• Program Oil & Gas (upstream & downstream) Oil & Gas (upstream & downstream)
  • Type Commentary
  • Date 21 March 2025
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Abstract

Energy security has long been central to the strategic and policy frameworks of governments worldwide, owing to the indispensable role of stable and sufficient energy supplies in underpinning economic growth, social welfare, and political stability. Historically, the pursuit of energy security has been driven by the need to expand industrial bases, which, in turn, fosters economic development and technological advancements. Ensuring reliable access to energy resources has been pivotal for countries aiming to achieve sustained economic prosperity. Today, oil has become less of an immediate security threat, thanks to the availability of storage, developed infrastructure, and mature supply chains (Saudi Gazette 2025).

Authors

Majed A. Al Suwailem

Senior Fellow- Oil & Gas Majed is a senior fellow at KAPSARC with a focus on energy security, geopolitics, and hydrocarbon laws and regulations. He…

Majed is a senior fellow at KAPSARC with a focus on energy security, geopolitics, and hydrocarbon laws and regulations. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in the fields of simulation and modeling, asset management, reserves estimation, oil field development, disruptive technologies, and business planning, gained at Chevron and Saudi Aramco.

Majed holds a B.S. degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa in the United States, along with two M.S. degrees in petroleum engineering, and reservoir geosciences and engineering, respectively, from Texas A&M University and the Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP School). In 2021, Majed earned his Master of Science degree in public economics and policy from Purdue University.

Expertise

  • Energy Security
  • Geopolitics
  • Hydrocarbon Laws and Regulations

Publications See all Majed A. Al Suwailem’s publications

Osamah Al-Momen

Osamah Al-Momen

Ahmed Al-Balawi

Fellow- Utilities & Renewables Ahmed is a fellow in the Utilities and Renewables program at KAPSARC. He is an electrical engineer and holds an…

Ahmed is a fellow in the Utilities and Renewables program at KAPSARC. He is an electrical engineer and holds an M.Sc. degree in renewable energy systems from Loughborough University. Prior to joining KAPSARC he worked as an R&D engineer at the Saudi Electricity Company for over five years, heading the company’s research on renewables and energy storage, and working on a wide range of projects including solar power, EV charging, sorption cooling, and energy storage solutions.

Ahmed’s current research focuses on power system modeling to help shape the future of the energy mix and the technologies that can contribute to achieving Saudi Arabia’s green targets.

Expertise

  • Renewable Energy
  • Power System Modeling
  • Energy Storage and Emerging Technologies

Publications See all Ahmed Al-Balawi’s publications

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