H.E. Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy of Australia

As a key energy supplier in the Asia-Pacific region and net oil importer, Australia is acutely aware that our economic prosperity, and the prosperity of all consumers and producers, will be greatly affected by the way these energy security challenges are addressed. The global economic slowdown has seen some moderation in demand, but we can’t afford to relax. We must, as a matter of priority, take appropriate steps to deal with these challenges. We need to do this together. An effective consumer-producer dialogue founded on a clear understanding of our mutual inter-dependence can become a driving force for cooperation to help mobilise timely and effective global action. Efficient, transparen  ...

H.E. Taner Yildiz, Energy Minister of Turkey

For decades, oil has taken first place in world primary energy consumption. It still maintains its importance in being the number one input for countries’ economic development. It is widely accepted that oil cannot be easily replaced by any other alternative energy resource. This is especially the case in the transportation sector in the short and medium term. On the other hand, natural gas and nuclear power can not compete fully with oil. Furthermore, transportation of oil is much more convenient than its alternatives, ie natural gas. Needless to say, renewable energy resources are far from replacing this crucial energy commodity, at least in the near future. Global oil consumption has tak  ...

H.E. Natig Aliyev, Minister of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan

The modern world is living through a period of serious economic turmoil, causing successive crises in the financial and social-economic sphere, the main areas of industry, and also in the fuel-energy complex, which is a particularly good barometer of the current situation and indicator of how the world economy will develop in the foreseeable future. Given the important role of the energy sector in economic development across countries, regions and continents, it is necessary to take special measures to co-ordinate the energy policies of producer countries -- to establish diverse sources of hydrocarbons supply and stabilize world oil prices, enhancing global energy security. For this reason  ...

H.E. Helmi Güler, Minister Of Energy And Natural Resources Of Turkey

Energy, being the fundamental ingredient of economic and social development, continues to top the political agenda of every country in the world in the sense that, energy resources are limited and distributed unevenly in the world, while demand is continuously rising as populations grow and economic growth sustains.Given this global situation, hydrocarbons will continue to be the fuel of choice for decades to come, but their development and production have entered a new phase. Reserves are large but finite, operations in new areas are becoming even more technically complex, and non-conventional hydrocarbons will form a larger part of the production base in the future.It is obvious that the M  ...

H.E. Edward Miliband, MP Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change of UK

  I’m delighted to be leading the new Department of Energy and Climate Change, which has been created to give an even greater focus to solving the twin challenges of tackling climate change and securing an affordable energy supply. Over the last couple of years, and in particular over the last few months we have seen dramatic changes in oil prices. Oil price volatility has an impact across all levels of society, often hitting the most vulnerable hardest. Clearly, a stable oil market is in our common interest and the current economic climate only reinforces this. This is why the phase of the producer-consumer dialogue that was started at the Jeddah Summit in June is so important. The medi  ...

H.E. Miguel Sebastián Gascón, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade of Spain

  “Readers should note that the following article was written in July and based on the intervention of H.E. Minister Miguel Sebastián Gascón at the Jeddah Energy Meeting in June 2008. In the light of the events since then, it stands the test of time remarkably well”. The price of oil is above $140 a barrel, the highest price ever. In real terms, the current price is almost 50% more than the highest price reached during the oil crisis of the late 70’s. Moreover, the rise in prices has been sharp, 100% in the last year and 500% over the past five years. Only during the first oil crisis was there a similar surge in prices. There are two reasons inherent to the oil market that explains this   ...

H.E. Sameh Fahmy, Minister of Petrolum of Egypt

  I would like to contribute some thoughts on the outlook to synchronized energy responsibility from the Ministers’ Rostrum of the IEF Newsletter. It is very crucial to develop a pragmatic global vision on the relation between energy providers and consumers in the sense of their mutual responsibility especially with the ongoing severe challenges both are encountering. It is crystal clear that energy affects many lives either through the hydrocarbons supplied or the development of new technologies in augmenting depleting resources to reach a substantial number of people around the world in illuminating their homes, keeping their cars running and strengthening their business, as well as as  ...

H.E. Maria van der Hoeven , The Netherlands Minister of Economic Affairs

  The decision to establish an IEF Secretariat dates back to the 8th IEF Ministerial in Osaka, Japan. Following this, the Netherlands acted as host to the 9th IEF Ministerial and has chaired the Executive Board. The Dutch government highly values the IEF and its Secretariat and would like to thank the government of Saudi Arabia for hosting it in such a magnificent location. Energy is vital to all of us. We can only safeguard security of supply and demand by working together. Cooperation and joint action is key. We have to find ways and means to avoid conflicts and solve disputes in a constructive way. Countries have to create the right conditions, but companies are the real agents of ene  ...

H.E. Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Federal Minister For Petroleum And Natural Resources Of Pakistan

H.E. Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources of Pakistan, outlines in this special article for the IEFS Newsletter his country’s two-pronged strategy for enhancing gas supplies in support of economic development: accelerated domestic exploration and imports through pipelines and in the form of LNG. He underscores that not only Pakistan, but the whole South Asia region will benefit from the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project as it will provide a foundation for future economic growth, peace and co-operation as well as contribute to more gas-driven and environment friendly energy economies of two major energy consuming countries.Federal Minister for Petrole  ...

Mr. Nobuo Tanaka, IEA Executive Director

Representatives from the International Energy Agency (IEA) were among the small group of participants in the first meeting of what was initially called the “Producer-Consumer Dialogue,” which took place in Paris in 1991. This gathering, which sought to overcome the tensions between oil-producing and oil-consuming countries and focus instead on shared interests and concerns, was unprecedented at the time. Seventeen years later, the “dialogue” can only be called a great success, as Ministers and senior policy makers from over 90 countries have been invited to come to Rome for the 11th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial meeting.I would like to start by welcoming the new IEF Secretary   ...

H.E. Ali I. Al-Naimi, Minister Of Petroleum And Mineral Resources Of Saudi Arabia

The first ministerial meeting between oil producers and consumers took place in the summer of 1991, seventeen years ago. Since then, the global petroleum and energy markets have confronted five major challenges.The first major challenge, which I call the development of a globalized oil market, started in the eighties and took on defined shape in the nineties. The globalization of the oil market means that prices are decided freely within an open market, petroleum is directed to where the demand is, and buyers and sellers are fully integrated at the global level. With the help of this globalized market, producers and consumers have been able to deal successfully with many problems with minimu  ...

H.E. Georgina Kessel, Minister Of Energy Of Mexico

The world is concerned about energy security, and justifiably so. Headlines trumpet the news of ever higher oil prices and warn of the dangers of global warming. Finding alternative sources of energy to complement existing resources and address these concerns is crucial. Various key actors in the world’s energy markets are already making decisions that will have a major impact on the fortunes of virtually every nation on earth. Our collective economic well-being is at stake.Mexico shares these concerns. As one of the world´s main oil exporters---and also as a growing importer of oil products and energy technologies---Mexico has a considerable interest in stable energy markets.It is crucial t  ...

H.E. Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier, Minister Of Energy & Industry Of Qatar

The first meeting of the energy producers and consumers that took place in Paris in 1991 was the start of the dialogue Marathon. Since 2000 the dialogue is continuing as the International Energy Forum (IEF).Since then, a permanent Secretariat has been established and, as of the Amsterdam Forum in 2004, the International Energy Business Forum (IEBF), bringing together politicians and energy industry leaders, has preceded the Ministerial Forum. The IEBF has been a welcomed addition to the dialogue process as it gives the operators of the Energy Industry a unique platform to air their concerns and needs for a more efficient and timely response to the challenges they have to address.JODI, the Jo  ...

H.E. Michael Glos, Federal Minister Of Economics And Technology Of Germany

The 11th International Energy Forum is taking place at a decisive juncture. More than ever before, the political agenda is dominated by the question of a secure, affordable and climate-friendly supply of energy. More than ever before, dialogue and co-operation are important.One issue in particular is predominant: the rising oil price. This issue was also at the heart of the last International Energy Forum in Doha. Anyone who hoped that the continuation of the dialogue outside the ministerial conference would steady the markets and bring about a lasting reduction in the price of oil has been disappointed. The oil price today is significantly higher.For this reason, the International Energy Fo  ...

H.E. A. H. M. Fowzie, Minister Of Petroleum & Petroleum Resources Development Of Sri Lanka

I recently had a very fruitful dialogue with my counterpart, His Excellency Ali Al- Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We had a very cordial exchange of views particularly on the effect of the spiraling cost of fuel in the global market. While agreeing on the circumstances which compel oil producing countries to increase prices, I am particularly concerned about the hardships faced by developing countries as consumers due to oil price increases. The phenomenal rise in the price of oil has affected almost every country in the world except the producing countries; the most affected being the third world countries or the developing countries.The r  ...

Mr. Abdalla Salem El-Badri, OPEC Secretary General

One word: interdependence. In an era of globalisation, expanding international trade, instant mass communications, rapidly advancing technology and greater mobility; it is perhaps the word that most aptly fits the world in which we live.And at the heart of all this is the global energy system, something on which the whole world depends. It is a system that is finely balanced and one where stability must be the mantra. The right decisions need to be made, as the interrelationships between economic growth, social progress, energy security and the protection of the environment become ever more fundamental. OPEC attaches great importance to this, which can be viewed in the Riyadh Declaration tha  ...

H.E. Chakib Khelil, Minister Of Energy And Mines Of Algeria, OPEC President

The year 2008 could mark a milestone in the long history of petroleum, as the oil price crossed the highly symbolic threshold of $100 /barrel. This new development stirred debate all over the world, in oil exporting and importing countries, regarding its causes, sustainability and implications for both parties. Indeed, whereas some perceive it as cause for alarm, others look at it as though it was a mere short-lived spike, in the current cycle of the petroleum industry. Yet a serene analysis of the current price environment, allows some interesting observations.· There is a consensus that the current price include a significant share (up to one third according to several analyses) due to non  ...

H.E. Shri Murli Deora, Minister Of Petroleum & Natural Gas Of India

An enormous challenge facing us today is ensuring reliable and affordable energy to the billions of people across the world. Inter-regional trading in crude oil and products accounts for over 50% of the global oil production. The global hydrocarbon supply chain is complex, covering large distances, different modes of transport spanning diverse geographical regions, a huge variety of products, etc. The supply chain is an important link between producer and consumer nations which drives the wheels of the modern global economy. Developing countries in Asia and Africa have to meet the growing energy needs of their people. Also, the geographical endowment of global hydrocarbon resources points to  ...

H.E. Gholamhossein Nozari, Minister Of Oil Of Iran

As Ministers and officials of the energy producing and consuming countries are gathering to meet in historical city of Rome for 11th International Energy forum, they can look back with some sense of satisfaction to achievements of the dialogue among themselves to tackle the numerous challenges in the international energy arena in the relatively short history of this process.As a founding member of OPEC and one of the pioneers in oil production which will mark its 100th year as an oil producer this June, Iran has always promoted dialogue with other producers and consumers, since we believe that the challenges in this area are so complex, no single group can claim to have solutions for them on  ...

H.E. Dr. Shokri Ghanem, The Chairman Of The National Oil Company Of Libya

H.E. Shokri Ghanem, the Chairman of the National Oil Company of Libya, highlights in this special article for the Newsletter the potential of Libyan gas exports in the context of regional energy security along side Libya’s increasing importance as exporter of oil to global markets. His perspectives have special relevance for the opening plenary session of the forthcoming 8th Offshore Mediterranean Conference organized jointly by the OMC and IEF Secretariat on the “Mediterranean Dimension of Global Energy Security” in Ravenna, Italy on 28 March 2007. Dr. Ghanem will share his perspectives as a speaker at the session, which will be inaugurated by H.E. Pierluigi Bersani, Minister of Economic De  ...

H.E. Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary Of Energy Of The United States Of America

Prior to assuming the position of Secretary of Energy in February 2005, H.E. Samuel W. Bodman served as Deputy Secretary of the Commerce Department from 2001 and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Department from 2003. Before joining the Administration of President George W. Bush, Secretary Bodman, a Sc.D. in chemical engineering from the M.I.T., was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cabot Corp., a multinational chemicals and specialty materials company.It is well known that global demand for energy is rising rapidly and will continue to do so. By 2030 global energy consumption is projected to grow by over 50 percent, with 70 percent of that growth coming from the world’s emerging econom  ...

H.E. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member Of The European Commission And Commissioner For External Relations And European Neighbourhood Policy

H.E. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the European Commission and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, outlines from the Ministers’ Rostrum efforts to develop a focused external energy security policy as an integral part of the EU’s foreign policy in a new global energy landscape. Cautioning that the world no longer can take secure and affordable energy for granted, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner notes internal and external measures to be taken and recognizes the important role that the International Energy Forum has to play in reminding producer, consumer and transit countries of their common interest in a non-discriminatory and competitive world energy mark  ...

H.E. Sameh Fahmy, Minister Of Petroleum Of Egypt

H.E. Sameh Fahmy, the Minister of Petroleum of Egypt, underscores from the Ministers’ Rostrum the need for more international co-operation, “true multilateralism”, in dealing with global energy challenges. As we approach the next IEF Ministerial, he identifies some key forces that will shape the future of energy. He underscores Egypt’s focus on producer-consumer dialogue as a multilateral relationship and that Egyptian energy interests in the Mediterranean basin and elsewhere remain multilateral.Minister Fahmy convened the “ First Global Energy Roundtable” of regional energy ministers in Cairo in November 2006. He delivered a keynote address to the IEFS-OMC joint plenary session on ”the Medi  ...

H.E. Akira Amari, Minister Of Economy, Trade And Industry Of Japan

H.E. Akira Amari was appointed Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in September 2006. He has held many senior government positions, including those of Parliamentary Vice-Minister of International Trade and Industry, Minister of Labour, and more recently as the Acting Chairman of the Policy Research Council.Addressing crucial energy challenges through a dialogue between producers and consumers is an essential task and a key to global energy security. In particular, the International Energy Forum, which brings together some 60 energy producers and consumers from around the world, together with major international organs, serves as the most important arena for producer-consumer dialogue. Th  ...

H.E. Erik Solheim, Minister For International Development Of Norway

H.E. Erik Solheim, Minister for International Development of Norway since September 2005, underscores in this special article from the Ministers’ Rostrum the importance of the petroleum sector for developing countries. He presents Norway’s “Oil for Development” programme that focuses on good governance, transparency and anti-corruption with regard to resource and revenue management as well as environmental protection. He reconfirms Norway’s strong support to the Joint Oil Data Initiative managed by the IEF Secretariat. Norway has, within the “Oil for Development” programme provided the Secretariat with a special financial grant to promote JODI among developing countries, additional to Norway  ...