Muscat:The Ministry of Economy organized a panel discussion titled "Navigating Shifts in the Global Energy Landscape" at the Royal Opera House Muscat. This event marked the first session of the "Future Dialogues" program.
According to Oman News Agency, the session gathered officials and representatives from energy and economic sectors to examine the factors reshaping global energy markets and their implications for economic development and national plans. The discussion also aimed to explore strategic options to enhance institutional readiness and decision-making flexibility in response to changes.
Laszlo Varro, Vice President of Global Business Environment at Shell and former Chief Economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA), delivered a keynote address. He focused on the transformations in the global energy system and the trends influencing its future.
The session covered topics such as the future demand for oil and gas, shifts in supply, trade relations, and the resulting opportunities and challenges for energy-exporting countries. It also addressed the interactions among economy, politics, technology, and society and their impact on energy and development.
The discussions explored the use of foresight and scenario planning to study potential energy market pathways, understand uncertainties, and test strategic options. This supports the formulation of national plans and prepares for future shifts.
The "Future Dialogues" program is part of the Ministry's efforts to enhance strategic dialogue on global transformations and their impact on Oman's priorities and "Oman Vision 2040" targets. The program, through the National Foresight Office, facilitates regular meetings with local and international experts to exchange knowledge, explore opportunities and challenges, and discuss practices relevant to the Omani context.
In partnership with international institutions experienced in forecasting, the program enriches dialogue on national choices and integrates foresight into planning and policy-making.