"What's Fueling the Future?" Energy Experts Map Out the Region's Next Frontier
Industry leaders gathered at the Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference (MPGC 2025), held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain, to exchange insights on the evolving energy landscape, focusing on the theme 'Navigating the Energy Frontier: A Middle Eastern Perspective.'
Opening the discussion, Alexander Van Veldhoven, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Bapco Energies, highlighted the pressing challenges in energy efficiency and infrastructure.
'Energy efficiency is crucial—but the practical concern right now is comparative pricing and land availability,' Van Veldhoven said. 'One solution could be sourcing land in Saudi Arabia to begin interconnection projects.' He also expressed skepticism about labeling gas as a transitional fuel, noting that hydrogen, while promising, becomes prohibitively expensive when it comes to transportation. 'For hydrogen to be viable, we must focus on affordable transport and supporting infrastructure,' he added.
Joining the panel was Musaab Al-Mulla, Vice President of Market Analysis & Sustainability at Aramco, who emphasized the strategic importance of energy in economic transitions, particularly in emerging regions.
'Energy is at the heart of economic transformation,' Al-Mulla stated. He pointed to disparities in energy transitions across continents, particularly between India and Africa, as a sign of the complex path ahead. 'Our 2025 target is for renewables to make up 50% of our energy mix,' he revealed. 'By 2030, we plan to further scale up gas usage to meet growing demand.'
The discussion reflected the Middle East's critical role in balancing traditional energy exports with ambitious sustainability targets, underscoring the importance of regional cooperation, strategic planning, and investment in technology and infrastructure.
MPGC 2025 continues to serve as a key platform for dialogue between policymakers, energy executives, and industry analysts, as the region works toward a more resilient and diversified energy future.
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