Qatar- Growing energy transition to drive energy sector

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Deepak John | The Peninsula The next generation of talent leading into the energy industry has a completely new mindset that leans towards renewable energy, climate activities and digital technology, environmentally responsible business practices, workplace diversity, corporate and social responsibility, discussed the panelists during a recent online event. The Energy webinar series ‘Preparing Today's Youth for Tomorrow's Energy Industry' webinar was hosted recently by Al Attiyah Foundation in partnership with Refinitiv. The energy industry is changing dramatically, the companies decarbonize their emissions, and embed climate-based energy principles into their business models. Many oil and gas companies are very actively diversifying their portfolios, planning to go into renewables, wind, solar. Companies expand their greener energy and simultaneously develop narratives about their role in energy transition and at the same time the energy sector is increasingly investing in the training and development of young people. There are global movements led by organizations that are fostering the next generation of energy industry employees at the highest level. As these changes take place there will be more opportunities for people in the industry whether those looking for jobs or wanting to hire the best professionals. The international renewable energy agency estimates that energy jobs worldwide will reach by 100 million by 2050 or by 40 million more than today which will be driven by growing energy transition and changing investment focus in the sector. Jagir Baxi, Vice President & Executive Director of Joint Ventures, ExxonMobil Qatar, shed light on the significant question that faces the energy industry regarding the challenge of continuing reliable energy across the globe in addition to addressing and reducing environmental impacts and climate change and other sustainability focus areas. He discussed the two aspects of the dual-energy challenge on the side of energy demand and energy supply. He said, 'Today the estimated population is 7.5 billion which is expected to surpass 9 billion by 2040 which will require continued access to affordable and reliable energy. Even today 770 million people globally are estimated to not have access to electricity and this group of people are seeking ways to lift their living standards which creates a continuing demand for energy in all its forms across the world. Today hydrocarbons make about 55 percent of the global energy and the role oil and gas or any energy company can play is important in continuing to support global population growth and living standard. 'Qatar is a pre-eminent supplier of LNG in the world, and it supplies natural gas globally. Natural gas is used to produce in our generation as a fuel which produces 60 percent less carbon dioxide than coal. So natural gas and LNG does represent an immediate opportunity of carbon dioxide reduction in the global energy mix." 'Energy industry is an industry for modern society, and it brings capability for people all across the globe to grow out of poverty and able to shift from manual labour to industrialized economy, he added. 'Young people need to find their calling in all their diversity to be part of the energy industry. In Qatar we find and hire most qualified, talented young people to be part of our workforce. No matter what your background, this industry has the ability to carve out a career for you that can impact being with a single employer and can be across multiple employers across the globe. And it is because affordable, reliable energy it requires significant contribution from all manner of technical, business, safety, risk, project execution, commercial disciplines. So, no matter where your interest is there is a role for that interest in this industry, he added. Mounir Hamdi, Founding Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) said the energy sector is an important sector in any economy and given the fact that it is rapidly changing, and we need to keep up with these changes and be ready. In terms of training and getting students ready to the world of energy there are certain things that do not change and are very important which are the fundamentals. 'We need to train students in the fundamentals whether that is in mathematics, engineering, chemistry, geology and so forth which are extremely important in facing volatile uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. But at the same time, we are working very hard in building other skills, for example in terms of data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence which are becoming important in almost of all sectors and particularly in energy. The other skills we try to give students is some of the soft skills like communications, business economics, knowledge and resilience, knowledge and interpretation and knowledge for sustainable development. We offer them courses, screens and tracts and we have a division in sustainable environment and development, PhD in sustainability energy and masters in sustainable environment. We also offer electives in cybersecurity in terms of surveillance and protecting the infrastructure which is also important in the energy sector, he added. Meredith Adler, Executive Director for Student Energy said Student Energy represents 50,000 young people in 120 different countries and we undergo lot of research around what young people are looking for in the future energy. 'The energy industry both oil and gas are helping people to understand how integral energy is to our lives and the opportunity it has if you are passionate about changing the world and future of our planet. Student Energy helps people to see the opportunities within the energy industry. We also train the leadership skills to be effective in changing the energy industry and how to approach energy challenges from a systems thinking lens and to understand the technological dynamics of it. We are very focused on entrepreneurship, on getting funding towards young people their projects, and helping young people launch their career much earlier and experience they need in the industry, she added.MENAFN02052021000063011010ID1102012722