HE the former minister of energy and industry, Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah and HE the Minister of Energy and Industry, Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada with this year’s winners of the “3rd Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah International Energy Awards.” PICTURE: Jayan Orma.

By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter


Six global industry leaders were honoured with lifetime achievement awards at the “3rd Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah International Energy Awards” at the Museum of Islamic Art yesterday.
“It is a great honour that after three years, the Al-Attiyah International Energy Awards now has an alumni group comprising 20 of the most respected figures in the global oil and gas industry,” said the former minister of energy and industry, HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah.
“We should also take the opportunity to thank the distinguished work of the independent 2015 Selection Committee, which is also made up of globally-respected figures, headed by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Dr Daniel Yergin,” he added.
This year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of the Qatar Energy Industry was Nasser Khalil al-Jaidah, chief executive officer of Qatar Petroleum International (QPI).
Al-Jaidah has served QPI for almost 40 years under multiple roles, including currently as a board member of Qatar Petroleum (QP). Previous winners of this award include the HE Economic Adviser at the Emiri Diwan, Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim and HE the Minister of Energy & Industry and QP chairman, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada.
The other 2015 winners included Dr Ramzi Salman, former deputy secretary general of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), who was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement for the Advancement of Opec; Professor Giacomo Luciani, executive master in Oil & Gas Leadership, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Advancement of Education for Future Energy Leaders); Dr Pierre Terzian, president and editor-in-chief of Petrostrategies, (Advancement of International Energy Journalism).
Dr Fatih Birol, executive director-elect of the International Energy Agency (IEA), was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of Producer-Consumer Dialogue.
As the chief economist of the IEA and formerly with the Opec, Birol was responsible for the IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook publication, which is recognised as the “most authoritative” source of strategic analysis of global energy markets.
Birol has been named by Forbes Magazine among the most powerful people in terms of influence on the world’s energy scene.
The late chief executive officer of Total, Christophe de Margerie, was recognised posthumously with an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of International Energy Policy & Diplomacy.
Total Middle East-North Africa president Stephane Michel said, “We take great pride and honour in receiving this posthumous recognition of our late CEO Christophe de Margerie, who dedicated his life to developing Total, and left behind a legacy of one of the top energy industries of this world. Today, we are honoured to have Mrs De Margerie among us to be a part of this extraordinary celebration, and for her to accept the award on his behalf.”
He added, “As a sponsor of the Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah International Energy Awards, and also as a player in the world of energy, Total would like to congratulate each and every one awarded for their marked distinction in their contributions.
“They have understood the challenges faced in the world of energy, and have dedicated themselves to innovation and sustainability. We hope that generations of today and tomorrow will be inspired by their set examples.”
The winners of the “3rd Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah International Energy Awards,” which was supported by industry partners Total, QP, and Dolphin Energy, were decided by an international selection committee that evaluated contenders based on a scoring matrix consisting of four key criteria: impact, leadership and partnership, innovative and creative thinking, and long-term vision.