Saudi Arabia rallies region for deep decarbonization as COP30 nears

JEDDAH: A regional drive to cut carbon emissions in the oil and gas sector gained fresh momentum this week as the second symposium on downstream decarbonization opened in the Saudi capital, drawing high-level participation from international energy companies, industry experts, and policymakers.

Organized by the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries and held under the patronage of Saudi Energy Ministry, the event—titled “Pathways to Reducing Carbon Emissions in Downstream Petroleum Industries”—builds on the success of its inaugural edition last June.

The symposium aims to advance strategies for curbing emissions in refining and petrochemical operations, reaffirming OAPEC’s commitment to sustainable energy development while fostering both regional and global collaboration.

Central to discussions is the challenge of balancing environmental goals with the continued strategic role of hydrocarbons in the global energy mix.

Opening the event, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change Khalid Al-Mehaid highlighted the organization’s evolving vision.

He praised OAPEC’s decision to rebrand as the “Arab Energy Organization,” a move he said reflects a broader commitment to embracing all forms of energy to serve the region’s long-term development goals better.

He underscored the need for deep decarbonization strategies to safeguard energy security, protect the environment, and drive economic growth, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Al-Mehaid emphasized the importance of integrated carbon management solutions, pointing to the role of the International Energy Forum in fostering collaboration between energy-producing and consuming nations in the face of the global energy trilemma.

With COP30 fast approaching, he called on Arab countries to move beyond negotiations and toward actionable climate cooperation, urging the adoption of science-driven solutions to meet net-zero emission targets.

Ali Al-Samawi, a senior energy analyst and representative of IEF Secretary-General Jassim Al-Shirawi, warned of unprecedented global challenges in decarbonizing the downstream petroleum industry. He pointed to circular carbon economy models, carbon markets, artificial intelligence-driven energy efficiency, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies as essential tools for transformative change and unlocking future investment.

The symposium closely aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader sustainability efforts, particularly through the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, both aimed at reducing carbon emissions and expanding renewable energy adoption.

The Kingdom has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, a goal announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the 2021 Saudi Green Initiative Forum.

Delegates from around 20 Arab and foreign countries attended, with nearly 140 experts and stakeholders present. The event featured 23 technical papers showcasing the latest innovations and strategies in emissions mitigation.