Energy, Water & Sustainability Summit 2025
Welcome Speech | Energy, Water & Sustainability Summit 2025
Big Project Middle East's Head of Content Jason Saundalkar welcomes speakers and delegates to the summit and discusses the event's key themes and focuses. He will also outline the Big Project brands' plans for the rest of the year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Zawya
IGC leading Oman's gas transformation: Advancing industry, empowering the nation
Muscat – As Oman accelerates its economic diversification under Vision 2040, the Integrated Gas Company (IGC) has emerged as a pivotal force in strengthening the country's energy backbone—unlocking industrial potential, driving national growth, and securing the future of Oman's gas value chain. Since its establishment in late 2022, IGC has transformed the structure and governance of Oman's gas sector, becoming the exclusive entity responsible for gas aggregation, supply contracts, and allocation across the Sultanate. Today, IGC oversees the management of over 44 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually balancing domestic industrial demand, power generation, and LNG export commitments with unmatched operational agility and transparency. A key milestone in this national journey is IGC's recent approval of a strategic pipeline connecting Fahud to Sohar, with an extension to Ibri. The 193-kilometre infrastructure is not just a pipeline; it is a symbol of IGC's future-ready vision—designed to enable industrial zones, empower new economic clusters, and reinforce Oman's standing as a regional energy hub. 'Gas is more than an energy source—it's the engine of Oman's industrial growth,' said Abdul Rahman Al Yahyaei, Chief Executive Officer of IGC. 'At IGC, our role goes beyond supply. We are orchestrating a national strategy that ensures every molecule of gas fuels long-term value for our industries, our people, and our economy.' IGC's operating model brings together supply-demand forecasting, transparent allocation systems, and advanced digital tools like Oman's first spot gas auction platform. These innovations are strengthening gas availability for over 134 end-users across power, petrochemicals, metals, and manufacturing sectors—ensuring no opportunity is missed in turning gas into national gain. Through strategic projects like the Sohar–Ibri pipeline and its rigorous stakeholder engagement, IGC is fostering confidence in Oman's industrial capabilities. The pipeline alone will increase the gas network length by 4.5% and serve two high-potential industrial hubs, catalyzing new investments and jobs across value chains. In parallel, IGC's role in supporting clean energy transitions is gaining momentum. From transitional gas supply to green steel projects like Vulcan in Duqm to enabling gas-based low-carbon growth, IGC is ensuring that Oman's energy mix evolves without compromising reliability or resilience. As the exclusive gas shipper and national aggregator, IGC not only administers Oman's gas but defines its future. With every pipeline built, every contract executed, and every allocation optimized, IGC fuels the ambitions of a nation on the rise. About IGC: The Integrated Gas Company SAOC (IGC), established in 2022, is Oman's national gas aggregator, tasked with overseeing gas purchase, sales, allocation, and supply infrastructure development. Aligned with Oman Vision 2040, IGC works to deliver secure, sustainable, and strategically optimized gas solutions that empower industries, support innovation, and drive inclusive national growth.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Digital Connect Infrastructure & Telecom (DCIT) Chairman Abiola Lukman Lawal becomes Board Member of African Energy Chamber
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( the voice of the African energy sector, is proud to announce that Abiola Lukman Lawal, Chairman, Digital Connect Infrastructure&Telecom (DCIT), has been appointed as the newest Board Member of the Chamber. A seasoned executive with over three decades of experience in the oil and gas, infrastructure, telecoms and aviation sectors, Lawal's appointment reaffirms the Chamber's commitment to uniting visionary leaders to drive Africa's energy and infrastructure transformation. Lawal's appointment to the AEC Board follows a major milestone for DCIT, which recently partnered with U.S.-based Vanu Inc. to launch solar-powered mobile network sites in underserved Nigerian communities. This collaboration leverages Vanu's low-power, off-grid systems and DCIT's infrastructure capabilities to deploy scalable, renewable energy-driven connectivity solutions. With proof-of-concept sites now live, plans are underway for expansion across Nigeria and into other African markets – signaling a major leap in energy-tech convergence on the continent. Prior to his leadership at DCIT, Lawal served as Managing Director and CEO of Eterna PLC, where he spearheaded one of Nigeria's most significant downstream energy turnarounds. Under his leadership, Eterna joined a consortium that delivered Nigeria's largest airside aviation fuel depot – the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 – at Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The 15-million-liter capacity facility now stands as a key asset in West Africa's aviation infrastructure. Further accomplishments under his tenure include restoring Eterna to profitability in FY 2024 after a N12 billion loss in 2023; projecting 27% revenue growth; achieving a 166% increase in operating profit in H1 2024; and driving a 117% year-to-date rise in share price – placing Eterna among the Nigerian Exchange's top-performing stocks. Lawal also championed significant investments in LPG and CNG, enabling long-term resilience and diversification in volatile market conditions. Recognized as one of BusinessDay's Top 25 CEOs in Nigeria for 2024, Lawal's strategic leadership continues to bridge traditional and emerging energy sectors. His prior roles include Deputy Managing Director and CFO at Eroton Exploration&Production, Executive Director at Oando Gas&Power and Group Chief Strategy Officer at Oando Plc – where he played a pivotal role in the company's downstream-to-upstream expansion strategy. 'The African Energy Industry is honored to welcome Abiola Lukman Lawal to our Board of Directors. He knows how to turnaround companies with his vary data driven and pragmatic leadership approach. His ability to connect infrastructure development, energy innovation and commercial strategy across both the public and private sectors makes him an invaluable addition to our leadership. Lawal's appointment comes at a critical time as we accelerate investment, technology deployment and inclusive growth across Africa's energy value chain,' states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC. As a Board Member, Lawal will support the Chamber's mission to foster a results-oriented business environment and promote private sector-led energy development across Africa. His leadership will be instrumental in driving cross-border collaboration, advancing infrastructure-led growth and helping to make energy poverty history across the continent. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Global leaders unite in Cape Town to transform water investment strategy
For the first time on African soil, the African Union's Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025, places water security at the heart of global climate and finance discussions, aiming to shift from fragmented water investments to a coherent, co-ordinated, and well-capitalised global effort. Source: GCIS. President Cyril Ramaphosa urged that water investment be central to finance discussions at the AU-AIP Water Summit 2025, which aligns with the launch of the Rand Water Zuikerbosch System Purification Plant in Vereeniging which he attended last week. 'Water investment must be at the centre of these discussions and be financed, tracked and championed,' President Ramaphosa said. He was speaking at the opening of the African Union - Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025, currently underway at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Under the theme: 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability', the three-day summit, which kicked off on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 takes place during South Africa's G20 Presidency. It aims to place Africa's development challenges at the centre of the global agenda and to help address the continent's $30bn annual water-investment gap. In his address, President Ramaphosa challenged the attending Heads of State and delegates to leave the summit with deals, pipelines, partnerships and a permanent global mechanism to sustain the momentum. 'The matchmaking sessions planned for this summit should create long-lasting partnerships and increased investments in water. Let us build a world where every drop counts and every community thrives - a world where water is recognised as a human right and not weaponised against women, children and communities,' the President said. Global Outlook Council on Water Investments The summit also marked the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, an initiative that will see the Africa Water Investment Programme scaled up into a Global Water Investment Platform. The President highlighted that the Global Outlook Council on Water Investment will serve as the world's premier high-level political and investment platform on water. President Ramaphosa described the Council as the world's premier high-level political and investment platform on water. 'It will mobilise leadership, capital and innovation to transform water from a crisis sector into an opportunity sector,' he said, adding that the initiative will align with the investment theme of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference: 'Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all'. 'It will track progress, unlock finance, report annually and align efforts across the G20, UN, multilateral development banks and the private sector. It will mobilise the leadership, capital and innovation required to transform water from a crisis sector into an opportunity sector,' President Ramaphosa said. He emphasised that the continent is looking forward to the alignment of the Global Outlook Council initiative with the investment theme of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The invited leaders that will work with the South Africa G20 Presidency as co-chair in the leadership of the council are United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, and co-chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates. Alternate co-chairs include former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, who will facilitate effective broad engagement of the Council members. The invited leaders, as Council Members, include: • President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. • President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia. • Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom. • Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany. • Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy. • President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission. • President João Lourenço of Angola and African Union Chai. • President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, who is co-host of the UN 2026 Water Conference. The Council will be supported by a network of global leaders acting as 'Council Champions' to strengthen advocacy and mobilise resources. President Ramaphosa commended the leaders, who have stepped forward to confront and overcome a challenge faced by billions of people across the world. 'In the words of the founding president of the democratic South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: 'It is now in our hands.' Let the work begin. Let us leave no-one behind."
