The Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) opened its third Symposium on Pathways to Reduce Carbon Emissions in the Petroleum Downstream Industries today at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center. The two-day event, on October 14 and 15, is organised with the Ministry of Energy alongside the 25th World Petroleum Congress.

OAPEC Secretary-General Eng. Khalid Al-Otaibi said the symposium shows the organisation's commitment to technical dialogue and regional cooperation. Balanced policies, effective technologies and sustainable investment are needed, he said, to meet growing demand for petroleum products while improving efficiency and lowering emissions, adding that downstream industries will remain central to OAPEC's work because of the value they add to Arab economies.

He thanked Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for his invitation and patronage.

Deputy Minister of Energy for Sustainability and Climate Change Eng. Khalid Almehaid stressed regional cooperation and pathways suited to each country's national circumstances, pointing to carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), artificial intelligence and the Circular Carbon Economy approach as tools to improve efficiency and manage emissions while protecting energy security and affordability.

The symposium brings together government, industry, academic and international participants, including IEF Secretary-General Eng. Jassim Alshirawi, GPCA Secretary-General Eng. Mater Al Dhafeeri and ASRY CEO Dr. Ahmed Al-Abri. The secretaries-general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and the Arab Union for Sustainable Development and Environment joined by video link.