PM to inaugurate 16th International Energy Forum on Wednesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on Wednesday the 16th International Energy Forum, the largest gathering of ministers from energy consuming, producing and transit countries, the oil ministry said.

The 16th International Energy Forum Ministerial (IEF16) is being hosted by India and would focus on global energy security and transition, the ministry said in a statement.

The IEF16 is the largest gathering of energy ministers from across the globe, industry leaders and heads of key international organisations who will debate the future of global energy.

Prominent among those attending the ministerial meet this year are Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, UAE, and Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, Minister of Petroleum, Iran.

Besides, energy ministers and department representatives from Qatar, Nigeria, Japan, China, Russia and US are also taking part in the forum.

The International Energy Forum (IEF) aims to foster greater mutual understanding and awareness of common energy interests among its members.

Its 72 member countries are signatories to the IEF Charter, which outlines the framework of the global energy dialogue through this inter-governmental arrangement. Apart from them, 20 countries are also participating in this meeting as special invitees.

Covering six continents and accounting for around 90 per cent of global supply and demand for oil and gas, the IEF is unique in that it comprises not only consuming and producing countries of the IEA and OPEC, but also Transit States and major players outside of their memberships, including Argentina, China, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.