Riyadh:HE Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, has urged the establishment of a new world energy order where energy is not subjected to political conflicts.

According to Qatar News Agency, the call was made during the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting. The meeting, held under the theme "Energy Security - A Shared Responsibility Market Fundamentals, Supply Chain Resilience, and the New Dynamics of Demand and Supply," saw the participation of energy ministers, government representatives, industry leaders, and international organizations.

In his speech, HE Al Kaabi expressed Qatar's solidarity with Saudi Arabia and extended condolences to the families affected by recent attacks. He cited the regional conflict as the cause of what he described as the world's worst energy crisis, impacting around 20% of global hydrocarbon supplies and causing extensive damage to regional energy assets and market volatility.

HE Al Kaabi emphasized the vulnerability of energy security due to geopolitical tensions. He stressed the broader human impact of energy issues, noting that a billion people lack electricity access and four billion rely on food produced with manufactured fertilizers. He called for a collective responsibility to ensure energy security and uninterrupted energy flow, keeping energy above political and conflict-related issues.

The Minister urged the Forum to consider measures to protect energy infrastructure during conflicts, highlighting the dual role of energy infrastructure as both an economic asset and a military target. He underscored that energy security should unite rather than divide, advocating for its protection from being used as a weapon.