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A top official of TotalEnergies has offered a rare, insider perspective on how scale, partnership, and pragmatism are redefining energy leadership in the Middle East in the latest episode of the Al-Attiyah Foundation podcast. The podcast with Julien Pouget, president Middle East and North Africa, Exploration and Production, not only delved into the Middle East’s role as a global energy supplier, but also how it is reshaping the production, management, and decarbonisation of energy. Pouget brings more than two decades of experience spanning Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Reflecting on the company’s century-long presence in the region, he said: “This is a very key region for our company with deep historical meaning.” “This is where we were born in 1924, in Iraq,” continued Pouget, who described how that legacy continues to shape TotalEnergies’ long-term partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa. A centrepiece of the conversation is Iraq’s landmark Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), one of the most ambitious multi-energy developments underway in the region. Pouget describes it as “a major project for us and I believe for Iraq... emblematic of our corporate strategy.” The project integrates four developments: the redevelopment of the Ratawi oil field; a gigascale gas treatment facility designed to eliminate routine flaring; a massive seawater treatment plant that will free up 250,000 cubic metres of fresh water each day for agriculture; and Iraq’s first utility-scale solar power plant, delivering 1.2GW of renewable energy. The environmental impact is profound, the podcast noted. “Ratawi will become one of the less carbon-intensive fields in Iraq,” Pouget noted that over its lifetime, the project will avoid “approximately 125mn tonnes of CO2 emissions.” In recent company reporting, TotalEnergies notes a 36% decrease in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions from operated oil and gas facilities compared with 2015, highlighting progress in reducing operational emissions over the last decade. From Iraq, the discussion moved to Oman and the Marsa LNG project, which Pouget describes as “one of the lowest carbon intensity LNG plants in the world... less than one-tenth of the average LNG plant carbon intensity”. While comprehensive independent benchmarking of carbon intensity at Marsa LNG is still emerging, TotalEnergies’ 2025 sustainability reporting shows its upstream emissions intensity in its oil and gas activities has been reduced to around 17kg CO2 per barrel of oil equivalent, reflecting continuous improvement in emissions performance. Throughout the episode, Pouget rejects the idea that TotalEnergies is turning away from hydrocarbons, instead describing a balanced and pragmatic transition. “The world needs oil and gas, and we grow it responsibly with lower emissions,” he said, pointing to the company’s broader emissions performance. He also noted a 36% reduction in emissions compared to 2015. The episode also situates the Middle East within broader geopolitical and energy-security trends. “The world is changing rapidly, and geopolitics often drives the energy landscape as much as economics,” Pouget observes. In this environment, he argues, consistency in strategy and partnership is essential, particularly for a region increasingly viewed as both a reliable supplier and a driver of innovation in cleaner energy solutions. The Al-Attiyah Foundation podcast continues to serve as a platform for strategic dialogue on global energy and geopolitics, featuring perspectives from senior leaders shaping the future of the industry. The full episode is now available on the foundation’s YouTube channel and official social media platforms. 

The Al-Attiyah Foundation’s latest sustainability research paper warns that the race to protect food production in fragile environments in the Mena region is accelerating and the window for meaningful action is narrowing.The report, “Sustainable Agriculture in Arid Countries”, paints a sobering picture.Mena holds just 1% of the world’s freshwater yet supports 6% of the global population.For many farmers, this scarcity is no longer an abstract statistic. It is the reason crops yield less, reservoirs dry earlier each year, and groundwater wells sink deeper into deficit. Climate driven droughts have already reduced harvests by 10-30%, threatening both food security and household incomes across the region.Across the Middle East and North Africa, farmers, families and entire communities now stand at a defining crossroads.In the world’s driest region, where every drop of water carries the weight of a livelihood, rising temperatures, deepening droughts and shrinking freshwater reserves are reshaping daily life.“Amid these challenges, there are signs of hope”, Al-Attiyah Foundation noted.Countries such as Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are investing heavily in technologies that give farmers a fighting chance.Precision irrigation, solar powered desalination, climate-smart greenhouses and digital farming tools are helping communities make the most of the water they have.Qatar’s ‘HAIAT’ precision agriculture project, for example, uses satellite data and artificial intelligence to guide farmers on exactly when and how much to irrigate. These innovations show what is possible when science and sustainability work hand in hand.However, many farmers in the region remain in the margins.High upfront costs keep modern irrigation and protected farming systems out of reach for smallholders, the very people who grow a significant share of the region’s food. Despite carrying the greatest climate burden, they receive less than one percent of global climate finance.The report calls for new financial lifelines such as blended finance, concessional loans and climate insurance that can help farmers stay afloat when droughts strike. A recent $7.9mn drought insurance payout in Syria, which supported one hundred and twenty thousand people, shows how powerful these tools can be when designed well.Al-Attiyah Foundation concluded that the region was entering a race for resilience. The countries that will thrive are those that scale water efficient technologies, strengthen governance and unlock climate finance not only for major producers but for the countless small farmers whose resilience keeps food on tables across the region.

The Al-Attiyah Foundation was a ‘Knowledge Partner’ at the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Qatar 2025, held on at Georgetown University in Qatar Saturday.Organised under YOUNGO, the youth constituency of the UNFCCC, the event gathered students, activists, and experts to channel youth-driven messages into the COP climate process.As part of its contribution, Al-Attiyah Foundation hosted a high-level panel discussion that explored the complex and urgent transition facing energy-producing nations.The session was attended by young delegates from across Qatar and beyond, and featured dynamic exchanges between experts from industry, academia, and policymaking.The distinguished panel included Adil Mohammad, Deputy CEO of MBK-Global; Michael Wood, Partner, Mena EY Sustainability; and Dr Marcello Contestabile, Chief Economist at QEERI.Together, they addressed pressing issues such as the balance between energy security and climate goals, the role of natural gas as a transition fuel, and the opportunities presented by emerging technologies including carbon capture, green hydrogen, and energy storage solutions.The discussion also examined the financing and policy frameworks needed to accelerate renewable energy deployment, with a particular focus on how sovereign wealth funds and state-owned enterprises can lead the way in diversification.Importantly, the panel emphasised the role of youth in driving innovation, awareness, and advocacy for a just and ambitious energy transition.The session drew on Qatar’s unique position as a global leader in LNG production and its growing investments in renewable energy, situating the Mena region at the heart of global climate and energy debates.The conversation underscored both the opportunities and challenges for countries reliant on fossil fuel revenues as they seek to align with the Paris Agreement and the global net-zero agenda.Through the event, the Al-Attiyah Foundation reaffirmed its role as a bridge between policymakers, industry leaders, and the next generation, highlighting the importance of youth voices in shaping pragmatic yet ambitious pathways to sustainability.The outcomes of the session will contribute to the official LCOY Qatar 2025 statement, ensuring that the perspectives of young people in the region are heard on the global stage.

The Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Energy Awards for Lifetime Achievement will take place in October, with preparations now well advanced for this landmark event.Organised by the Al-Attiyah Foundation, the Awards recognise outstanding individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the global energy industry. Six distinguished industry leaders will be honoured for their lifetime achievements.The Awards embody the vision and legacy of HE Abdullah bin Hamad al- Attiyah, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, whose leadership helped shape Qatar’s position as a global energy leader.The 2025 ceremony and gala dinner is sponsored by ExxonMobil, and will bring together over 300 senior executives, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the global energy landscape.Since its establishment in 2015, the Al-Attiyah Foundation has provided trusted analysis and insights into the most pressing challenges and opportunities in energy and sustainable development, through its research publications, CEO Roundtables, podcasts, webinars and regular events.The Foundation’s achievements and growth are made possible by its esteemed member organisations, which include some of the world’s most influential companies: QatarEnergy, Qatar Electricity & Water Co., Woqod, QNB, QatarEnergy LNG, Dolphin Energy, Qatar Shell, QAPCO (Qatar Petrochemical Company), Marubeni, ConocoPhillips, QAFCO (Qatar Fertiliser Company), Sasol, Q-Chem, Gulf Helicopters, Qatar Cool, and JTA Holding.