into the network will increase network stability, security, reduce emissions, and lower cost of electricity. However, to enable these advantages, there is a requirement for the electricity network to transition towards a smart grid. This session will focus on hybrid systems with renewables and how a smart grid should be developed to enable the effective integration of these intermittent resources
Moderator: Bart Cornelisson, Partner, Energy, Resources & Industrials Leader, Deloitte
Speakers:
- Ahmed S. Nada, President, Middle East Solar Industry Association, Head of Operations & Maintenance, Masdar Energy, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Wasim Al Malouhi, CEO, Alfanar Global Development
- David Desfosses, Project Manager, Smart Grid & H2 Expert, Tractebel Engineering
Session: Decarbonising Heavy Industries
14:30
Fire-side chat: Unlocking collective innovation potential to decarbonise industrial value chains through collaboration
The right mix of incentives and mandates can set market forces into motion, leading to industry-wide technology breakthroughs. But the transition to net-zero will require new forms of corporate collaboration with business, government, and research institutions.
Moderator: Alan Mammoser, Chief Editor, Energy & Utilities
Panellists:
- Franco Atassi, CEO - Smart Infrastructure, Siemens Middle East
- Senior representative, IRENA
Session: Gas and the Energy Transition
15:00
Fire-side chat: The opportunities and challenges of natural gas in MEA's energy transition ambitions
Strategies to deploy natural gas in the service of energy transitions remain unclear. Current perspectives from producer and consumer countries will inform thinking on a grand strategy for gas
Moderator: Senior representative, BCG
Panellists:
- Oman LNG
- Asyad Group
15:30
Networking break | Exhibition Visit
Session: Hydrogen and the Energy Transition
16:00
Fire-side chat: Unlocking hydrogen's power potential
Green hydrogen plants are now under construction as momentum gathers for a global market. This technical discussion will offer insights on how it will work in the power sectors of diverse countries.
Moderator: Jeffrey Beyer, Managing Director, Zest Associates, Dubai, UAE
Speakers:
- Uwe Zwiefelhofer, Managing Director, Head of Region MENA, Linde Engineering
- François Dao, Vice-President, Middle East & Africa, EDF Renewables
- Claude Mourey, Director, Hydrogen and New Energies – EMEA, Wood Mackenzie Consulting
Session: Middle East Energy Exhibition welcomes Women in Renewable Energy - WiRE
16:30
Closing session
Moderator: Dr. Rahaf Ajaj, UAE Chapter President, Women in Renewable Energy
Speaker: Joanna Osawe, Chair, President and CEO, Women in Renewable Energy, Member, Federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, Canada
17:30
End of Day Two
Theme: Future Grids
Session: Digital Transformation of Grids
10:45
National speech: Exploring the intersection between customer-centric business models and digital transformation
Unique insights on how companies can adopt new disruptive technologies to transform their businesses to achieve improved operational efficiencies, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and most importantly, create new business models to drive growth.
Invited - Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence, DEWA
11:00
Fire-side chat: Digitalised grids
Smart Demand and load management, Blockchain applications for Utilities and other emerging technologies; all things digitalisation reviewed
Moderators:
- Saqib Saeed, Chief Research Officer, Power Technology Research
- Aseya Mohammed Al Haddabi, Asset Strategy and Standards Division Manager, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company
- Reena Suri, Executive Director, India Smart Grid Forum
- Invited - Marco Janssen, Vice President, Operational Excellence for Transmission and Distribution, Taqa
Session: The Future Workforce
11:40
The knowledge economy, future workforce and capacity building
Learn how to compete in a knowledge economy. The shift to a knowledge economy also has implications beyond the globalisation of innovative, high-skilled work. Greater specialisation in high-skilled jobs could magnify the role of employers in training and development of the workforce and their stake in national education and training systems and their infrastructures. A better understanding of the factors that contribute to productivity among knowledge workers could also influence management and human resource practices.
Speaker: Prof Philip Hamil, Associate Provost for Research and Academic Development; Office of the Provost, Abu Dhabi University
Session: New Business Models for a New Power Sector
12:00
Panel: Alternative business models in the power sector
To balance the needs of delivering sustainability while also meeting investor demands for growth, explore how companies are integrating their corporate and ESG -Environmental, Social and Governance strategies.
Moderator: Nalin Nayyar, Chief Financial Officer, Yellow Door Energy - UAE
Panellists:
- Aseya Mohammed Al Haddabi, Asset Strategy and Standards Division Manager, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company
- Reji Pillai, Chairman, Global Smart Energy Federation
- Fouad Dagher, Director, NY Energy Storage Development, National Grid, USA
13:00
Networking break | Exhibition visit
Session: Building Energy Efficiency on the Demand Side - Customers as Partners
Review Demand-side energy efficiency (DSEE) approaches include upgrading industrial plants, equipment, and appliances, retrofitting public infrastructure and residential buildings
14:00
Case study
TBC
14:15
Case study
Dr Abdullatif Albitawi, Director, Emirates Green Building Council
14:30
Case study
TBC
Session: Secure Grids
14:45
Session: Rural Electrification
15:15
Fire-side chat: Progress in rural electrification
Explore a success story on electrification and mobility and practical applications that are meant to contribute to bridging the electrification gaps in rural areas particularly in the MEA's power sector, leading rigorously towards sustainable development.
- David LeCoque, CEO, Alliance for Rural Electrification
- Dr. Nazar Hassan, Senior Programme Specialist, Regional Bureau for Sciences for the Arab States, UNESCO - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Session: Storing Energy in Distributed Energy Networks
15:45
Closing keynote: Perspectives on Battery Energy Storage in the Distributed Energy Network
Learn how energy storage is a key part of the solution to a resilient energy infrastructure by diversifying resources to increase more reliability, and opportunities for energy storage on utility distribution systems
Speaker: Fouad Dagher, Director, NY Energy Storage Development, National Grid, USA
16:15
End of Conference
Explore further at parallel conferences
- Technical sessions
- Intersolar Middle East Conference
- CEO forum
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