WEBVTT
00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:11.519
Hello and welcome to Energy Insights from the World Future Energy Summit.
00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:19.920
And for this episode, I'm joined by Ibrahim Al-Zobi, Chief Sustainability and ESG officer at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.160
Welcome to our show, Ibrahim.
00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:23.600
Pleasure to have you on.
00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.199
Thanks for having me, Robin.
00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:29.600
We're obviously at a very turbulent time in global politics right now.
00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:35.520
We're also at a turbulent time for climate and we see um major climate issues around the world.
00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:43.359
Maybe this is a time that sustainability uh risks getting uh a little bit forgotten in the energy scene, but maybe it's a time it's more important than ever.
00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:51.200
Um maybe you could tell us uh a little bit about your role in sustainability and where you see the sustainability in the energy sector today.
00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:56.479
Uh thank you, Robin, for this uh brilliant question and uh important point.
00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.320
I think it's the latter, by the way.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.520
It's uh it's still important as more important than ever.
00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:23.599
Um we've seen uh the climatic uh changes uh the last couple of months, um heat waves across Europe, uh highest uh temperature in some of the countries, um uh fires in uh uh in Europe, and some countries in Europe, uh, but also droughts and floods and others.
00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:27.840
So technically, uh the topic did not change.
00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:39.760
Uh what changed is uh still there, but it's maybe it's not on top of the agenda because of different issues, but uh I believe it's still there, at least for countries like the United Arab Emirates and the UAE.
00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:42.480
We know our true north.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:55.920
Uh we have uh uh objectives set by our leaders there, be it in environment, climate, and economy, uh, and prosperity, um, and we are set to reach and achieve these targets.
00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:10.719
If we zoom into uh sustainability and uh uh climate and environment and uh social impact, I think it's uh it's a great time to revisit uh how we define sustainability.
00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:22.879
Uh, you know, sustainability briefly, and uh I'm sure you uh all of us know it is uh you know, maximizing this your social and economic impact while you're minimizing your negative environmental impact, if any.
00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:26.879
That's my definition to it, and most of the practitioners, if I'm not mistaken.
00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:40.800
So the last couple of years, Robin, we focused on one aspect of uh these three pillars, which is climate, which is fair, but also we did not put the same weight as we should on the social and economic.
00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:47.520
So it's time now to reflect and revisit uh what worked and what did not work.
00:02:47.680 --> 00:03:03.360
Um, when I say this, is look at the models some of the countries did, like in the United Arab Emirates and other countries, look at the models also that what's the impact, the positive or negative impact on the global south countries, what did not work on the global uh north uh countries.
00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:11.280
So for us uh in the UAE, our objective is clear and set by our leaders, as I've mentioned.
00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:23.439
Uh, we are here to maximize uh our social and economic impact as a company, if I speak on behalf of adnoc, and minimize any negative environmental impact uh we have, if any.
00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.919
And this is exactly what we're doing within the energy.
00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:48.719
We're providing our uh nation, our customers, with reliable, affordable, and sustainable uh energy for them to develop, to uh uh to uh innovate, uh to live, uh to in to enjoy the life on this planet, but also uh we look at uh uh uh the human-centric uh uh aspect.
00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:51.039
We call it sustainability with a big S.
00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:59.520
And I believe it does go uh hand in hand with uh the environmental commitments as well as the economic prosperity prosperity.
00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.520
Yes, uh thanks for that.
00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:10.400
So I mean the UAE, of course, made a commitment to net zero by 2050, uh ahead of the COP28 climate conference, which which was held here, of course.
00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:14.080
ADNOC has its own um net zero commitment as well.
00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:14.960
Absolutely.
00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:40.959
Uh first of all, I I it's it's again thank you for uh uh reminding us with uh, in my opinion, uh one of the best COP here in the UAE, COP28, uh, where um we had the biggest participation, the most pragmatic uh approach to the climate uh change issue, as well as uh where the whole world together sat together to look at solutions.
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.120
And I'll give a couple of examples there.
00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:52.959
But before we I start with examples from the industry, let me just remind uh you reminded everyone with the uh uh UAE's commitment by 2050.
00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:56.879
Well, in ADNOC, our net zero commitment is by 2045.
00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:13.600
Uh we are in phase two in our decarbonization phase now, from big to from uh uh uh low-hang foods to bigger scale, where we focus on full electrification, where our target is to achieve 25% reduction in our GSG emissions by 2030.
00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:21.279
Uh we have a near-zero methane target by 2030, we have an existing uh uh zero routine flaring policy.
00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.079
So we are on track to achieve all these targets.
00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:50.160
And uh the the part where I am uh very uh excited about when it you mentioned COP28 is the uh the energy and oil and gas industry where they all came together and to start a platform uh and talk about their commitments that they will not uh reiterate, and no one reiterated so far, um uh and formed the oil and gas decarbonization charter.
00:05:50.319 --> 00:06:17.519
Uh in the OGDC, the oil and gas decarbonization charter is one of the uh outputs of uh the uh uh UAE uh uh agreements in in uh uh in COP28, uh UA declaration, uh, where they uh around 55 uh oil and gas companies, most of them the majority NOCs, around more than 45 percent of the world's production they met during COP28.
00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.959
And they agreed on three main pillars.
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:28.720
One, uh to have a net zero target, the second part is to measure uh and verify and uh be transparent and report.
00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:34.959
And the third part is uh collectively to achieve near near zero methane by 2030.
00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:45.920
And let me remind uh us and the audience here, the listeners, uh methane, by the way, is 70 times harmful than CO2 uh in a shorter period of time.
00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:47.600
So it's a very harmful GHD.
00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:53.839
So what we did is, and we're the second, the industry is the second uh uh polluter when it comes to methane.
00:06:54.000 --> 00:07:03.279
We put set a target, and I can assure you that the OGDC signatories, including us at NOCARW and track to achieve it and commercially and a commercially viable technologies.
00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:12.399
So um the way we did it, and that's why uh I'm excited about what the industry uh approached the decarbonization.
00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:33.199
They looked at it from a commercial, commercially viable business uh uh project, uh how they can yet no disruption to providing reliable and affordable energy, but also sustainable with lower emissions, but also unleash the innovation and technological innovation to tackle such issues where it's commercially viable.
00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:44.959
So we've seen um uh an uh uh um a huge number of startups, SMEs working with the industry uh for these specific targets.
00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:50.240
And I through this podcast, I think I invite uh other industries to look at this.
00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:56.720
We talked about more what worked, what did not work, to look at other industries and follow suit as well.
00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:02.560
As I I do understand one size does not fit all, but uh some of the things work.
00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:16.720
And uh, if you just sit together and listen and share knowledge and be open-minded about how we can uh collectively uh tackle an issue and achieve uh a target there.
00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:21.920
Yeah, I think the methane one is very interesting, as you say, because it's uh kind of a quick win, right?
00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:26.639
It's such a powerful greenhouse gas, but one we can eliminate quite quickly.
00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:30.480
Um and in a and it's also a valuable product, right?
00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:40.320
And at a time of uh concerns about energy security, capturing an extra few percent of methane using it uh profitably is is much more interesting than than letting it leak into the atmosphere.
00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:41.039
Absolutely.
00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:41.440
Yeah.
00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:49.519
Um maybe you want to touch on on what one or two, so you have these innovative approaches, maybe you want to touch on one or two of those that you found most useful.
00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:53.840
Well, I would like to uh touch on two different things, if I may, uh Robin.
00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:56.399
Um one, I talked about sustainability with a big S.
00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.480
Let me just give some examples there.
00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.440
And I looked, I talked about commercially viable business.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:10.320
Let me also give some numbers there, and also maybe uh share some of the success stories we have, some of the startups from the region that we saw them going out to globally.
00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:40.480
The first one, if we look at the social and economic perspective, you know, through our ICV, when we managed to put back more than 17 billion dollars back to the UA economy through the our in-country value program, and that's part of the uh sustainable procurement process, part of uh investing uh being resilient, investing in the local uh uh industries and local economies, um uh investing in low-hang fruits and energy efficiencies.
00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:49.039
We managed to uh uh accumulate savings more than 888 million uh Durham in total savings.
00:09:49.440 --> 00:10:00.799
Um we managed to invest in technologies to keep our carbon intensity per barrel roll equivalent in the upstream uh seven kilograms per barrel roll equivalent, which is one of the lowest globally.
00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:10.080
Uh, all these things comes with through a long-term uh uh uh future-proofing plan.
00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:21.039
Uh so we are we know what we're doing now and tomorrow and the next two, three, four, five years, um uh and also opening the floor to technologies.
00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:28.480
So, what we did is we looked at um uh startups with solutions, technological solutions, AI technologies.
00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:33.600
Now AI is there, and I'm sure everyone now AI is part of our life.
00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:36.000
So, why don't we make it part of our businesses?
00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:45.039
So we as we embedded sustainability within the DNA of adnoc, we embedded AI in the DNA of of adnocks.
00:10:45.120 --> 00:11:04.720
So, what we did is we used technology and AI to, for example, to use um robots, to use satellites to detect uh uh uh leaks, emissions, uh to to accurate measure uh our numbers, our emissions, our uh consumption.
00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:09.039
Um, hence you see the precise numbers I just shared with you.
00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:12.320
We invested in our human capital.
00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:22.879
We will never achieve our business strategy or sustainability strategy, Robin, whatever great it is, by the way, without investing in the human capital.
00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:28.879
So we upskilled and reskilled our uh employees, be it on sustainability and AI.
00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:29.840
They go together.
00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:36.320
We believe technological innovation and AI is an enabler for us to achieve our sustainability targets.
00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:45.039
So more than 18,000 uh staff have been uh upskilled and reskilled just last year on AgenTech AI.
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:52.480
So beyond the introduction to AI, we started going into phase two to ensure that they use it on the day-to-day uh business.
00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:55.759
And this reflects on the numbers, on uh the technologies.
00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.600
We also worked out with startups.
00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:06.639
A good example is what we do with one of the UE startups, by the way, on our nature-based solutions program, planting the mangroves.
00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:13.039
As you may know, uh, we just uh uh celebrated the mangroves day here in the UAE.
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:18.080
The UE has a target of planting 100 million mangroves by 2030.
00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:24.000
Our target, our share of that as ad noc is uh uh around uh 10 million.
00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.320
Uh so far we planted 5 million.
00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:28.879
Last year we planted 2.5 million.
00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.720
But what's the uh uh interesting thing about it?
00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:47.279
The interesting thing is we talked to and invested in in a platform uh to invite uh startups uh to provide us with solutions, different solutions, and one of them was nature-based solutions.
00:12:47.360 --> 00:13:01.759
And this UAE startup uh came up with uh UE made in the UE drone, uh recycled, 3D printed actually, and uh we started using drones to plant uh the seedlings uh to monitor.
00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:12.639
And the interesting part, by the way, for me, which I really get excited about it, is the same success rate and more than 10 to 15 times less commercially.
00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:25.679
So we did not only save money, we accelerated the program and we achieved the same accuracy and we supported and we worked, we partnered up with uh a startup as we should be.
00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:32.480
Uh, the second example is uh one of the startups as well, and sequestration and a project on Fujera.
00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:38.159
Um, we reached out to them when we noticed that they were shortlisted to the airshot prize.
00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:52.799
And uh we worked with them as a supplier, you know, as a pilot and as a client uh to show them how, and I don't know if he's a big client, you know, how you can uh amplify your work.
00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.799
And uh months later, they won the airshot prize.
00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:08.720
And interestingly, the founder of that uh uh company uh from this region, from this part of the world, was uh in a couple of months on a stage on a panel with Bill Gates.
00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:19.200
So, so so my point here is um when you open your mind, when you have a long-term future-proof plan, and you stick to your plan, and you know you don't change.
00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:28.879
You talked about back to your first question, you talk about like things can come up and down, things may change, but when you have your true north, you know where you're going.
00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:35.120
Um, this will accelerate and support and unleash a lot of innovations and a lot of solutions.
00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:38.240
And luckily, we're in the UAE, and the UAE again.
00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:52.000
Uh, we know we have a plan for the next 50 years set by our uh president um and our leaders, and we're part of AdNOC is part of uh uh the skeleton of the UAE.
00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:53.519
We're not away from them.
00:14:53.600 --> 00:15:00.960
We're we're an integrated part of the UAE social, economic, and environmental uh uh ecosystem.
00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:15.600
Yeah, that's that's interesting because I I think there's maybe four kind of themes I think coming out there as you say about sustainability in as you say with the big S and um how that's embedded in in the country.
00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:27.200
Um and you know, the ones the ones that that I picked up there, um, you know, firstly the the technology side helping to develop and and use technology and and make the economy more more sophisticated and advanced.
00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:30.559
Uh secondly, the um the human capital side.
00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:36.399
So um, as you say, develop developing people to use these tools uh um uh effectively.
00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:52.960
Um the third one is developing the local economy through your your in-country value program, developing local industries, local supply chains, which then have all, I guess, all kind of knock-on impacts um and not just for ad knock and not just for the energy industry, but no doubt other industries benefit from these supply chains too.
00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:56.559
Uh, and then the fourth one, investing in the UAE's own natural environment.
00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.200
Um the mangroves and so on.
00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:04.320
Um, so those uh it seems to me it's a very good way of putting together the the ESG components, right?
00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:10.639
You have obviously the environmental side very strongly, but also the the social uh sustainability, the economic sustainability as well.
00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.600
Absolutely.
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:21.200
And and uh um uh from an EDNOC perspective, um, we also look at the diversification of the energy basket as well.
00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:24.000
And that's uh for the country and for EDNOC.
00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:30.399
You know, we while we are decarbonizing the energy system of today, we're investing of the energy system of tomorrow.
00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:35.919
You we talked about technology, we talked about AI, all these uh issues need energy.
00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.440
And we need to ensure that we are there to provide energy.
00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.480
Uh prosperous economy needs prosperous energy.
00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:44.960
Again, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:50.320
That's the backbone of any economy, hence our uh investment in Mazdar.
00:16:50.799 --> 00:17:06.240
Uh, and where now we achieved around 65 uh gigawatt capacity of renewables, and we have a target of achieving a hundred uh gigawatt target of capacity by 2030, investing as a country in the UAE in the nuclear.
00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:13.359
So we need we are aware that the energy system of tomorrow will be diversified, will be all of the above.
00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:21.440
And while we're doing decarbonizing today's system, we're ensuring that we're diversifying, we're investing in the energy system of tomorrow.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:35.839
All these things, by the way, you've mentioned, which is the uh the heart and soul of ESG, be it on economy, Roman, be it on social schools, education, um, governance, reporting, um, all this.
00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:39.839
This is proper governance of doing business.
00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:45.599
Um, but also uh it's we like we talk about resilience.
00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:56.079
You know, resilience does not just come with a press of a button, resilience needs to have an investment over time uh in strategy and management and a plan.
00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:59.519
Whenever resilience is needed, it's by default it's there.
00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:07.200
You know, we have uh in adnoc, we have uh uh a playbook uh for resilience and business continuity and all these things.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:15.759
So for us, when uh whenever these things needed, it's a press of a button because again it's embedded in the DNA, it's not an add-on.
00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:22.160
Uh, we look at sustainability, we look at AI, we look at uh different systems.
00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:31.920
You talked about human capital, investing in the students, investing in of our own employee, investing on the educational system of the UAE.
00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:36.559
This is part of a whole resilience plan whenever it's needed.
00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:38.799
And the goodness is a good thing for the business.
00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.400
Uh when you say future proofing, we think long-term investments.
00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:45.839
This is exactly what long-term investments look like.
00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:52.480
Yes, and we've been through obviously a number of major crises in the energy system and the economy over the past few years.
00:18:52.640 --> 00:19:02.240
Of course, first we had the pandemic, uh, then we had uh the the war in Ukraine, and then most recently the the war in the Gulf, and there have all been different challenges for the energy industry in this region.
00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:11.759
Um but I think they, as you say, they do show the importance of of resilience and and flexibility and uh and planning ahead, right?
00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:22.240
So the more diverse your energy system is and the more um the the uh the more technology, the more human capital you you've you've put into that, you don't know what the next crisis will be, but at least you you're prepared for it.
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.079
Spot on, Robin, actually.
00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:28.559
And and I I really hope uh some businesses are listening to you right now.
00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:37.119
Um if you want to ensure that you have a resilient future, uh a long-term sustainable future, you need to invest now.
00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:40.880
You need to invest now in this, and that's what we call long-term investments.
00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:45.119
It's not something you look at uh uh an immediate ROI.
00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:53.440
It's again, it's long-term thinking and long-term uh views on where you want to reach and where what do you want to achieve by certain time?
00:19:53.759 --> 00:20:00.480
Yeah, and I think it goes a little bit also within the uh a company's company's own DNA and maybe a nation's DNA.
00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:02.319
Um, what is their approach?
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:05.119
How how do they think about the and prepare for the long term?
00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:08.000
Um, you know, are they are they diversified?
00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.319
Are they are they uh open to different opportunities?
00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:13.759
Are they able to move quickly and change direction when they have to?
00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.559
Absolutely.
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:21.599
And and and to to be honest and to be fair for adnoc, uh again, we're we're part of the whole UAE ecosystem.
00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:30.400
I I I keep we keep saying, I am 100% sure that there is not one house in the UAE that directly or indirectly related to adnoc.
00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:34.559
You know, we heavily invest in in the in the in the UAE.
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:43.519
We're an NOC, so part of our job is to ensure that we're directing as we do with ICV to the UAE economy.
00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.839
So we're blessed with the leadership here.
00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:50.799
Um and and I I kid you not, uh, this can be an obstacle, by the way.
00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:57.359
Lack of leadership in such times uh is uh can be a showstopper.
00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:12.720
And in my case, when it comes to sustainability and decarbonization, uh ESG rating, uh reporting, we report uh year on year using global reporting initiative and assured report.
00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:18.799
Um, and yet I look at my shareholder, uh, the leadership of the UAE.
00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:36.160
Uh, they challenge me to do more because they believe that uh their job is to ensure maximizing the social and economic prosperity of the UAE for the UAE and ensure that our natural resources are not being touched or harmed.
00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:38.240
And this is exactly the essence of my work.
00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:55.519
So I'm blessed actually, and I'm lucky to work in such a place because uh back to where talking and looking at models and uh and uh uh knowledge transfer, leadership plays a main role uh of such things.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:59.759
You cannot be resilient if you don't have a leader that decided years ago.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:04.799
To say, okay, uh, we need to invest today because in 10, 15, 20 years.
00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:08.079
I'll give you a good story about this, by the way, about leadership.
00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:13.680
Uh, zero routine flaring, by the way, it's not something sustainability came up with an adnoc.
00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.799
People think it's a part of our strategy.
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.799
It was way beyond.
00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:43.279
In the early 70s, the late Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan Allah, the uh father of the nation, was out in the desert, and uh uh he saw uh a flare coming out of an oil field, and you know, him being part of the desert and the nature environment, and very close, it's part of his DNA, you know.
00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:47.519
Uh I said that's not good for the air, you need to stop it.
00:22:47.680 --> 00:23:00.960
Years after admocas was created, so we did not even uh stop the flaring uh gas uh in the air and causing harm, but also we managed to stop it and commercialize it.
00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:07.039
So that's how I look at sustainability when you talk about the social and economic and environmental commercializing.
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:15.279
I call it commercializing sustainability, and that's why it's really important now to relook at sustainability when you call it sustainability with a big S.
00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:19.440
We look at it as a part of the business formula embedded in the DNA.
00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:25.680
Look at what works, what doesn't work, look at what's good for the business and what's good for the environment all together.
00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:29.200
It's not one and forgetting that they're all hand in hand.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:31.759
So this is this these stories again.
00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:38.880
You look you look back and you say, you know, if we did it 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago, so there is no lack of leadership.
00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:46.880
So we need to to accelerate 10 hundred X uh to achieve our uh our targets, and that's what's happening actually.
00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:49.440
You look at the UAE as a nation when it comes to AI.
00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:53.759
We're the we're the first country in the world that have an AI minister, right?
00:23:54.079 --> 00:24:02.960
Uh, we the technological innovation, investments, you name it, you know, uh everything uh uh you can finish from your uh smartphone.
00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:08.160
So we have a lot of things to celebrate, but also we have a we raise the benchmark, the baseline.
00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:10.640
So we look at it and we look what's next.
00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.200
And that's the good thing uh in the UAE.
00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.680
We feel like we're we're always in a race, you know.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:18.079
Achieve this, okay, how can I make it better?
00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:24.319
While you look at other nations, uh, they're still in the process of discussing uh what works, what doesn't work.
00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:29.359
So so we're lucky, we have to say, we're lucky and we're blessed in the UAE when it comes to these issues.
00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:45.279
Yeah, that's uh you know, indeed a very interesting uh story, as you say, about the late uh Sheikh Said um and the gas story, and you know, worth you know, remembering that the first uh liquefied natural gas exports from the region weren't weren't from Qatar, as people might think, but of course, what were from the UA.
00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.160
Exactly.
00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:49.279
Um the you know, you you I think you're in a very interesting position.
00:24:49.359 --> 00:25:07.200
If I think about some of your counterparts in other companies uh as chief sustainability officers elsewhere, whether energy companies or or others, um, I guess some of them have had a challenging job because they had a role that was maybe focused on on compliance, maybe focused on on measuring and reporting targets, but not an integral part of the business.
00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.720
When things get tough, that's something that's easy to deprioritize.
00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:17.839
So I hear that you know it's important to have the leadership commitment so that um the the uh sustainability is always a priority.
00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:29.759
But kind of more than that, you know, that it's an integral part of the business that actually generates value and generates long-term opportunities, maybe many years later that uh you never even uh you have to think back quite hard to what where this originally came from.
00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:34.160
But uh um to create these kind of future opportunities.
00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.039
Uh absolutely.
00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:40.160
And I think I can put my hat as the chairman of the CSO network, the chief sustainability officers network.
00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:53.279
We're more than 110 companies, and we discussed these issues um uh in the re in the region and uh globally with organizations uh such as uh like related uh business organizations on sustainability.
00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:57.440
And uh uh I think you're absolutely you put it really correctly, by the way.
00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:02.079
There are a lot of discussions now on the role of uh CSOs.
00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:08.400
Some countries, some companies, they're disappearing, by the way, the roles because they I believe they got it wrong.
00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:16.000
Uh and some countries, mainly I would say, mainly in the global south, um, actually they're busier than before.
00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.839
So, what does that tell you?
00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:26.480
Um lessons I think learned is one, one size, when it comes to sustainability, one size does not fit all, period.
00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:39.519
You know, uh you have countries, young nations that they would like to develop and invest in infrastructure, education, schools, capacity building, uh, health, you name it.
00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:42.079
Um, and you have countries as well.
00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:52.799
Uh, we have the progressive regulations, you know, like in the UA, we have very progressive, we have a climate law, we have uh uh ICV, uh, we have different things.
00:26:52.880 --> 00:27:01.039
So the acceleration there, I'm not sure how you can measure it on the existing uh uh report, sustainability reporting uh issues.
00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:09.039
So, what we need to do is we look at a global umbrella, and I think the SDGs are the perfect global umbrella.
00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:15.440
We have 17 SDGs, sustainable development goals, and we shouldn't forget about all the SDGs, you know.
00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:29.119
We have SDG one about ending poverty, SDG 13 about climate, SDG 17 about partnerships, um, and in between you have about water, marine life, sanitation, diversity, you name it.
00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:50.160
So if we agree, and the nations did agree on the general uh true north that we aligned with the 17 SDGs, not one SDG and the other 17 SDGs, which means the right of nations for education, for ending poverty, sanitation, water, climate uh action, all of the above.
00:27:50.319 --> 00:28:06.160
This can be our agreed general um umbrella, and then we look at it, we take it to directly impactful SDGs, you know, uh short term and long term per country, per region, per nation.
00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:16.079
I look at our region, by the way, Ruben, and you know what the the things let's talk about environmental issues that keeps me awake at night.
00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.799
Water.
00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:19.359
Water is a main thing for us.
00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:23.920
We live in a nation that we either rely on desalination or rainfall water.
00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:31.599
While some countries and other regions of the world they have um plenty of rainfall and rivers and lakes.
00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:35.759
So water is a main, main environmental challenge for this part of the world.
00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:41.440
You have countries in this part of the world, some uh cities get uh water once a week.
00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:49.440
Uh so so we need to look at what's priority for us, how we can achieve, and one SDG at a time.
00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:55.680
You know, we managed to uh uh uh to deal with lots of uh issues, you know.
00:28:55.759 --> 00:29:02.240
We managed to eradicate polio, uh we have managed to uh deal with the ozone layer.
00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:08.160
We managed so we have success stories, you know, it's not all glimpse and dark and gray, you know.
00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:18.160
I think sometimes we need to share success stories and address the fact that this is what we were doing now in the short term, and yes, we know what we're doing in the next 10 to 15 years.
00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:23.119
So uh sustainability, I believe, in companies, be it globally.
00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:25.920
I think some companies did get it wrong.
00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:28.720
Hence, you see, is it a compliance?
00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:34.480
Okay, access to capital, perfect, but also is it an ethical approach?
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:39.599
Is it a shareholder uh demand or a stakeholder thing?
00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:48.400
So you need to define it, you need to revisit it and look at it at uh look at the whole approach from a holistic point of view.
00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:54.960
From a compliance perspective, some sustainity practitioners used to ask for reporting and compliance.
00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.759
Perfect.
00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:12.079
You need to formalize and have a governance for like finance-like, but also you need to put that part where the nations can excel more in innovation and uh and um to uh tackle issues that it's important to them.
00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:17.359
Yeah, that's an interesting tension, I think, isn't it, in the sustainability goals.
00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:23.839
Um, and what exactly the goals are that you know the 17 SEGs are important, of course, but they could be a little bit different.
00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.000
But I mean the big picture of sustainability.
00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:31.680
Um, you don't want to be in a situation where you say to solve one thing we have to solve everything because then you never start.
00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:38.240
On the other hand, you have to say we cannot solve our environmental goals without addressing the social goals and the economic goals and spot on.
00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:39.759
Absolutely right.
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:43.440
I think, you know, I think that statement you just made.
00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:45.519
Uh you talked about some companies.
00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:53.920
If I think they should put it part of the strategy is how can I solve this issue uh without compromising the other?
00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:56.319
But this is my main focus now for now.
00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.480
But the main umbrella, I have it as DG.
00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:05.279
So you align your strategy with the SDGs as you should, you know, uh, then say okay, one SDG at a time.
00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:09.920
You know, some collectively we can end poverty alone, we cannot, right?
00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:21.359
You know, it needs public-private partnership, education, for example, public academia, private partnership, diversity and inclusion, uh, sanitation, uh, energy access.
00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:25.519
You know, we have 800 million people don't have access to electricity.
00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.920
You know, which what does that mean?
00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:34.079
It means uh health issues, education issues, diversity issues, poverty issues.
00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:42.319
See, one part people that don't have access to energy, look at the impact.
00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:53.279
So if you ask me what's the priority, I and I I told you from the beginning that we have a commitment to provide as a company affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
00:31:53.359 --> 00:32:01.440
And this is what we do, that's our business, and this is what we're doing so far, and this is what we'll keep doing uh uh as far as we're we're here.
00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:04.799
Uh now, do we have other commitments?
00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:08.799
Absolutely, because again, we're part of the whole UA ecosystem.
00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:15.839
So the the approach should be uh like some companies should look at their approach and revisit, and it's fine, you know.
00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:18.480
Every five years you revisit your strategy, right?
00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:21.839
Yeah, so it makes sense from a business perspective.
00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:27.680
Yeah, that's a you know crucial point, I think, on the 800 million people without access to modern energy.
00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:33.759
Um, and it's in times of crisis and energy disruption, of course, that they're the they're the first to suffer.
00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:43.680
Um, yeah, I know globally we've made a lot of progress on energy access over the past uh 20 years, let's say, in some parts of the world, and in other parts of the world, we're we're still a long way behind.
00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:49.519
Um, you know, AdNok, I guess, over the past two years has been a changing business, has been an internationalizing business.
00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:51.359
So I wanted to ask a bit about that.
00:32:51.519 --> 00:33:10.559
Um, obviously, you've gone from being a national company that was very much focused on the UAE to being a more global company with activities now in many parts of the world, um, both in your core business and through a master, of course, in the renewable energy sector in in many parts of the world in bringing renewable energy to to parts of Africa, Central Asia, and and so on as well.
00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.880
Um could you tell us a bit about that?
00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:16.400
I mean, where do you see the sustainability angle in your international activities?
00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:35.359
Well, we uh uh as you're aware, we have we launched our international energy company, XRG, and uh within XRG also where we invest in different countries, and wherever we can have an influence, um sustainability, safety, uh our ethics as a company cascades down.
00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:41.680
So it does not uh uh uh it's not limited with geographic location.
00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:48.240
Again, our leadership uh cascades down the ethics and the targets and it goes out uh way.
00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:50.319
Now, through Mazdar, for example, you talked about Mazdar.
00:33:50.400 --> 00:34:09.519
Mazdar is in more than 44 countries, and with Mazdar, uh, when we uh this decide to increase even our shares there and partner and push for uh companies uh for to to to reach countries that where people don't have access to energy, we we we're in the business.
00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:14.400
You know, we look at it if Mazdar is people changing people's lives, literally, you know.
00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:29.840
Um with XRG, we look at gas, we look at PETCAM, we look at uh different aspects as well, but also the principles do not change, be it on health and safety, be it on sustainability, be it on ethics, be it on uh the ICV part.
00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:38.079
Uh our we are proud to export our uh the UAE ethics and uh role models uh outside the UE.
00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:41.280
And of course, XRG is a great uh example of that.
00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:57.119
Mazdar is a great example, along with other partnerships, uh the OGDC, by the way, the oil and gas decarbonization charter, our boss, our group CEO, is the chair of the Champions uh Council there, where he has two other CEOs, the CEO of Totar and CEO of Aramco.
00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:01.519
And three of them collectively work with the old CEOs on the three targets I've told you.
00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:07.199
We work with the partnership with the World Bank, uh, Global Flaring and Methane Partnership.
00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:24.400
That's a global program, and we focus mainly as one of the donor countries on countries in the global south that they have issues, pragmatic, technical issues with uh flaring and uh methane, where technically we go down there through the World Bank and fix the issue.
00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:26.639
Uh, we have lots of success stories, by the way.
00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:43.119
We always every time we meet in the steerco and I hear about uh NOCs, about countries from the global south that they succeeded to do uh pragmatic uh technical projects to reduce their methane and flaring.
00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:54.800
I feel so proud because this is driven uh from the UAE, be it through COP28 projects uh uh uh or uh uh partnerships.
00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:58.000
Um, but again, that's what what we do in the UAE.
00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:10.000
We we we really we genuinely export our uh role model, uh our ethics, and we're always here to help and support in humanitarian and sustainability and economic prosperity.
00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:15.360
Uh, at this been since the uh foundation of the union in the UAE.
00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:24.079
So it's not strange uh that we can skip down as adnoc, sustainability and healthy safety on companies like Mazdan and XRG across the world.
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:27.360
Yeah, it's an important example to play, I think.
00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:33.440
Um going back a little bit to you know what we were saying earlier about some of the challenges on sustainability.
00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:50.800
You know, we know that in times of turbulence, you know, political turbulence and and conflict, um, it's easy for some countries and some companies to um to deprioritize, to turn away a little bit from sustainability, um, focused on the immediate uh goals of of survival.
00:36:51.039 --> 00:37:00.320
Um so I think that that role that's played internationally to keep sustainability at the forefront of the of the conversation and attention is is a very important one.
00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:07.360
Um I guess I'm sure you see this with with many of your partner countries, um particularly as you were saying in the global south.
00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:08.639
Absolutely.
00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:16.079
I'll I'll I think um time of uh hardship, you know, you really know yourself.
00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:22.719
You discover things about yourself that good things, by the way, that you didn't know, but you had to.
00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:25.440
You know, this is part of being resilient and agile, right?
00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:29.280
How do you know you're agile and resilient unless you're being tested, right?
00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:34.159
And the other thing is you know your values really well, and others see your values.
00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:39.760
And um, you know, let's go back to COVID, you know, a COVID story in the UAE, great success.
00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:41.440
The whole world wanted to be in the UAE.
00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:44.960
We did not even want to leave the UAE because we felt safe, we felt good.
00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:47.679
There was a system, it was an amazing story.
00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:52.639
200 nationalities work in coherence under behind one leadership.
00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:56.320
Uh, the geopolitics, the geopolitics as well.
00:37:56.480 --> 00:38:03.119
Um, we kept providing our affordable and reliable and sustainable energy to everyone.
00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:04.079
We didn't stop.
00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:08.400
Uh, we had on the spot plan B and plan C and plan D.
00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:16.000
And Robin, this is back to what we discussed with, we talked to you and I about, which is this is does not start today.
00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:25.039
It starts from the way from the past, from the way back, knowing exactly what you want to achieve in 10 to 15 years.
00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:34.960
So this has been a very wide-ranging conversation uh on the topic of sustainability in the energy sector and uh and as we in the run-up to the World Future Energy Summit.
00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:41.280
The the Future Energy Summit, I think, is a very uh crucial event because uh it it's um it's world.
00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:50.960
You know, we've talked a lot about the global side of adnocks and how you're active internationally and supplying your customers um as well as your investments in in in uh numerous countries worldwide.
00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:53.280
We focus very much on future energy, of course.
00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:56.079
So we're talking about uh a whole range of energy sources.
00:38:56.159 --> 00:39:06.000
Obviously, we have traditional hydrocarbons, but we also talked about nuclear power, we talked about uh talked about very much about renewable energy, and then all of the other energy systems that that go around that, of course.
00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:12.559
Um we have the the future technologies that depend on energy, uh AI being the very prominent one, of course.
00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:24.559
Um, and then energy uh at the core of this energy being at the core of the modern global economy, um, improving living standards, improving human development around the world.
00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:35.920
And at a summit that brings together nations, companies, um to work closely on these issues, to bring together some of the leading companies, leading technologies.
00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:42.159
Um ADNOC, of course, has been a you know a core part of WEFS for uh ever since its its foundation.
00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:46.880
Um I'm sure you've benefited very much from the kind of relationships that you're able to build there.
00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:50.880
Uh maybe you could tell us a bit about uh the importance of WEFS to you.
00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:54.480
Well, it's one of my favorite shows, by the way, and summits.
00:39:54.639 --> 00:40:05.360
Um I think what we have in the UAE is the sustainability uh and consistent approach of such events.
00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:12.159
So people thought with COP28 and the uh UA consensus uh we're done.
00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:21.519
Uh but I look at events like WEFES, ADSW, uh uh Adipec uh is a continuation of this.
00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:31.760
And we we we we spent today talking about uh why we're decarbonizing the energy systems of today, we have to invest in the future energies of tomorrow.
00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:35.440
And WEFS is exactly the platform for these things.
00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:49.519
How can I pragmately, practically, and and in a pragmatic way approach and discuss and implement and uh share ideas without WEFS, you know?
00:40:49.679 --> 00:41:06.079
Uh yeah, I could spend a year or two or three uh visiting, traveling, flying, not sure how practical it is, but WEFS is the place where um you see innovations uh to implement and to support you to achieve your commitments, right?
00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:18.480
Um the the the the brains, the people you meet there, uh they are not they are there because they're interesting, they're interested, and they have a futuristic approach to energy.
00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:30.559
Um, the third thing I believe um, you know, with with such summits, by the way, sometimes we are so busy in our own bubble, doing our work, uh, which is fine, which is as it should be.
00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:40.880
But also, we we need to stop sometimes to see where the world is going, uh, what's being talked about, what's being discussed, what solutions are on the table?
00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:50.320
How can I achieve and do my job properly uh or more efficiently, or uh uh in a smart way?
00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:52.719
And WifeS is exactly the platform for that.
00:41:52.800 --> 00:42:00.559
We when we go to WEFES, you see people, it's like a uh busy uh B uh place, you know.
00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:14.320
Uh you go from a place to a place, you discuss a solution, and on the spot you agree on a pilot, and the second day you follow up with your technical team there, and that's exactly the pragmatic, the the amazing approach of the UE.
00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:18.079
When you say UAE means business, WiffEs really means business.
00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:29.519
Uh back to the the heart of sustainability we talked about today, how you can invest of the future energy systems of tomorrow if you don't know how it looks like.
00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:40.719
And uh such events, such uh summits and exhibitions uh is a continuation of what's being discussed before and what will be discussed after.
00:42:40.880 --> 00:43:00.480
So that glue, uh, regardless on the uh you know the geopolitics or uh it's laser focused on this toy on the energy, future energy topic, where you can uh look at capacity building, solutions, technological innovation in one place.
00:43:00.719 --> 00:43:03.679
So uh technically uh it's a win-win.
00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:11.199
Uh it's an efficient way to do your do your work do your work and your business better in the energy and the diversification as well.
00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:20.960
You know, you have standalone uh energy, as you know, uh uh um exhibitions, but with this, you have the combination.
00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:26.639
You know, with the combination, it gives you the diversification we call diversification of energy baskets.
00:43:26.719 --> 00:43:36.400
So with us is actually as uh a pragmatic way uh in the UAE to and globally, to be fair, uh, to see these things again.
00:43:36.480 --> 00:43:38.639
Uh uh measure your achievements.
00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:43.440
Usually we say uh we need sometimes to stop and think and then plan.
00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:46.559
Um I look at Wi-Fi this way.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:53.920
I I I sometimes I uh I take time, I walk on my own, you know, just scan, you know, just walk around.
00:43:54.079 --> 00:43:54.880
This is how I do it.
00:43:55.039 --> 00:44:00.880
First one, then go uh and listen, but mainly I walk around and Do I have a target?
00:44:00.960 --> 00:44:05.679
No, I just the first date, a scan, then I have a plan.
00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:15.440
Then on the spot, I go and start talking to people, um, uh to see where I can invite my colleagues actually to come and follow up on these discussions.
00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:29.360
So such such platforms are important, by the way, and we should not stop them because we assume now, again, with AI and technology and the uh the softwares and technological innovation, uh, is we have it on your fingertip.
00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:41.199
True, but that human part, the the human interaction, uh, the brainstorming uh sessions uh is as important as the access to technology and AI.
00:44:41.360 --> 00:44:49.599
And this is how I look at these things, and and that's what uh uh whenever I see events in the UAE, I go to because the whole world is there.
00:44:49.840 --> 00:44:55.840
While when you go somewhere else outside the region, to be fair, it's focused on a country or in a region.
00:44:56.320 --> 00:45:16.719
While here in WEFS, it's globally in one country, and that's that's I think uh uh most of the events here, uh, but in our business, WEFS, uh ADSW, ADPEC is definitely by far my um my busiest times, my favorite uh events globally, not only in the UE.
00:45:17.199 --> 00:45:34.159
Yeah, no, sure, they have a really uh unique role, I think, there, and as you say, in bringing the globe together, and you will see people from all over the world in a way that you wouldn't uh even at kind of other major uh global energy events, uh I would say, which as you say, absolutely focused on control.
00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:37.679
You know, I think maybe maybe I put you on the on the spot here.
00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:49.039
I think maybe we need to start doing roadshows globally to invite people and uh raise awareness about this because it's I know from the regional aspect, from the industry, people do reach out.
00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:51.599
We put it on our agenda, we meet then.
00:45:51.760 --> 00:45:52.639
That's for sure.
00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:59.119
But I think uh the world the the world globally can really benefit of such events, not only the UAE.
00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:02.159
Yeah, yeah, no, uh certainly agreed with that.
00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:08.960
Um, and I was very interested by by what you said about your approach uh at at uh WEFS, starting by looking around.
00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:11.519
Um, when you do that, what what are you looking for?
00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:13.440
Are you looking for technologies?
00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:14.719
Are you looking for people?
00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:17.440
Are you looking for uh opportunities for adnoc?
00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:18.880
Are you looking for new business models?
00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:21.039
I mean, what what what are you what are you at that?
00:46:21.760 --> 00:46:26.159
It's a very good question, actually, because I go on my own and I walk around.
00:46:26.400 --> 00:46:44.159
Um I look first, uh I have an open-minded, so I look at you know opportunities, uh uh adnoc centric, but also uh nationwide uh uh solutions, you know, through our partnership.
00:46:44.320 --> 00:46:54.000
So we you know, we we know Mazdar, Diwa, uh FIWA, I have friends there, I chair the CSO network, and I think it's an opportunity, and I'm blessed to be there.
00:46:54.079 --> 00:46:59.360
So I try to get that visual uh savings in my brain as much as I can.
00:46:59.440 --> 00:47:04.960
So the first thing I look is uh gadgets, you know, big things, you know.
00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:15.199
Um the second part is uh I look at names of companies, uh, where they're coming from, you know, um uh because it's interesting.
00:47:15.360 --> 00:47:30.639
Sometimes, you know, some countries are really advanced in such a technology, and on the spot, uh, if I see the combination of a technology, a gab gadget with a the specific country that is well known in this technology, I stop and start talking.
00:47:30.880 --> 00:47:58.800
But usually what I do is I scan, uh I walk the whole uh exhibition, and it takes me, believe it or not, it's not it takes it takes a day because and I don't finish it and I have to come back because I need I put a plan and I to follow up, but I look at solutions um and I give credit to the exhibitors, they really uh put a show there, you know, putting things there to attract people as well.
00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:01.840
So usually these things we don't see it much, you know.
00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:03.519
We see it online, we see it.
00:48:03.760 --> 00:48:17.039
So I am very intrigued to see to touch and see the actual uh uh size or gadget or the solution they have, and they do it really well in WEFES, to be fair, you know, they get good spaces and they put a big show there.
00:48:17.199 --> 00:48:22.880
So uh and and I have good discussions with uh with with with people from different companies and countries.
00:48:22.960 --> 00:48:38.960
But what I've noticed that it's interesting to see the alignment with a big company where like a pride of a nation is being done through an energy technological innovation through a company, um, which is fits really well with adnoc as well.
00:48:39.039 --> 00:48:40.800
We are a pride of of UAE.
00:48:41.119 --> 00:48:43.360
Um, we provide solutions as well.
00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:46.960
Um, so yeah, so uh I invite everyone.
00:48:47.119 --> 00:48:49.760
Uh everyone has their own approach for exhibitions.
00:48:49.920 --> 00:48:50.719
This is how I do it.
00:48:50.880 --> 00:48:52.800
I I milk it the whole time.
00:48:52.960 --> 00:49:01.599
I don't go, I it's not one time, and uh I make sure that my calendar is uh blocked for the full uh dates of uh WEFES.
00:49:02.159 --> 00:49:03.199
Yeah, well, thank you.
00:49:03.280 --> 00:49:27.280
And I think that's a reminder that you know the energy business and sustainability is you know is above all a business about people and uh the relationships and the people who make technologies, the people who use them, um, and the people who who who drive sustainability, but ultimately, you know, why we're why we're doing sustainability um for the good of the natural environment and and the good of uh of people and humanity in general.
00:49:27.440 --> 00:49:38.320
Um so the uh I think it's very important to to link that the personal, the individual that you've spoken about very well, and the and the collective, um, the the good of the people of the country and and the global population.
00:49:38.639 --> 00:49:38.960
Absolutely.
00:49:39.039 --> 00:49:43.920
We used to call it the triple P, you know, uh planet, profit, people.
00:49:44.400 --> 00:49:50.000
If we manage to look at now with the triple P approach, we'll be fine.
00:49:50.320 --> 00:49:51.280
Yes, absolutely.
00:49:51.519 --> 00:49:53.119
That's a very good note to end on.
00:49:53.360 --> 00:49:55.920
So thank you very much for being with us today, Iber Emo.
00:49:56.079 --> 00:50:01.760
So it would be from um Chief Sustainability Officer and ESG from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
00:50:01.840 --> 00:50:13.119
It's been a fascinating conversation about sustainability in these uh the these challenging times, and a good reminder of its continuing importance and how it should remain one of our top priorities.
00:50:13.440 --> 00:50:18.320
So that's all from this episode of Future Insights brought to you by the World Future Energy Summit.
00:50:18.400 --> 00:50:19.519
And I'm Robert Mills.
00:50:19.599 --> 00:50:26.320
I've been in conversation with Iber Hum Al Zobi, Chief Sustainability and ESG officer from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
00:50:26.559 --> 00:50:27.360
Thanks for listening.
00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:36.159
I hope you'll join us again for the next conversation, and I hope we'll also see you at the World Future Energy Summit between the 12th and 14th of January, 2027.
00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:11.519
Hello and welcome to Energy Insights from the World Future Energy Summit.
00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:19.920
And for this episode, I'm joined by Ibrahim Al-Zobi, Chief Sustainability and ESG officer at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.160
Welcome to our show, Ibrahim.
00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:23.600
Pleasure to have you on.
00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.199
Thanks for having me, Robin.
00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:29.600
We're obviously at a very turbulent time in global politics right now.
00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:35.520
We're also at a turbulent time for climate and we see um major climate issues around the world.
00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:43.359
Maybe this is a time that sustainability uh risks getting uh a little bit forgotten in the energy scene, but maybe it's a time it's more important than ever.
00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:51.200
Um maybe you could tell us uh a little bit about your role in sustainability and where you see the sustainability in the energy sector today.
00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:56.479
Uh thank you, Robin, for this uh brilliant question and uh important point.
00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.320
I think it's the latter, by the way.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.520
It's uh it's still important as more important than ever.
00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:23.599
Um we've seen uh the climatic uh changes uh the last couple of months, um heat waves across Europe, uh highest uh temperature in some of the countries, um uh fires in uh uh in Europe, and some countries in Europe, uh, but also droughts and floods and others.
00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:27.840
So technically, uh the topic did not change.
00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:39.760
Uh what changed is uh still there, but it's maybe it's not on top of the agenda because of different issues, but uh I believe it's still there, at least for countries like the United Arab Emirates and the UAE.
00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:42.480
We know our true north.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:55.920
Uh we have uh uh objectives set by our leaders there, be it in environment, climate, and economy, uh, and prosperity, um, and we are set to reach and achieve these targets.
00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:10.719
If we zoom into uh sustainability and uh uh climate and environment and uh social impact, I think it's uh it's a great time to revisit uh how we define sustainability.
00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:22.879
Uh, you know, sustainability briefly, and uh I'm sure you uh all of us know it is uh you know, maximizing this your social and economic impact while you're minimizing your negative environmental impact, if any.
00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:26.879
That's my definition to it, and most of the practitioners, if I'm not mistaken.
00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:40.800
So the last couple of years, Robin, we focused on one aspect of uh these three pillars, which is climate, which is fair, but also we did not put the same weight as we should on the social and economic.
00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:47.520
So it's time now to reflect and revisit uh what worked and what did not work.
00:02:47.680 --> 00:03:03.360
Um, when I say this, is look at the models some of the countries did, like in the United Arab Emirates and other countries, look at the models also that what's the impact, the positive or negative impact on the global south countries, what did not work on the global uh north uh countries.
00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:11.280
So for us uh in the UAE, our objective is clear and set by our leaders, as I've mentioned.
00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:23.439
Uh, we are here to maximize uh our social and economic impact as a company, if I speak on behalf of adnoc, and minimize any negative environmental impact uh we have, if any.
00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.919
And this is exactly what we're doing within the energy.
00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:48.719
We're providing our uh nation, our customers, with reliable, affordable, and sustainable uh energy for them to develop, to uh uh to uh innovate, uh to live, uh to in to enjoy the life on this planet, but also uh we look at uh uh uh the human-centric uh uh aspect.
00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:51.039
We call it sustainability with a big S.
00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:59.520
And I believe it does go uh hand in hand with uh the environmental commitments as well as the economic prosperity prosperity.
00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.520
Yes, uh thanks for that.
00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:10.400
So I mean the UAE, of course, made a commitment to net zero by 2050, uh ahead of the COP28 climate conference, which which was held here, of course.
00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:14.080
ADNOC has its own um net zero commitment as well.
00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:14.960
Absolutely.
00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:40.959
Uh first of all, I I it's it's again thank you for uh uh reminding us with uh, in my opinion, uh one of the best COP here in the UAE, COP28, uh, where um we had the biggest participation, the most pragmatic uh approach to the climate uh change issue, as well as uh where the whole world together sat together to look at solutions.
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.120
And I'll give a couple of examples there.
00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:52.959
But before we I start with examples from the industry, let me just remind uh you reminded everyone with the uh uh UAE's commitment by 2050.
00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:56.879
Well, in ADNOC, our net zero commitment is by 2045.
00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:13.600
Uh we are in phase two in our decarbonization phase now, from big to from uh uh uh low-hang foods to bigger scale, where we focus on full electrification, where our target is to achieve 25% reduction in our GSG emissions by 2030.
00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:21.279
Uh we have a near-zero methane target by 2030, we have an existing uh uh zero routine flaring policy.
00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.079
So we are on track to achieve all these targets.
00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:50.160
And uh the the part where I am uh very uh excited about when it you mentioned COP28 is the uh the energy and oil and gas industry where they all came together and to start a platform uh and talk about their commitments that they will not uh reiterate, and no one reiterated so far, um uh and formed the oil and gas decarbonization charter.
00:05:50.319 --> 00:06:17.519
Uh in the OGDC, the oil and gas decarbonization charter is one of the uh outputs of uh the uh uh UAE uh uh agreements in in uh uh in COP28, uh UA declaration, uh, where they uh around 55 uh oil and gas companies, most of them the majority NOCs, around more than 45 percent of the world's production they met during COP28.
00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.959
And they agreed on three main pillars.
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:28.720
One, uh to have a net zero target, the second part is to measure uh and verify and uh be transparent and report.
00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:34.959
And the third part is uh collectively to achieve near near zero methane by 2030.
00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:45.920
And let me remind uh us and the audience here, the listeners, uh methane, by the way, is 70 times harmful than CO2 uh in a shorter period of time.
00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:47.600
So it's a very harmful GHD.
00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:53.839
So what we did is, and we're the second, the industry is the second uh uh polluter when it comes to methane.
00:06:54.000 --> 00:07:03.279
We put set a target, and I can assure you that the OGDC signatories, including us at NOCARW and track to achieve it and commercially and a commercially viable technologies.
00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:12.399
So um the way we did it, and that's why uh I'm excited about what the industry uh approached the decarbonization.
00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:33.199
They looked at it from a commercial, commercially viable business uh uh project, uh how they can yet no disruption to providing reliable and affordable energy, but also sustainable with lower emissions, but also unleash the innovation and technological innovation to tackle such issues where it's commercially viable.
00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:44.959
So we've seen um uh an uh uh um a huge number of startups, SMEs working with the industry uh for these specific targets.
00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:50.240
And I through this podcast, I think I invite uh other industries to look at this.
00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:56.720
We talked about more what worked, what did not work, to look at other industries and follow suit as well.
00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:02.560
As I I do understand one size does not fit all, but uh some of the things work.
00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:16.720
And uh, if you just sit together and listen and share knowledge and be open-minded about how we can uh collectively uh tackle an issue and achieve uh a target there.
00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:21.920
Yeah, I think the methane one is very interesting, as you say, because it's uh kind of a quick win, right?
00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:26.639
It's such a powerful greenhouse gas, but one we can eliminate quite quickly.
00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:30.480
Um and in a and it's also a valuable product, right?
00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:40.320
And at a time of uh concerns about energy security, capturing an extra few percent of methane using it uh profitably is is much more interesting than than letting it leak into the atmosphere.
00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:41.039
Absolutely.
00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:41.440
Yeah.
00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:49.519
Um maybe you want to touch on on what one or two, so you have these innovative approaches, maybe you want to touch on one or two of those that you found most useful.
00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:53.840
Well, I would like to uh touch on two different things, if I may, uh Robin.
00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:56.399
Um one, I talked about sustainability with a big S.
00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.480
Let me just give some examples there.
00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.440
And I looked, I talked about commercially viable business.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:10.320
Let me also give some numbers there, and also maybe uh share some of the success stories we have, some of the startups from the region that we saw them going out to globally.
00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:40.480
The first one, if we look at the social and economic perspective, you know, through our ICV, when we managed to put back more than 17 billion dollars back to the UA economy through the our in-country value program, and that's part of the uh sustainable procurement process, part of uh investing uh being resilient, investing in the local uh uh industries and local economies, um uh investing in low-hang fruits and energy efficiencies.
00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:49.039
We managed to uh uh accumulate savings more than 888 million uh Durham in total savings.
00:09:49.440 --> 00:10:00.799
Um we managed to invest in technologies to keep our carbon intensity per barrel roll equivalent in the upstream uh seven kilograms per barrel roll equivalent, which is one of the lowest globally.
00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:10.080
Uh, all these things comes with through a long-term uh uh uh future-proofing plan.
00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:21.039
Uh so we are we know what we're doing now and tomorrow and the next two, three, four, five years, um uh and also opening the floor to technologies.
00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:28.480
So, what we did is we looked at um uh startups with solutions, technological solutions, AI technologies.
00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:33.600
Now AI is there, and I'm sure everyone now AI is part of our life.
00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:36.000
So, why don't we make it part of our businesses?
00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:45.039
So we as we embedded sustainability within the DNA of adnoc, we embedded AI in the DNA of of adnocks.
00:10:45.120 --> 00:11:04.720
So, what we did is we used technology and AI to, for example, to use um robots, to use satellites to detect uh uh uh leaks, emissions, uh to to accurate measure uh our numbers, our emissions, our uh consumption.
00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:09.039
Um, hence you see the precise numbers I just shared with you.
00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:12.320
We invested in our human capital.
00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:22.879
We will never achieve our business strategy or sustainability strategy, Robin, whatever great it is, by the way, without investing in the human capital.
00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:28.879
So we upskilled and reskilled our uh employees, be it on sustainability and AI.
00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:29.840
They go together.
00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:36.320
We believe technological innovation and AI is an enabler for us to achieve our sustainability targets.
00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:45.039
So more than 18,000 uh staff have been uh upskilled and reskilled just last year on AgenTech AI.
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:52.480
So beyond the introduction to AI, we started going into phase two to ensure that they use it on the day-to-day uh business.
00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:55.759
And this reflects on the numbers, on uh the technologies.
00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.600
We also worked out with startups.
00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:06.639
A good example is what we do with one of the UE startups, by the way, on our nature-based solutions program, planting the mangroves.
00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:13.039
As you may know, uh, we just uh uh celebrated the mangroves day here in the UAE.
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:18.080
The UE has a target of planting 100 million mangroves by 2030.
00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:24.000
Our target, our share of that as ad noc is uh uh around uh 10 million.
00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.320
Uh so far we planted 5 million.
00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:28.879
Last year we planted 2.5 million.
00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.720
But what's the uh uh interesting thing about it?
00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:47.279
The interesting thing is we talked to and invested in in a platform uh to invite uh startups uh to provide us with solutions, different solutions, and one of them was nature-based solutions.
00:12:47.360 --> 00:13:01.759
And this UAE startup uh came up with uh UE made in the UE drone, uh recycled, 3D printed actually, and uh we started using drones to plant uh the seedlings uh to monitor.
00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:12.639
And the interesting part, by the way, for me, which I really get excited about it, is the same success rate and more than 10 to 15 times less commercially.
00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:25.679
So we did not only save money, we accelerated the program and we achieved the same accuracy and we supported and we worked, we partnered up with uh a startup as we should be.
00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:32.480
Uh, the second example is uh one of the startups as well, and sequestration and a project on Fujera.
00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:38.159
Um, we reached out to them when we noticed that they were shortlisted to the airshot prize.
00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:52.799
And uh we worked with them as a supplier, you know, as a pilot and as a client uh to show them how, and I don't know if he's a big client, you know, how you can uh amplify your work.
00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.799
And uh months later, they won the airshot prize.
00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:08.720
And interestingly, the founder of that uh uh company uh from this region, from this part of the world, was uh in a couple of months on a stage on a panel with Bill Gates.
00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:19.200
So, so so my point here is um when you open your mind, when you have a long-term future-proof plan, and you stick to your plan, and you know you don't change.
00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:28.879
You talked about back to your first question, you talk about like things can come up and down, things may change, but when you have your true north, you know where you're going.
00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:35.120
Um, this will accelerate and support and unleash a lot of innovations and a lot of solutions.
00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:38.240
And luckily, we're in the UAE, and the UAE again.
00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:52.000
Uh, we know we have a plan for the next 50 years set by our uh president um and our leaders, and we're part of AdNOC is part of uh uh the skeleton of the UAE.
00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:53.519
We're not away from them.
00:14:53.600 --> 00:15:00.960
We're we're an integrated part of the UAE social, economic, and environmental uh uh ecosystem.
00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:15.600
Yeah, that's that's interesting because I I think there's maybe four kind of themes I think coming out there as you say about sustainability in as you say with the big S and um how that's embedded in in the country.
00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:27.200
Um and you know, the ones the ones that that I picked up there, um, you know, firstly the the technology side helping to develop and and use technology and and make the economy more more sophisticated and advanced.
00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:30.559
Uh secondly, the um the human capital side.
00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:36.399
So um, as you say, develop developing people to use these tools uh um uh effectively.
00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:52.960
Um the third one is developing the local economy through your your in-country value program, developing local industries, local supply chains, which then have all, I guess, all kind of knock-on impacts um and not just for ad knock and not just for the energy industry, but no doubt other industries benefit from these supply chains too.
00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:56.559
Uh, and then the fourth one, investing in the UAE's own natural environment.
00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.200
Um the mangroves and so on.
00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:04.320
Um, so those uh it seems to me it's a very good way of putting together the the ESG components, right?
00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:10.639
You have obviously the environmental side very strongly, but also the the social uh sustainability, the economic sustainability as well.
00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.600
Absolutely.
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:21.200
And and uh um uh from an EDNOC perspective, um, we also look at the diversification of the energy basket as well.
00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:24.000
And that's uh for the country and for EDNOC.
00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:30.399
You know, we while we are decarbonizing the energy system of today, we're investing of the energy system of tomorrow.
00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:35.919
You we talked about technology, we talked about AI, all these uh issues need energy.
00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.440
And we need to ensure that we are there to provide energy.
00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.480
Uh prosperous economy needs prosperous energy.
00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:44.960
Again, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:50.320
That's the backbone of any economy, hence our uh investment in Mazdar.
00:16:50.799 --> 00:17:06.240
Uh, and where now we achieved around 65 uh gigawatt capacity of renewables, and we have a target of achieving a hundred uh gigawatt target of capacity by 2030, investing as a country in the UAE in the nuclear.
00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:13.359
So we need we are aware that the energy system of tomorrow will be diversified, will be all of the above.
00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:21.440
And while we're doing decarbonizing today's system, we're ensuring that we're diversifying, we're investing in the energy system of tomorrow.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:35.839
All these things, by the way, you've mentioned, which is the uh the heart and soul of ESG, be it on economy, Roman, be it on social schools, education, um, governance, reporting, um, all this.
00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:39.839
This is proper governance of doing business.
00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:45.599
Um, but also uh it's we like we talk about resilience.
00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:56.079
You know, resilience does not just come with a press of a button, resilience needs to have an investment over time uh in strategy and management and a plan.
00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:59.519
Whenever resilience is needed, it's by default it's there.
00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:07.200
You know, we have uh in adnoc, we have uh uh a playbook uh for resilience and business continuity and all these things.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:15.759
So for us, when uh whenever these things needed, it's a press of a button because again it's embedded in the DNA, it's not an add-on.
00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:22.160
Uh, we look at sustainability, we look at AI, we look at uh different systems.
00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:31.920
You talked about human capital, investing in the students, investing in of our own employee, investing on the educational system of the UAE.
00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:36.559
This is part of a whole resilience plan whenever it's needed.
00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:38.799
And the goodness is a good thing for the business.
00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.400
Uh when you say future proofing, we think long-term investments.
00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:45.839
This is exactly what long-term investments look like.
00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:52.480
Yes, and we've been through obviously a number of major crises in the energy system and the economy over the past few years.
00:18:52.640 --> 00:19:02.240
Of course, first we had the pandemic, uh, then we had uh the the war in Ukraine, and then most recently the the war in the Gulf, and there have all been different challenges for the energy industry in this region.
00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:11.759
Um but I think they, as you say, they do show the importance of of resilience and and flexibility and uh and planning ahead, right?
00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:22.240
So the more diverse your energy system is and the more um the the uh the more technology, the more human capital you you've you've put into that, you don't know what the next crisis will be, but at least you you're prepared for it.
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.079
Spot on, Robin, actually.
00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:28.559
And and I I really hope uh some businesses are listening to you right now.
00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:37.119
Um if you want to ensure that you have a resilient future, uh a long-term sustainable future, you need to invest now.
00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:40.880
You need to invest now in this, and that's what we call long-term investments.
00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:45.119
It's not something you look at uh uh an immediate ROI.
00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:53.440
It's again, it's long-term thinking and long-term uh views on where you want to reach and where what do you want to achieve by certain time?
00:19:53.759 --> 00:20:00.480
Yeah, and I think it goes a little bit also within the uh a company's company's own DNA and maybe a nation's DNA.
00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:02.319
Um, what is their approach?
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:05.119
How how do they think about the and prepare for the long term?
00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:08.000
Um, you know, are they are they diversified?
00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.319
Are they are they uh open to different opportunities?
00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:13.759
Are they able to move quickly and change direction when they have to?
00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.559
Absolutely.
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:21.599
And and and to to be honest and to be fair for adnoc, uh again, we're we're part of the whole UAE ecosystem.
00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:30.400
I I I keep we keep saying, I am 100% sure that there is not one house in the UAE that directly or indirectly related to adnoc.
00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:34.559
You know, we heavily invest in in the in the in the UAE.
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:43.519
We're an NOC, so part of our job is to ensure that we're directing as we do with ICV to the UAE economy.
00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.839
So we're blessed with the leadership here.
00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:50.799
Um and and I I kid you not, uh, this can be an obstacle, by the way.
00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:57.359
Lack of leadership in such times uh is uh can be a showstopper.
00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:12.720
And in my case, when it comes to sustainability and decarbonization, uh ESG rating, uh reporting, we report uh year on year using global reporting initiative and assured report.
00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:18.799
Um, and yet I look at my shareholder, uh, the leadership of the UAE.
00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:36.160
Uh, they challenge me to do more because they believe that uh their job is to ensure maximizing the social and economic prosperity of the UAE for the UAE and ensure that our natural resources are not being touched or harmed.
00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:38.240
And this is exactly the essence of my work.
00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:55.519
So I'm blessed actually, and I'm lucky to work in such a place because uh back to where talking and looking at models and uh and uh uh knowledge transfer, leadership plays a main role uh of such things.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:59.759
You cannot be resilient if you don't have a leader that decided years ago.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:04.799
To say, okay, uh, we need to invest today because in 10, 15, 20 years.
00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:08.079
I'll give you a good story about this, by the way, about leadership.
00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:13.680
Uh, zero routine flaring, by the way, it's not something sustainability came up with an adnoc.
00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.799
People think it's a part of our strategy.
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.799
It was way beyond.
00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:43.279
In the early 70s, the late Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan Allah, the uh father of the nation, was out in the desert, and uh uh he saw uh a flare coming out of an oil field, and you know, him being part of the desert and the nature environment, and very close, it's part of his DNA, you know.
00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:47.519
Uh I said that's not good for the air, you need to stop it.
00:22:47.680 --> 00:23:00.960
Years after admocas was created, so we did not even uh stop the flaring uh gas uh in the air and causing harm, but also we managed to stop it and commercialize it.
00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:07.039
So that's how I look at sustainability when you talk about the social and economic and environmental commercializing.
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:15.279
I call it commercializing sustainability, and that's why it's really important now to relook at sustainability when you call it sustainability with a big S.
00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:19.440
We look at it as a part of the business formula embedded in the DNA.
00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:25.680
Look at what works, what doesn't work, look at what's good for the business and what's good for the environment all together.
00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:29.200
It's not one and forgetting that they're all hand in hand.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:31.759
So this is this these stories again.
00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:38.880
You look you look back and you say, you know, if we did it 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago, so there is no lack of leadership.
00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:46.880
So we need to to accelerate 10 hundred X uh to achieve our uh our targets, and that's what's happening actually.
00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:49.440
You look at the UAE as a nation when it comes to AI.
00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:53.759
We're the we're the first country in the world that have an AI minister, right?
00:23:54.079 --> 00:24:02.960
Uh, we the technological innovation, investments, you name it, you know, uh everything uh uh you can finish from your uh smartphone.
00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:08.160
So we have a lot of things to celebrate, but also we have a we raise the benchmark, the baseline.
00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:10.640
So we look at it and we look what's next.
00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.200
And that's the good thing uh in the UAE.
00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.680
We feel like we're we're always in a race, you know.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:18.079
Achieve this, okay, how can I make it better?
00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:24.319
While you look at other nations, uh, they're still in the process of discussing uh what works, what doesn't work.
00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:29.359
So so we're lucky, we have to say, we're lucky and we're blessed in the UAE when it comes to these issues.
00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:45.279
Yeah, that's uh you know, indeed a very interesting uh story, as you say, about the late uh Sheikh Said um and the gas story, and you know, worth you know, remembering that the first uh liquefied natural gas exports from the region weren't weren't from Qatar, as people might think, but of course, what were from the UA.
00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.160
Exactly.
00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:49.279
Um the you know, you you I think you're in a very interesting position.
00:24:49.359 --> 00:25:07.200
If I think about some of your counterparts in other companies uh as chief sustainability officers elsewhere, whether energy companies or or others, um, I guess some of them have had a challenging job because they had a role that was maybe focused on on compliance, maybe focused on on measuring and reporting targets, but not an integral part of the business.
00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.720
When things get tough, that's something that's easy to deprioritize.
00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:17.839
So I hear that you know it's important to have the leadership commitment so that um the the uh sustainability is always a priority.
00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:29.759
But kind of more than that, you know, that it's an integral part of the business that actually generates value and generates long-term opportunities, maybe many years later that uh you never even uh you have to think back quite hard to what where this originally came from.
00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:34.160
But uh um to create these kind of future opportunities.
00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.039
Uh absolutely.
00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:40.160
And I think I can put my hat as the chairman of the CSO network, the chief sustainability officers network.
00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:53.279
We're more than 110 companies, and we discussed these issues um uh in the re in the region and uh globally with organizations uh such as uh like related uh business organizations on sustainability.
00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:57.440
And uh uh I think you're absolutely you put it really correctly, by the way.
00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:02.079
There are a lot of discussions now on the role of uh CSOs.
00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:08.400
Some countries, some companies, they're disappearing, by the way, the roles because they I believe they got it wrong.
00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:16.000
Uh and some countries, mainly I would say, mainly in the global south, um, actually they're busier than before.
00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.839
So, what does that tell you?
00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:26.480
Um lessons I think learned is one, one size, when it comes to sustainability, one size does not fit all, period.
00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:39.519
You know, uh you have countries, young nations that they would like to develop and invest in infrastructure, education, schools, capacity building, uh, health, you name it.
00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:42.079
Um, and you have countries as well.
00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:52.799
Uh, we have the progressive regulations, you know, like in the UA, we have very progressive, we have a climate law, we have uh uh ICV, uh, we have different things.
00:26:52.880 --> 00:27:01.039
So the acceleration there, I'm not sure how you can measure it on the existing uh uh report, sustainability reporting uh issues.
00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:09.039
So, what we need to do is we look at a global umbrella, and I think the SDGs are the perfect global umbrella.
00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:15.440
We have 17 SDGs, sustainable development goals, and we shouldn't forget about all the SDGs, you know.
00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:29.119
We have SDG one about ending poverty, SDG 13 about climate, SDG 17 about partnerships, um, and in between you have about water, marine life, sanitation, diversity, you name it.
00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:50.160
So if we agree, and the nations did agree on the general uh true north that we aligned with the 17 SDGs, not one SDG and the other 17 SDGs, which means the right of nations for education, for ending poverty, sanitation, water, climate uh action, all of the above.
00:27:50.319 --> 00:28:06.160
This can be our agreed general um umbrella, and then we look at it, we take it to directly impactful SDGs, you know, uh short term and long term per country, per region, per nation.
00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:16.079
I look at our region, by the way, Ruben, and you know what the the things let's talk about environmental issues that keeps me awake at night.
00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.799
Water.
00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:19.359
Water is a main thing for us.
00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:23.920
We live in a nation that we either rely on desalination or rainfall water.
00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:31.599
While some countries and other regions of the world they have um plenty of rainfall and rivers and lakes.
00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:35.759
So water is a main, main environmental challenge for this part of the world.
00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:41.440
You have countries in this part of the world, some uh cities get uh water once a week.
00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:49.440
Uh so so we need to look at what's priority for us, how we can achieve, and one SDG at a time.
00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:55.680
You know, we managed to uh uh uh to deal with lots of uh issues, you know.
00:28:55.759 --> 00:29:02.240
We managed to eradicate polio, uh we have managed to uh deal with the ozone layer.
00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:08.160
We managed so we have success stories, you know, it's not all glimpse and dark and gray, you know.
00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:18.160
I think sometimes we need to share success stories and address the fact that this is what we were doing now in the short term, and yes, we know what we're doing in the next 10 to 15 years.
00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:23.119
So uh sustainability, I believe, in companies, be it globally.
00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:25.920
I think some companies did get it wrong.
00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:28.720
Hence, you see, is it a compliance?
00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:34.480
Okay, access to capital, perfect, but also is it an ethical approach?
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:39.599
Is it a shareholder uh demand or a stakeholder thing?
00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:48.400
So you need to define it, you need to revisit it and look at it at uh look at the whole approach from a holistic point of view.
00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:54.960
From a compliance perspective, some sustainity practitioners used to ask for reporting and compliance.
00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.759
Perfect.
00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:12.079
You need to formalize and have a governance for like finance-like, but also you need to put that part where the nations can excel more in innovation and uh and um to uh tackle issues that it's important to them.
00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:17.359
Yeah, that's an interesting tension, I think, isn't it, in the sustainability goals.
00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:23.839
Um, and what exactly the goals are that you know the 17 SEGs are important, of course, but they could be a little bit different.
00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.000
But I mean the big picture of sustainability.
00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:31.680
Um, you don't want to be in a situation where you say to solve one thing we have to solve everything because then you never start.
00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:38.240
On the other hand, you have to say we cannot solve our environmental goals without addressing the social goals and the economic goals and spot on.
00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:39.759
Absolutely right.
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:43.440
I think, you know, I think that statement you just made.
00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:45.519
Uh you talked about some companies.
00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:53.920
If I think they should put it part of the strategy is how can I solve this issue uh without compromising the other?
00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:56.319
But this is my main focus now for now.
00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.480
But the main umbrella, I have it as DG.
00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:05.279
So you align your strategy with the SDGs as you should, you know, uh, then say okay, one SDG at a time.
00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:09.920
You know, some collectively we can end poverty alone, we cannot, right?
00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:21.359
You know, it needs public-private partnership, education, for example, public academia, private partnership, diversity and inclusion, uh, sanitation, uh, energy access.
00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:25.519
You know, we have 800 million people don't have access to electricity.
00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.920
You know, which what does that mean?
00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:34.079
It means uh health issues, education issues, diversity issues, poverty issues.
00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:42.319
See, one part people that don't have access to energy, look at the impact.
00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:53.279
So if you ask me what's the priority, I and I I told you from the beginning that we have a commitment to provide as a company affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.
00:31:53.359 --> 00:32:01.440
And this is what we do, that's our business, and this is what we're doing so far, and this is what we'll keep doing uh uh as far as we're we're here.
00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:04.799
Uh now, do we have other commitments?
00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:08.799
Absolutely, because again, we're part of the whole UA ecosystem.
00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:15.839
So the the approach should be uh like some companies should look at their approach and revisit, and it's fine, you know.
00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:18.480
Every five years you revisit your strategy, right?
00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:21.839
Yeah, so it makes sense from a business perspective.
00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:27.680
Yeah, that's a you know crucial point, I think, on the 800 million people without access to modern energy.
00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:33.759
Um, and it's in times of crisis and energy disruption, of course, that they're the they're the first to suffer.
00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:43.680
Um, yeah, I know globally we've made a lot of progress on energy access over the past uh 20 years, let's say, in some parts of the world, and in other parts of the world, we're we're still a long way behind.
00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:49.519
Um, you know, AdNok, I guess, over the past two years has been a changing business, has been an internationalizing business.
00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:51.359
So I wanted to ask a bit about that.
00:32:51.519 --> 00:33:10.559
Um, obviously, you've gone from being a national company that was very much focused on the UAE to being a more global company with activities now in many parts of the world, um, both in your core business and through a master, of course, in the renewable energy sector in in many parts of the world in bringing renewable energy to to parts of Africa, Central Asia, and and so on as well.
00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.880
Um could you tell us a bit about that?
00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:16.400
I mean, where do you see the sustainability angle in your international activities?
00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:35.359
Well, we uh uh as you're aware, we have we launched our international energy company, XRG, and uh within XRG also where we invest in different countries, and wherever we can have an influence, um sustainability, safety, uh our ethics as a company cascades down.
00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:41.680
So it does not uh uh uh it's not limited with geographic location.
00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:48.240
Again, our leadership uh cascades down the ethics and the targets and it goes out uh way.
00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:50.319
Now, through Mazdar, for example, you talked about Mazdar.
00:33:50.400 --> 00:34:09.519
Mazdar is in more than 44 countries, and with Mazdar, uh, when we uh this decide to increase even our shares there and partner and push for uh companies uh for to to to reach countries that where people don't have access to energy, we we we're in the business.
00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:14.400
You know, we look at it if Mazdar is people changing people's lives, literally, you know.
00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:29.840
Um with XRG, we look at gas, we look at PETCAM, we look at uh different aspects as well, but also the principles do not change, be it on health and safety, be it on sustainability, be it on ethics, be it on uh the ICV part.
00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:38.079
Uh our we are proud to export our uh the UAE ethics and uh role models uh outside the UE.
00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:41.280
And of course, XRG is a great uh example of that.
00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:57.119
Mazdar is a great example, along with other partnerships, uh the OGDC, by the way, the oil and gas decarbonization charter, our boss, our group CEO, is the chair of the Champions uh Council there, where he has two other CEOs, the CEO of Totar and CEO of Aramco.
00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:01.519
And three of them collectively work with the old CEOs on the three targets I've told you.
00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:07.199
We work with the partnership with the World Bank, uh, Global Flaring and Methane Partnership.
00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:24.400
That's a global program, and we focus mainly as one of the donor countries on countries in the global south that they have issues, pragmatic, technical issues with uh flaring and uh methane, where technically we go down there through the World Bank and fix the issue.
00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:26.639
Uh, we have lots of success stories, by the way.
00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:43.119
We always every time we meet in the steerco and I hear about uh NOCs, about countries from the global south that they succeeded to do uh pragmatic uh technical projects to reduce their methane and flaring.
00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:54.800
I feel so proud because this is driven uh from the UAE, be it through COP28 projects uh uh uh or uh uh partnerships.
00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:58.000
Um, but again, that's what what we do in the UAE.
00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:10.000
We we we really we genuinely export our uh role model, uh our ethics, and we're always here to help and support in humanitarian and sustainability and economic prosperity.
00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:15.360
Uh, at this been since the uh foundation of the union in the UAE.
00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:24.079
So it's not strange uh that we can skip down as adnoc, sustainability and healthy safety on companies like Mazdan and XRG across the world.
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:27.360
Yeah, it's an important example to play, I think.
00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:33.440
Um going back a little bit to you know what we were saying earlier about some of the challenges on sustainability.
00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:50.800
You know, we know that in times of turbulence, you know, political turbulence and and conflict, um, it's easy for some countries and some companies to um to deprioritize, to turn away a little bit from sustainability, um, focused on the immediate uh goals of of survival.
00:36:51.039 --> 00:37:00.320
Um so I think that that role that's played internationally to keep sustainability at the forefront of the of the conversation and attention is is a very important one.
00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:07.360
Um I guess I'm sure you see this with with many of your partner countries, um particularly as you were saying in the global south.
00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:08.639
Absolutely.
00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:16.079
I'll I'll I think um time of uh hardship, you know, you really know yourself.
00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:22.719
You discover things about yourself that good things, by the way, that you didn't know, but you had to.
00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:25.440
You know, this is part of being resilient and agile, right?
00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:29.280
How do you know you're agile and resilient unless you're being tested, right?
00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:34.159
And the other thing is you know your values really well, and others see your values.
00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:39.760
And um, you know, let's go back to COVID, you know, a COVID story in the UAE, great success.
00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:41.440
The whole world wanted to be in the UAE.
00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:44.960
We did not even want to leave the UAE because we felt safe, we felt good.
00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:47.679
There was a system, it was an amazing story.
00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:52.639
200 nationalities work in coherence under behind one leadership.
00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:56.320
Uh, the geopolitics, the geopolitics as well.
00:37:56.480 --> 00:38:03.119
Um, we kept providing our affordable and reliable and sustainable energy to everyone.
00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:04.079
We didn't stop.
00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:08.400
Uh, we had on the spot plan B and plan C and plan D.
00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:16.000
And Robin, this is back to what we discussed with, we talked to you and I about, which is this is does not start today.
00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:25.039
It starts from the way from the past, from the way back, knowing exactly what you want to achieve in 10 to 15 years.
00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:34.960
So this has been a very wide-ranging conversation uh on the topic of sustainability in the energy sector and uh and as we in the run-up to the World Future Energy Summit.
00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:41.280
The the Future Energy Summit, I think, is a very uh crucial event because uh it it's um it's world.
00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:50.960
You know, we've talked a lot about the global side of adnocks and how you're active internationally and supplying your customers um as well as your investments in in in uh numerous countries worldwide.
00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:53.280
We focus very much on future energy, of course.
00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:56.079
So we're talking about uh a whole range of energy sources.
00:38:56.159 --> 00:39:06.000
Obviously, we have traditional hydrocarbons, but we also talked about nuclear power, we talked about uh talked about very much about renewable energy, and then all of the other energy systems that that go around that, of course.
00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:12.559
Um we have the the future technologies that depend on energy, uh AI being the very prominent one, of course.
00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:24.559
Um, and then energy uh at the core of this energy being at the core of the modern global economy, um, improving living standards, improving human development around the world.
00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:35.920
And at a summit that brings together nations, companies, um to work closely on these issues, to bring together some of the leading companies, leading technologies.
00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:42.159
Um ADNOC, of course, has been a you know a core part of WEFS for uh ever since its its foundation.
00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:46.880
Um I'm sure you've benefited very much from the kind of relationships that you're able to build there.
00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:50.880
Uh maybe you could tell us a bit about uh the importance of WEFS to you.
00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:54.480
Well, it's one of my favorite shows, by the way, and summits.
00:39:54.639 --> 00:40:05.360
Um I think what we have in the UAE is the sustainability uh and consistent approach of such events.
00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:12.159
So people thought with COP28 and the uh UA consensus uh we're done.
00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:21.519
Uh but I look at events like WEFES, ADSW, uh uh Adipec uh is a continuation of this.
00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:31.760
And we we we we spent today talking about uh why we're decarbonizing the energy systems of today, we have to invest in the future energies of tomorrow.
00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:35.440
And WEFS is exactly the platform for these things.
00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:49.519
How can I pragmately, practically, and and in a pragmatic way approach and discuss and implement and uh share ideas without WEFS, you know?
00:40:49.679 --> 00:41:06.079
Uh yeah, I could spend a year or two or three uh visiting, traveling, flying, not sure how practical it is, but WEFS is the place where um you see innovations uh to implement and to support you to achieve your commitments, right?
00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:18.480
Um the the the the brains, the people you meet there, uh they are not they are there because they're interesting, they're interested, and they have a futuristic approach to energy.
00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:30.559
Um, the third thing I believe um, you know, with with such summits, by the way, sometimes we are so busy in our own bubble, doing our work, uh, which is fine, which is as it should be.
00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:40.880
But also, we we need to stop sometimes to see where the world is going, uh, what's being talked about, what's being discussed, what solutions are on the table?
00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:50.320
How can I achieve and do my job properly uh or more efficiently, or uh uh in a smart way?
00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:52.719
And WifeS is exactly the platform for that.
00:41:52.800 --> 00:42:00.559
We when we go to WEFES, you see people, it's like a uh busy uh B uh place, you know.
00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:14.320
Uh you go from a place to a place, you discuss a solution, and on the spot you agree on a pilot, and the second day you follow up with your technical team there, and that's exactly the pragmatic, the the amazing approach of the UE.
00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:18.079
When you say UAE means business, WiffEs really means business.
00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:29.519
Uh back to the the heart of sustainability we talked about today, how you can invest of the future energy systems of tomorrow if you don't know how it looks like.
00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:40.719
And uh such events, such uh summits and exhibitions uh is a continuation of what's being discussed before and what will be discussed after.
00:42:40.880 --> 00:43:00.480
So that glue, uh, regardless on the uh you know the geopolitics or uh it's laser focused on this toy on the energy, future energy topic, where you can uh look at capacity building, solutions, technological innovation in one place.
00:43:00.719 --> 00:43:03.679
So uh technically uh it's a win-win.
00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:11.199
Uh it's an efficient way to do your do your work do your work and your business better in the energy and the diversification as well.
00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:20.960
You know, you have standalone uh energy, as you know, uh uh um exhibitions, but with this, you have the combination.
00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:26.639
You know, with the combination, it gives you the diversification we call diversification of energy baskets.
00:43:26.719 --> 00:43:36.400
So with us is actually as uh a pragmatic way uh in the UAE to and globally, to be fair, uh, to see these things again.
00:43:36.480 --> 00:43:38.639
Uh uh measure your achievements.
00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:43.440
Usually we say uh we need sometimes to stop and think and then plan.
00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:46.559
Um I look at Wi-Fi this way.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:53.920
I I I sometimes I uh I take time, I walk on my own, you know, just scan, you know, just walk around.
00:43:54.079 --> 00:43:54.880
This is how I do it.
00:43:55.039 --> 00:44:00.880
First one, then go uh and listen, but mainly I walk around and Do I have a target?
00:44:00.960 --> 00:44:05.679
No, I just the first date, a scan, then I have a plan.
00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:15.440
Then on the spot, I go and start talking to people, um, uh to see where I can invite my colleagues actually to come and follow up on these discussions.
00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:29.360
So such such platforms are important, by the way, and we should not stop them because we assume now, again, with AI and technology and the uh the softwares and technological innovation, uh, is we have it on your fingertip.
00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:41.199
True, but that human part, the the human interaction, uh, the brainstorming uh sessions uh is as important as the access to technology and AI.
00:44:41.360 --> 00:44:49.599
And this is how I look at these things, and and that's what uh uh whenever I see events in the UAE, I go to because the whole world is there.
00:44:49.840 --> 00:44:55.840
While when you go somewhere else outside the region, to be fair, it's focused on a country or in a region.
00:44:56.320 --> 00:45:16.719
While here in WEFS, it's globally in one country, and that's that's I think uh uh most of the events here, uh, but in our business, WEFS, uh ADSW, ADPEC is definitely by far my um my busiest times, my favorite uh events globally, not only in the UE.
00:45:17.199 --> 00:45:34.159
Yeah, no, sure, they have a really uh unique role, I think, there, and as you say, in bringing the globe together, and you will see people from all over the world in a way that you wouldn't uh even at kind of other major uh global energy events, uh I would say, which as you say, absolutely focused on control.
00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:37.679
You know, I think maybe maybe I put you on the on the spot here.
00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:49.039
I think maybe we need to start doing roadshows globally to invite people and uh raise awareness about this because it's I know from the regional aspect, from the industry, people do reach out.
00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:51.599
We put it on our agenda, we meet then.
00:45:51.760 --> 00:45:52.639
That's for sure.
00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:59.119
But I think uh the world the the world globally can really benefit of such events, not only the UAE.
00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:02.159
Yeah, yeah, no, uh certainly agreed with that.
00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:08.960
Um, and I was very interested by by what you said about your approach uh at at uh WEFS, starting by looking around.
00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:11.519
Um, when you do that, what what are you looking for?
00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:13.440
Are you looking for technologies?
00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:14.719
Are you looking for people?
00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:17.440
Are you looking for uh opportunities for adnoc?
00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:18.880
Are you looking for new business models?
00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:21.039
I mean, what what what are you what are you at that?
00:46:21.760 --> 00:46:26.159
It's a very good question, actually, because I go on my own and I walk around.
00:46:26.400 --> 00:46:44.159
Um I look first, uh I have an open-minded, so I look at you know opportunities, uh uh adnoc centric, but also uh nationwide uh uh solutions, you know, through our partnership.
00:46:44.320 --> 00:46:54.000
So we you know, we we know Mazdar, Diwa, uh FIWA, I have friends there, I chair the CSO network, and I think it's an opportunity, and I'm blessed to be there.
00:46:54.079 --> 00:46:59.360
So I try to get that visual uh savings in my brain as much as I can.
00:46:59.440 --> 00:47:04.960
So the first thing I look is uh gadgets, you know, big things, you know.
00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:15.199
Um the second part is uh I look at names of companies, uh, where they're coming from, you know, um uh because it's interesting.
00:47:15.360 --> 00:47:30.639
Sometimes, you know, some countries are really advanced in such a technology, and on the spot, uh, if I see the combination of a technology, a gab gadget with a the specific country that is well known in this technology, I stop and start talking.
00:47:30.880 --> 00:47:58.800
But usually what I do is I scan, uh I walk the whole uh exhibition, and it takes me, believe it or not, it's not it takes it takes a day because and I don't finish it and I have to come back because I need I put a plan and I to follow up, but I look at solutions um and I give credit to the exhibitors, they really uh put a show there, you know, putting things there to attract people as well.
00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:01.840
So usually these things we don't see it much, you know.
00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:03.519
We see it online, we see it.
00:48:03.760 --> 00:48:17.039
So I am very intrigued to see to touch and see the actual uh uh size or gadget or the solution they have, and they do it really well in WEFES, to be fair, you know, they get good spaces and they put a big show there.
00:48:17.199 --> 00:48:22.880
So uh and and I have good discussions with uh with with with people from different companies and countries.
00:48:22.960 --> 00:48:38.960
But what I've noticed that it's interesting to see the alignment with a big company where like a pride of a nation is being done through an energy technological innovation through a company, um, which is fits really well with adnoc as well.
00:48:39.039 --> 00:48:40.800
We are a pride of of UAE.
00:48:41.119 --> 00:48:43.360
Um, we provide solutions as well.
00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:46.960
Um, so yeah, so uh I invite everyone.
00:48:47.119 --> 00:48:49.760
Uh everyone has their own approach for exhibitions.
00:48:49.920 --> 00:48:50.719
This is how I do it.
00:48:50.880 --> 00:48:52.800
I I milk it the whole time.
00:48:52.960 --> 00:49:01.599
I don't go, I it's not one time, and uh I make sure that my calendar is uh blocked for the full uh dates of uh WEFES.
00:49:02.159 --> 00:49:03.199
Yeah, well, thank you.
00:49:03.280 --> 00:49:27.280
And I think that's a reminder that you know the energy business and sustainability is you know is above all a business about people and uh the relationships and the people who make technologies, the people who use them, um, and the people who who who drive sustainability, but ultimately, you know, why we're why we're doing sustainability um for the good of the natural environment and and the good of uh of people and humanity in general.
00:49:27.440 --> 00:49:38.320
Um so the uh I think it's very important to to link that the personal, the individual that you've spoken about very well, and the and the collective, um, the the good of the people of the country and and the global population.
00:49:38.639 --> 00:49:38.960
Absolutely.
00:49:39.039 --> 00:49:43.920
We used to call it the triple P, you know, uh planet, profit, people.
00:49:44.400 --> 00:49:50.000
If we manage to look at now with the triple P approach, we'll be fine.
00:49:50.320 --> 00:49:51.280
Yes, absolutely.
00:49:51.519 --> 00:49:53.119
That's a very good note to end on.
00:49:53.360 --> 00:49:55.920
So thank you very much for being with us today, Iber Emo.
00:49:56.079 --> 00:50:01.760
So it would be from um Chief Sustainability Officer and ESG from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
00:50:01.840 --> 00:50:13.119
It's been a fascinating conversation about sustainability in these uh the these challenging times, and a good reminder of its continuing importance and how it should remain one of our top priorities.
00:50:13.440 --> 00:50:18.320
So that's all from this episode of Future Insights brought to you by the World Future Energy Summit.
00:50:18.400 --> 00:50:19.519
And I'm Robert Mills.
00:50:19.599 --> 00:50:26.320
I've been in conversation with Iber Hum Al Zobi, Chief Sustainability and ESG officer from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
00:50:26.559 --> 00:50:27.360
Thanks for listening.
00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:36.159
I hope you'll join us again for the next conversation, and I hope we'll also see you at the World Future Energy Summit between the 12th and 14th of January, 2027.
