With wide regional and international participation, the Baghdad International Energy Forum 2025, on its first day, was a major station to highlight Iraq's growing role in the oil, gas and renewable energy industry, amid Arab and foreign praise for the initiatives announced by Baghdad to enhance the investment of its resources and consolidate its position in the global energy security equation.
During the first panel discussion, titled "The Balance of Power. Between national interests and the global energy system," Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani said that his country was late in exploiting gas, but has taken accelerated steps to turn it into an effective source in the national energy system.
He explained that the government is working to reduce the import of oil derivatives through balanced policies, stressing that Iraq has a variety of energy sources, including solar energy available throughout the year, which makes it able to pursue a dual path between fossil fuels and clean energy.
He said that "Iraq may have delayed in the exploitation of gas, so the Ministry of Oil has taken accelerated steps to invest it into energy to be utilized," pointing out that "the government takes into account the balance in oil derivatives and we took it upon ourselves to reduce and minimize imports of oil derivatives."
He added that "Iraq is characterized by the diversity of energy sources that we seek to achieve and the solar source is present throughout the year and the world is oriented towards the use of this energy," pointing out that "fossil fuels will remain the main source of energy and many industries and we seek the optimal use of energy and many industries and there are large technologies in the world began to dismantle fossil fuels to benefit from it."
"Liquid and gaseous fossil fuels are used in many industries and in Iraq there are serious endeavors to benefit from solar energy and we have a contract with Total to generate electric power," he said, noting that "one of the ministry's plans is to move in a dual direction towards fossil fuels and clean energy."
"Libya encourages the use of renewable energy to increase the quantities of oil exported and is working to increase its production capacity, access to renewable energy and make the economy more flexible," said Libyan Oil and Gas Minister Khalifa Rajab Abdel Sadiq during a panel discussion at the Baghdad International Energy Forum, noting that "Libya has a pipeline to export oil to European countries, as it seeks to achieve reliability of supply and green energy in the future."
"Iran has 100 years of experience in the fields of production, refining and exploration, and has cooperated with a number of OPEC countries in these fields," said Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Hossein Zadeh.
"All the data shows that by the end of 2025, OPEC member countries will not maintain their oil production commitments to the organization," he said.
"I thank the Iraqi government for holding this important economic forum," he added, noting, "Iran has been and remains committed to all quotas and controls set for it by global and international institutions and OPEC decisions."
Egypt's senior deputy minister of petroleum and natural resources, Ehab Ragai, said that "renewable energy does not pose a threat to fossil fuels: "Renewable energy does not pose a threat to fossil fuels and the high investment and cost of renewable energy may be difficult at first," noting that "fossil fuels are the main energy for many projects and an essential resource."
"The policy of decoupling from energy and the most important axes that Egypt is working on is the diversity of dealing with international companies and benefiting from international relations and global companies, and the clear strategy is to cooperate with large companies and minimize conflicts," he said.
"Energy is linked to politics at the national and national level and promotes stability in Turkey and many countries," Turkish Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ahmet Berat Gunkar said during a panel discussion at the Baghdad International Energy Forum (BIEF).
"We have diversification methodologies so Turkey has invested in oil pipelines and storage as well as strengthening local national resources and our gas discoveries in the Black Sea will meet our needs as well as diplomacy," he said.
Libyan Minister of Oil and Gas Khalifa Rajab Abdel Sadek called for enhancing the role of renewable energy to increase oil exports and achieve economic resilience.
He explained that Libya has a direct pipeline to Europe and is seeking to incorporate green energy into its future strategy.
Arab and international praise
For his part, Iran's Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy, Hossein Zadeh, reviewed his country's more than a century of experience in the fields of production, refining and exploration, pointing out that some OPEC countries may not be able to maintain their production commitments by the end of 2025, while emphasizing Tehran's commitment to internationally approved quotas and controls.
Egypt's Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Ihab Ragai, noted that renewable energy is not a direct threat to fossil fuels, but faces challenges related to the cost of investment, adding that Cairo continues to diversify its international partnerships to ensure stable supplies and avoid conflicts.
For his part, Turkish Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy Ahmet Berat Gunkar emphasized that energy has become closely linked to national policy, highlighting Ankara's investments in oil pipeline and storage infrastructure, as well as gas discoveries in the Black Sea that will cover a large part of the country's needs in the future.
comments