KAPSARC Strengthens Its Knowledge Contributions and Support for Innovation at the 25th WPC Energy Congress
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 17 October 2026
KAPSARC concluded its participation as a National Partner at the 25th WPC Energy Congress, held in Riyadh from 11 to 15 October 2026 under the theme "Pathways to an Energy Future for All." The Congress marked the first time Saudi Arabia hosted the event since its inaugural edition in London in 1933.
KAPSARC's participation reflected its research and knowledge contributions to international discussions on the future of energy, providing evidence-based insights and analysis on energy markets, energy security, sustainability, and related technological and policy solutions.
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, recognized KAPSARC for its participation as a National Partner of the Congress. The Center also received recognition for its role as the Energy Hackathon Host Partner. Organized by the Ministry of Energy, the hackathon provided a platform for innovation and the development of solutions to challenges facing the energy sector.
KAPSARC’s research contributions were further recognized with two Best Paper Awards at the 25th WPC Energy Congress. Olivier Durand-Lasserve, Abdullah Aljarboua, Aayushi Awasthy, Ryan Alyamani, and Amit Kanudia received an award for their paper, "Petrochemicals in the Energy Transition: Insights from a Global Bottom-Up Energy Model," under the Energy Fuels and Molecules – Future Pathways track. Aayushi Awasthy received the second award for her paper, "Carbon Finance for Clean Cooking in Africa: Comparing Methodologies, Market Models, and Mitigation Outcomes," under the Energy Leadership – Future Pathways track. These awards highlight the scientific excellence and innovation of KAPSARC’s research and its contributions to addressing current and emerging global energy challenges.
More than 20 KAPSARC leaders and experts contributed to 18 sessions and scientific activities across the Congress's four main programmes, including the Executive, Technical, Synergy, and Special Programmes, alongside associated events addressing energy security, investment, technology, and sustainability. These contributions ranged from discussions on strategic energy-market developments to specialized analysis and research-based solutions.
KAPSARC President Fahad Alajlan participated in the Executive Programme panel discussion, "Oil Market Fundamentals: Enabling Investment Decisions to Meet Global Energy Demand," which examined developments in global oil markets, long-term investment challenges, and the importance of spare production capacity in strengthening global energy security.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia's contribution to global energy stability, Alajlan stated: "Saudi Arabia has invested significantly in maintaining spare oil production capacity, even when it remains unused. This provides substantial value to the global economy, particularly during periods of heightened uncertainty."
Alajlan also delivered the opening address at the third Symposium on Pathways to Reduce Carbon Emissions in the Petroleum Downstream Industries (SPRCEPDI 2026), organized by the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) on the sidelines of the Congress. He emphasized the importance of balancing energy security and sustainability, maintaining investment in the oil and gas sector, and adopting economically viable emissions-reduction solutions. His remarks also highlighted KAPSARC's research on energy efficiency, waste-heat recovery, carbon capture and utilization, and the Center's Circular Carbon Economy Index.
Across the Congress's four main programmes, KAPSARC led a Knowledge Sprint on generative AI applications in oil-market analysis and a World Café session on carbon dioxide removal technologies, alongside contributions to public policy analysis. KAPSARC experts also participated in sessions addressing energy supply and demand, energy access, governance, the Circular Carbon Economy, artificial intelligence, transportation, and emissions reduction in refining and petrochemicals.
At the OAPEC Symposium, KAPSARC experts contributed to specialized discussions on the social cost of carbon in refined petroleum product distribution, industrial decarbonization, changing feedstock patterns in petrochemicals, and current and future carbon dioxide utilization pathways.
As part of its support for innovation, KAPSARC participated as a Platinum Sponsor of the SMART CDR 2.0 Competition for the second consecutive year. KAPSARC Vice President of Finance and Operations Saad Alqarni delivered virtual sponsor remarks emphasizing the importance of developing practical, scalable technologies, supporting researchers and innovators, and strengthening international collaboration.
Alqarni stated: "At KAPSARC, we believe that addressing energy and climate challenges requires rigorous research, technological innovation, sound economics, and international collaboration."
KAPSARC's pavilion within the Congress Exhibition served as a platform for engagement and knowledge exchange, showcasing the Center's research, studies, analytical tools, educational programmes, and capability-development initiatives while facilitating interaction with policymakers, industry leaders, and international delegations. The pavilion featured seven dedicated areas, including five research hubs covering oil, transportation, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and collaboration, alongside the KAPSARC School of Public Policy (KSPP) and the Saudi Energy Leaders Assembly (SELA).
KAPSARC's participation reinforced the contribution of Saudi research and policy expertise to international discussions on the future of energy, supporting knowledge exchange and the development of evidence-based solutions to challenges facing global energy systems.