Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME) has announced the Oil and Gas Holding Company (closed) (nogaholding) as the ‘Energy Partner’ for its inaugural edition. 

 

Taking place on January 12, 2023 in Bahrain with a focus on “Business Transition to Net-Zero – the Path Towards a Successful Low-Carbon Future”, more than 300 senior decision-makers and sustainability experts are set to take part. 

 

The Forum is focused on raising awareness and mobilising private sector action to support the region’s decarbonisation efforts including those of Bahrain, which aims to achieve net zero by 2060 and reduce emissions by 30% by 2035.

 

Key driver

As a key driver in the kingdom’s energy transition, nogaholding prepares to undergo a strategic transformation, moving from a traditional oil and gas holding company to a progressive and responsible energy company, under the leadership of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty’s Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of nogaholding. 

 

Among the Forum’s main highlights will be high-level panel on “Energy Transition and the Integration of Renewables.” Expert speakers from across the industry, including nogaholding, will look at the unique circumstances of the regional economies in global energy transition with panelists discussing strategies and actions for moving towards a low-carbon energy future, approaches and examples of notable energy players in the region investing in and diversifying their energy mix, and the growth and integration of alternative energy sources. 

 

With the region currently at the centre of global dialogue on climate action, following the recently held COP27 in Egypt and COP28 set for November 2023 in the UAE, the Forum will kick off with a look at recent resolutions, where the region is today in terms of decarbonisation and what steps lie ahead in the Mena economies’ net-zero journeys. Sessions will go on to examine a range of topics covering the ambitions of the regional governments and where we are today, financing for the transition and the evolution of climate regulation, among others.

 

Interactive workshops

The Forum will also feature interactive workshops that have been designed to help companies across sectors, especially SMEs, understand how to develop strategies that bring a focus on climate action into the heart of their businesses and operations. While many larger companies have already developed their net-zero roadmaps, others have yet to fully understand and plan for the necessary changes required to decarbonise.

 

Commenting, Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive Officer of nogaholding, said: “We are proud to be the ‘Energy Partner’ for SFME. One of our most important mandates at nogaholding is to support Bahrain’s Vision 2023 and the Net Zero ambitions, outlined by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister at COP26. Events such as SFME provide an important platform for the private and public sectors to come together and share plans and experiences that support the vision of the kingdom’s leadership and showcase how businesses can play a significant role in this transition.” 

 

Laila Danesh, Managing Director at FinMark Communications, the Forum’s Founder and Organiser, added: “With nogaholding’s support, we are bringing together key stakeholders across the region’s energy sector to discuss transformation and the urgent action needed to accelerate global energy transition. We look forward to their participation and contributions to the Forum and the important discussion focusing on decarbonisation of the regional energy sector and the integration of renewables in support of local, regional and international net-zero commitments.”

 

The Forum is also being supported by Strategic Partner, Bahrain Economic Development Board, Lead Partner - Sustainable Infrastructure, Infracorp, Knowledge Partner, National Bank of Bahrain, Transition Partner, Gulf International Bank, and Forum Partner, Alba.-- TradeArabia News Service