An Interview with His Excellency Abbas Ali Al-Naqi, Secretary General, OAPEC
1. What would you say the main trends and challenges are for the refining business globally?
Today`s global refining environment is very competitive, facing low margin, increasingly more competitiveness and stringent international environmental standards.
Tighter product specifications require refiners to invest in new units to upgrade the refined product. Unfortunately the uncertainty about future investment returns, and global economy recession discourage much-needed investments.
2. Where do you see the opportunities for refiners in the next 3-5 years? How should refineries diversify in order to increase profits while keeping costs down?
Applying advanced technologies for higher energy efficiency in existing refineries, better utilization of raw materials, and producing cleaner fuel can help the refiners to address the increased competitiveness experienced in the refining industry.
3. European markets are being challenged by tougher market conditions, stringent regulation and international competition. Is there a recipe for success you could give to survive and thrive in these challenging market conditions?
There is no single solution for success could be given to survive and thrive in the challenging market conditions, but it is very crucial to make all possible effort to face these challenges jointly and institutionalize fruitful dialogue amongst oil producers, oil consumers, and the oil companies. It is also beneficial to facilitate data exchange and transparency among producing and consuming countries in order to secure both supply and demand.
It should be mentioned that the refiners in OAPEC member countries endeavor to secure the continuation of oil products supplies and cooperate with all consumers by investing in substantial new refining capacity locally and abroad even when the market is weak and the industry as a whole moves to more difficult and more expensive frontiers.
4. Why do you think it’s important to hold meetings such as the Global Refining Summit? What are the core issues you will be discussing in Barcelona?
I strongly believe that such meetings is a good opportunity to meet refinery experts from around the globe to gain the latest knowledge and discuss the achievements of the most innovative case studies on the newest developments for the energy efficiency, operation excellence, and upgrade of the petroleum refineries.
Hear more from His Excellency Abbas Ali Al-Naqi, Secretary General, OAPEC at the Global refining Summit he takes to the stage at 9.20am on 22nd May 2012.
To book your ticket please visit our booking pages.
|
|
 His Excellency Abbas Ali Al-Naqi
Secretary General,
OAPEC
His Excellency Abbas Ali Al-Naqi has been the OAPEC Secretary General since March 2008. He has an extensive background in the field of energy policy.
Major positions held by H.E. prior to joining OAPEC included: Undersecretary at the Ministry of Oil, Assistant Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, and Vice-President of UNFCCC representing Asia. Other positions held by H.E. were: Head of the Joint Executive Committee, Kuwait’s representative on OAPEC’s Executive Bureau, Head of Kuwaiti National Committee on Climate Change, Member of the Kuwaiti delegation to the Ministerial OPEC, OAPEC and GCC Conferences, Head of the Kuwaiti delegation to the OPEC long-term strategy committee, Member of the Kuwaiti delegation to the U.N. Committee for Sustainable Development and WTO. H.E was on the board of directors of several Kuwaiti oil companies and institutions, namely, KPC, KNPC, KOC, KGOC and KISR. He was also on the board of the following Pan Arab institutions APICORP, AMPTC.
He is currently a member of the Arab Energy Club (AEC), member of the Board of Governors of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, and Vice Chair with special responsibility for Gulf States and Middle East World Energy Council as well as a member of the Kuwait – Japan businessmen dialogue.
|
Facebook
