Il WEC Inside è una pubblicazione bimestrale del World Energy Council (WEC) contenente interviste a rappresentanti del WEC e dei Comitati Nazionali, overview e aggiornamenti sulle attività recenti e future del WEC in tutto il mondo e, approfondimenti sulle ultime news in ambito energetico.

1. WEC Inside
1–15 February 2014
Welcome to WEC Inside, your exclusive
briefing from your WEC network
News
World Energy Leaders’ Dialogue held in Abu Dhabi
The World Energy Council held its inaugural World
Energy Leaders’ Dialogue (WELD) in Abu Dhabi
last week (21 January).
Opening the event, His Excellency Suhail Al
Mazourei, UAE energy minister, commented on
how renewable energy is becoming a viable solution even for countries rich in fossil fuels. In his
address, he explained that in the UAE, which has
prioritised nuclear, renewables, and gas, renewable energy is set to grow as it competes with LNG
imports. As most GCC states (except Qatar) do not
have enough gas to support the demand in elec-
Suhail Al
Mazourei,
UAE energy
minister,
opened the
World Energy
Leaders’
Dialogue in
Abu Dhabi
tricity growth, he believed that the renewables industry has the potential to benchmark itself with
nuclear and natural gas.
Marie-José Nadeau, WEC Chair and event cohost, recognised the UAE’s achievements in diversifying its energy mix despite being a fossil-fuel rich
country by incorporating renewables as a strategic
resource.
The WELD gathered senior decision-makers
from government, business, and multi-lateral organisations. Notable speakers include H.E. Abdul
Hussein Ali Mirza, Bahrain electricity minister;
Carlos Pascual, Special Envoy and Coordinator for
International Energy Affairs, USA; and Maria van
der Hoeven, Executive Director of the IEA.
Several issues of critical concern to the Middle
East dominated the agenda, including the water–
energy nexus, the impact of the boom in unconventionals in the Middle East, and the future of energy
subsidies.
The event was organised alongside the World
Future Energy Summit (WFES), an annual conference promoting the growth of new and renewable
forms of energy.
From left: Abdul Hussein Ali Mirza, Bahrain
electricity minister; Carlos Pascual, Special
Envoy and Coordinator for International
Energy Affairs, USA
Marie-José Nadeau spoke at a WFES keynote
panel on the day before. Other panellists included
Maria van der Hoeven.
Mrs Nadeau also held talks with Mary Robinson, former president of the Republic of Ireland and
head of the Mary Robinson Foundation to discuss
how to advance social justice in the energy sector.
News continued on page 2 ...
Interview
Energy leaders will again descend on Johannesburg for this
month’s Africa Energy Indaba, the WEC’s Africa regional event.
Brian Statham, Chair of the Indaba, tells us more.
What’s new at the Indaba?
What are some of the highlights?
We are always trying to stimulate new thinking and
catalyse the search for solutions to the energy
challenges facing the African continent. Consequently, while the essential framework of the event
remains constant, there are also new features.
There are a number of key firsts.
It is 12 years since a Chair of the WEC attended an event of the South African National Energy
Association. We are indeed very pleased that Mrs
Marie-José Nadeau is coming to Johannesburg to
participate in this event.
In conjunction with the WEC we will be holding
two “Indaba Energy Leaders’ Dialogue” sessions.
These sessions will be a first and we plan to use
them to enrich the overall Indaba programme.
Moreover, the 2014 event will feature the flagship studies of the WEC. The opening plenary
panel will have the energy trilemma as its theme
and the closing plenary panel will deal with energy
scenarios.
The Gauteng province has embraced Indaba
as an important opportunity for business matchmaking and specifically the critical issue of infrastructure development. Also, the International
Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will be holding
a partner event in conjunction with the Indaba.
Apart from the “firsts” mentioned earlier, we have a
very credible faculty of panel members who will be
talking about the energy issues facing the African
continent. The themes for the 10 panels are closely aligned with the critical uncertainties facing
African energy leaders identified: decentralised
energy supply, skills development for energy,
energy–water–food nexus, carbon management,
role of government and market in energy security,
political volatility and funding risk, energy for
transport, regional interconnection, electricity storage, and realisation of the potential of gas. The
exhibition is well supported with a greater diversity
of countries and technologies represented.
1
How has Africa’s energy agenda
changed since the same time last year?
The African energy agenda has not changed much
since the same time last year. Africa has such a
deficit in terms of providing energy systems that
are secure, sustainable and reach all citizens that
it will be many years before the priorities shift.
Energy access remains a critical issue, especially
for sub-Saharan Africa. The availability of capital,
both financial and know-how, also remains a key
Brian Statham is Chair of the
South African Energy Association the WEC’s South African
member committee which is
co-organising the Africa Energy
Indaba. He also chairs the
WEC’s Studies Committee.
concern. The global climate framework is also a key
uncertainty for Africa, as it is for most regions.
Why should people attend the Indaba?
The vast African continent is endowed with plentiful
resources; both physical and human. Sadly these
resources remain largely undeveloped and the
potential is unrealised. Africa Energy Indaba is
specifically structured as a means for Africans, and
others, who are interested in unlocking Africa’s
potential to come together in search of solutions.
This is not a once-off event. It is an integral part of
an ongoing process. There are many opportunities
for those with vision and the courage to address
these issues. This is the forum where delegates will
lay the foundations for an exciting future. ■
The 2014 World Energy Issues Monitor will be
released on 18 February at the African Energy
Indaba. Member Committees will receive the
report this week in advance of its global launch. ■
1–15 February 2014 WEC Inside