His Excellency Eng. Mohamed Hamel

Secretary General

Gas Exporting Country Forum

HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel assumed office on 1 January 2022 as the fourth Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Prior to joining the GECF, Eng. Hamel was for seven years Senior Advisor to the Minister of Energy and Mines of Algeria. His long-standing relationship with the GECF dates back to 2016, during which time he served as a Member of the Executive Board of the GECF. Eng. Hamel has been a Member of the Board of Governors of OPEC since 2015 and Chairman of its Audit Committee. In 2016, he chaired the OPEC High-level Committee of the Algiers Accord and co-chaired the OPEC/Non-OPEC High-level meeting. He has also been a Member of the Executive Committee of the International Energy Forum, which he chaired in 2016 in the run-up to the 15th IEF Ministerial Meeting. Eng. Hamel joined the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna in 2002, where he stayed for 12 years, as Head of Energy Studies Department and then as Senior Advisor to the Secretary General. Eng. Hamel spent most of his first 21-year professional career with Sonatrach, where he had the opportunity to evolve through all segments of the oil and gas value chain. He began as Reservoir Engineer in the Production Division. He was then promoted to Director of Studies and Synthesis in the Exploration Division, and finally to Vice President in charge of Strategy and Planning. In addition, he has served as a Member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of Sonatrach. Eng. Hamel graduated from two engineering schools: the “Ecole Polytechnique de Paris” and the “Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris”, both in France. He is married and a father to two children.

Session Overview

Wednesday, 6 November

All Sessions

11:00

Strategic Conference ICC Hall 11:00 - 12:00

View Session

The strategic advantage of natural gas and LNG in the energy transition

Natural gas - and LNG in particular – is forecast to play an important role as the fuel of choice in the multifaceted energy system. However, although natural gas is supporting global energy security, particularly in Europe, where LNG supplies have increased by 15% since 2022, many argue gas should not be considered a long-term solution and its transition needs to be fast tracked. Many markets, particularly Asian, will look to affordable and secure LNG supply in their efforts to phase out coal in the decades ahead. Additionally, access to gas supplies will potentially play an important role in securing new energy supply to meet high volume AI demand. Given the conflicting pressures on gas production, what is the long-term future for natural gas? How can LNG establish itself as the fuel of choice during the energy transition and beyond?

Attendee insights:

Understand the role of natural gas and LNG during the energy transition, the perspectives on what role it may play in the long-term, including meeting high volume AI demand, and what may enhance or impede its growth potential in the global energy mix.