The UAE opens its annual oil-and-gas summit, pledging to increase output even as prices have fallen

Date:

Share post:


ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates opened its annual oil-and-gas summit on Monday with pledges to increase energy output even as global prices have fallen and world politics remain uncertain ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

The massive Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference comes after the UAE just last year hosted the United Nations COP28 climate talks. Those talks ended with a call by nearly 200 countries to move away from planet-warming fossil fuels — the first time the conference made that crucial pledge.

But the UAE as a whole still plans to increase its production of oil to 5 million barrels a day in the coming years as it pursues more cleaner energies at home. Meanwhile, UAE officials have made a point to dodge any questions about the U.S. election while maintaining their close ties to Russia despite Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

“Allow me to say that we in the United Arab Emirates will always choose partnership over polarization, dialogue over division and peace over provocation,” said Sultan al-Jaber, who heads the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and who also led the COP28 talks in Dubai.

Crude oil prices have been depressed this year. Benchmark Brent crude traded around $74 a barrel on Monday as prices have dropped after concerns over the ongoing Mideast wars growing into a regional conflict faded in recent days.

But slowing economic growth in China and ample supply in the market are additionally dragging down prices.

In his speech opening the summit, al-Jaber pointed to artificial intelligence as a future technology that could be deployed by the energy industry — and one with a voracious appetite for electricity.

“No single source of energy is going to be enough to meet this demand,” he said.

Politics was also close at hand at the summit on Monday. Whispers among the crowd attending the opening pondered who would be better for their businesses, Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.

Suhail al-Mazrouei, the Emirates’ minister of energy and infrastructure, dodged the first question by a presenter over whether his country preferred Trump or Harris.

“Of course, we will be discussing energy politics here and I (would) rather not … talk about the election in the United States,” al-Mazrouei said. “As a political contest, we wish both candidates the best.”

The UAE maintains close ties to Russia despite Western sanctions over Moscow’s war. An announcer told the crowd where to find Russian translation for the event, while one of the main partners of the summit was Lukoil, Russia’s largest non-state oil firm.



Source link

Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams is a writer and editor. Angeles. She writes about politics, art, and culture for LinkDaddy News.

Recent posts

Related articles

5 arrested after detectives find young boy locked in cage inside house

Five people have been arrested after detectives found a young boy locked in a caged area inside...

Man accused of hitting unmarked police cruiser, causing hours-long standoff formally charged

A man accused of hitting an unmarked police cruiser and causing an hours-long standoff in Dayton has...

Scores of taxi drivers given licenses despite having convictions for violent offences

Scores of taxi drivers have been able to obtain licenses despite having convictions for violent offences, a...

US arrests Turk for allegedly trying to break Venezuela sanctions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have arrested a Turkish man who they allege was trying to violate...

Rare November hurricane set to hit the US – here’s the projected path

A rare November hurricane is expected to make landfall in the southern US this weekend, according to...

Ominous Cloud Looms in Tornado-Warned Oklahoma County

An ominous-looking cloud was seen hovering in east-central Oklahoma on Monday, November 4, as weather officials issued...

US housing affordability, November's market seasonality: Wealth

In today's installment of Wealth, Brad Smith tackles the biggest personal finance topics ahead of Tuesday's presidential...

Dallas singer shot onstage while signing autographs after performance

A Dallas singer has been hospitalized after she was shot onstage following a performance Saturday with The...