Saudi Arabia Opens 25th WPC Energy Congress With Call for Energy Security and Investment
RIYADH, October 12 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz opened the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh on Monday, calling for investment in energy security and resilient supplies. Saudi Arabia is hosting the congress for the first time in its more than 90-year history, with the event running through October 15.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said recent developments in Saudi Arabia and the region had demonstrated that energy security could not be taken for granted as supply routes came under pressure and infrastructure was targeted. He said resilience needed to be built before crises occurred.
Saudi Arabia had invested over decades in infrastructure, spare capacity, storage, alternative export routes, technology and domestic supply chains, he said. He described localization as a strategic capability that supports business continuity and recovery when international supply chains are disrupted, adding that resilient systems must be able to maintain, repair, reroute and restore supplies under pressure.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia would continue investing in reliable oil and gas supplies while expanding renewable energy, electricity grids, storage and gas infrastructure. He also outlined commitments to lower-emission technologies, domestic manufacturing and workforce development, and reaffirmed plans to implement Saudi Vision 2030.
WPC Energy President Pedro Miras said energy security was fundamental to economic growth and social stability, and that transforming the sector required sustained, long-term investment. He highlighted international cooperation and the roles of artificial intelligence, digitalization, new fuels and carbon storage technologies.
The 25th WPC Energy Congress programme includes ministerial dialogues and strategic and technical sessions on energy markets, investment, natural gas, carbon management, critical minerals, digital transformation and artificial intelligence. An accompanying exhibition spans approximately 50,000 square metres, bringing together countries and companies to present energy technologies and solutions.
The opening coincides with the start of technical meetings for the 17th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 11th Mission Innovation Ministerial, hosted by Saudi Arabia from October 11 to 13. The meetings form part of Energy Week in Riyadh.
Source: SPA.
