Doha, Qatar, October 11, 2026

Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy President and CEO, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi has called for a new global energy order that keeps energy above politics and protects vital infrastructure from becoming a target of conflicts.

Addressing the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh, held under the theme “Energy Security – A Shared Responsibility: Market Fundamentals, Supply Chain Resilience, and the New Dynamics of Demand and Supply,” Al-Kaabi stressed that energy security is essential to global economic stability and human well-being.

The meeting was inaugurated by Saudi Minister of Energy HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud and attended by energy ministers, government representatives, industry leaders and international organisations.

Al-Kaabi began by expressing Qatar’s unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people during the challenging circumstances facing the region. He also extended condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Highlighting the consequences of the regional conflict, Al-Kaabi described the situation as the world’s worst energy crisis, affecting the flow of approximately 20 percent of global hydrocarbon supplies. Attacks on regional energy facilities have caused damage estimated at tens of billions of dollars and triggered significant volatility in international markets.

He warned that the crisis had exposed the vulnerability of global energy systems to geopolitical instability, emphasising that energy security cannot be separated from wider regional and international security.

“If there is one lesson we have learned from the past few months, it is that energy security, as critical as it is to the global economy, remains highly vulnerable and inseparable from geopolitical security,” Al-Kaabi said.

He also highlighted the humanitarian consequences of energy insecurity, noting that around one billion people worldwide still lack access to electricity, while approximately four billion depend on food produced using manufactured fertilisers.

These figures, he said, underline the international community’s shared responsibility to safeguard energy supplies, protect essential infrastructure and ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy across borders.

Al-Kaabi urged the International Energy Forum to explore every possible measure to protect energy infrastructure during conflicts, warning that vital facilities were increasingly becoming strategic military targets.

“Energy security must unite us, not divide us. It must be protected, not weaponized,” he emphasised.

His remarks reinforced Qatar’s position that energy should promote international cooperation rather than become an instrument of political pressure or conflict. Protecting energy infrastructure and maintaining reliable supplies are essential for market stability and the livelihoods of billions of people.

As a leading global liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer, QatarEnergy plays a significant role in supplying international markets while supporting cleaner energy development and the global energy transition.

Al-Kaabi’s appeal highlighted the urgent need for collective international action to keep energy security a shared responsibility, even amid geopolitical tensions.