What should Canadian energy industry focus on to increase global competitiveness?

At the 2019 Petronas International Energy Speaker Series, Maria van der Hoeven challenged oil and gas producers to be proactive players in the pivot to a low-carbon future. That was on Nov. 26. Much has changed in the world since then — economically, politically and in international trade.

As former director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), van der Hoeven will be a part of the series again in January 2021. Adding to the dialogue will be Tengku Muhammad Taufik, president and group CEO Petronas Global, Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s minister of natural resources, and moderator Jackie Forrest, executive director, ARC Energy Research Institute.

• Photo above: The 2019 Petronas International Energy Speaker Series featuring Maria van der Hoeven. Photo by Kelly Hofer for the Haskayne School of Business

“With this year’s event being online it presented a unique opportunity to gather a group of international experts together,” says Dr. Terry Ross, PhD, director, strategic centre initiatives in the Haskayne School of Business. “We will hear diverse perspectives on how industry and governments around the world are shaping the future of the energy industry.”

Access to capital and the constraints this puts on future growth will be one of the top areas of discussion. Speakers will also provide views on the future demand of energy sources beyond conventional oil, namely, liquefied natural gas and both blue and green hydrogen.

“We will be looking for our experts to weigh in on areas where Canada can show global leadership and attract investment,” says Ross. “Is there potential for Canada to harness its expertise to develop new emission reduction technologies and techniques?”

The 2019 Petronas International Energy Speaker Series had over 500 people attend. The 2020 online event will be the fourth in the series, and registrations (which opened Dec. 8, 2020) have been on track to exceed the previous attendance. There is still time to register for the Petronas International Energy Speaker Series that will be live on Jan. 28 from 2 to 3 p.m. MST. Registrations will close on Jan. 28.