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HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, who is also QatarEnergy president and chief executive, joined the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) community for a special edition of the Dean’s Lecture Series.In a departure from the traditional lecture format, the event was a conversation between the minister and CMU-Q dean Michael Trick, followed by a question-and-answer session with students.The dialogue covered the most pressing topics at the intersection of energy, technology, and the environment.HE al-Kaabi shared his perspective on the evolution of Qatar’s energy sector, the nation’s role in the global energy transition, and the critical importance of technologies in ensuring the long-term competitiveness of Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG).He said that QatarEnergy’s approach to the energy transition is to grow responsibly, emphasising that gas remains the lowest-emission fossil fuel and, when it replaces coal, emissions are immediately reduced.The minister said that QatarEnergy is pairing its LNG expansion with best-in-class emissions practices, large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration, and significant solar power developments to deliver the energy the world needs in the most efficient and sustainable way possible.CMU-Q dean Trick emphasised the importance of the minister engaging with students.“The purpose of this series has always been to bridge education and real-world challenges and opportunities that await our graduates,” he said.“Today’s event is exactly in that tradition, offering our students a rare opportunity to engage directly with a pivotal figure in the global energy landscape,” Trick added.A significant portion of the event was dedicated to student questions, a format that HE al-Kaabi specifically requested to foster a genuine dialogue with the next generation of leaders.Students from across CMU-Q’s programmes engaged the minister on a wide range of subjects.A key topic was the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing sustainability and efficiency within the energy sector.Building national capacity through education remains fundamental to Qatar’s sustainable future, HE al-Kaabi noted.He said that education is paramount and that building national capability starts with equipping youth with the skills and knowledge to deliver across disciplines.By investing in their development and giving them real opportunities to grow, the minister said, QatarEnergy is empowering the next generation of leaders to drive Qatar’s sustainable future.The conversation provided students with firsthand insight into the strategic decisions that are shaping the future of energy in Qatar and around the world.

HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, also the President and CEO of QatarEnergy and Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, met in Baghdad on Sunday Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, to announce the start of construction of the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) and Phase 2 of the Artawi Oil Field Redevelopment project (Artawi Phase 2 Project).The two projects represent the final major components of Iraq’s Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), a multi-phase initiative aimed at enhancing the country’s energy infrastructure, currently being developed by the GGIP partners: QatarEnergy (25%), TotalEnergies (45%, operator), and Basra Oil Company (30%).The signing took place during a special ceremony held under the patronage of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and attended by HE al-Kaabi, Hayyan Abdul Ghani al-Sawad, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil, and senior Iraqi officials and executives from the three project partners.At the same ceremony, QatarEnergy and its partners, TotalEnergies and Basra Oil Company, signed a joint statement with the Government of Iraq, represented by al-Sudani, and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, represented by al-Sawad regarding the GGIP, to reaffirm the strong partnership between the parties and their joint commitment to the successful execution of the various projects comprising the GGIP.Commenting on the occasion, HE al-Kaabi said: “This milestone marks a pivotal step in our shared journey with Iraq toward energy resilience and sustainability. The launch of the CSSP and the Artawi Phase 2 Project reflects our deep commitment to Iraq’s energy sector and economic growth.”HE al-Kaabi added: “We are proud to collaborate with TotalEnergies and Basra Oil Company on this transformative initiative, and we extend our sincere appreciation to the Iraqi leadership and authorities for their continued support and partnership in making this vision a reality.”The CSSP will process and transport 5mn barrels of seawater per day to the main oil fields in southern Iraq. It will significantly reduce freshwater abstraction from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, helping alleviate regional water stress and support agricultural sustainability.By freeing up 250,000 cubic metres of freshwater daily, the project contributes to Iraq’s long-term water security. The plant will be operated by the Basra Oil Company.The Artawi Phase 2 Project will increase oil production from the Artawi field to 210,000 bpd starting in 2028. Upon completion, the project will position Artawi as one of Iraq’s lowest-emission oil production sites.With total investments exceeding $13bn, the GGIP is designed to enhance the development of Iraq’s natural resources to improve the country’s electricity supply.It comprises a number of mega-projects for the recovery of gas that is currently flared at three oil fields in southern Iraq to supply electric power plants, the redevelopment of the Artawi oil field, the construction of a 1 GWac (1.25 GWp) solar farm and for the treatment of significant quantities of seawater to be used for pressure maintenance in a number of oil fields.

QatarEnergy’s existing facilities have already captured and successfully stored around 7.5mn tonnes of CO2 since 2019, according to HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi.“All our LNG expansion projects will deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, aiming to capture over 11MTPY of CO2 by 2035,” noted HE al-Kaabi, also the President and CEO, QatarEnergy.“LNG remains at the core of our strategy, with ongoing projects to increase our LNG production from the current 77mn tonnes per year (MTPY) to 160 MTPY. This reinforces our position as a reliable provider of affordable lower-carbon energy,” HE al-Kaabi said in a message in the latest edition of QatarEnergy Sustainability Report.The minister noted, “Our investments span the entire LNG value chain, including a historic shipbuilding programme encompassing 128 ultra-modern, environmentally advanced ships. The fleet will enhance QatarEnergy’s capacity to meet the growing global LNG demand while reinforcing its dedication to operational excellence and sustainability.“Sustainability is central to our business strategy. We take a holistic approach that seeks to integrate environmental management, safety, social responsibility, and governance excellence across our local and global operations.”In 2024, QatarEnergy continued to advance clean energy and emission reduction projects. In November, QatarEnergy celebrated the ground breaking of the first world-scale blue ammonia project, which will produce 1.2mn tons of lower-carbon ammonia annually.Furthermore, he said, QatarEnergy aims to more than double Qatar’s urea production to over 12 MTPY, positioning the country as a leading global exporter and contributing to global food security.QatarEnergy is prioritising solar energy aiming to reach 4,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity by 2030.In 2024, QatarEnergy announced the Dukhan solar power project with 2,000MW of capacity and joined a 1,250MW solar project in Iraq.In 2025, the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar power plants will add a combined 875MW to Qatar’s solar power generation capacity, joining Al-Kharsaah’s 800MW.As part of its ongoing commitment to reduce its environmental impact, QatarEnergy is setting new sector-specific targets to reduce GHG emissions intensity of our downstream assets – petrochemicals, metals, and fertiliser facilities – by 10 to 15% by 2035.These targets build on QatarEnergy’s sustainability strategy and complement its previously announced upstream and LNG facilities intensity targets.QatarEnergy emphasises collaboration for progress through the Tawteen program, aiming to strengthen the local supply chain and foster sustainability-driven innovation and economic development.Since its creation in 2018, this unique programme has generated more than 100 investment opportunities.In 2024 alone, 29 opportunities were awarded, including four related to sustainability.Safety remains a foundational top priority for QatarEnergy, the minister emphasised. In 2024, QatarEnergy maintained zero fatalities for the third consecutive year and continued to focus on empowering its workforce.Creating lasting value through corporate social responsibility programmes, QatarEnergy continues to address social and environmental challenges, reducing its environmental footprint, and fostering inclusive growth.“These achievements were made possible by the dedication of our employees, the trust of our stakeholders, and the support of our partners, for which we are grateful. I look forward to working together to build a more sustainable future for all.“I would like to express our deepest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, for his vision, guidance, and unlimited support,” the minister noted.