In this episode of the Al-Attiyah Foundation podcast, we are joined by Yao Li. Ms. Li Yao is the founder and CEO of SIA Energy with 18 years of energy industry experience. SIA Energy is a China-focused energy consulting firm offering insight and data on Chinese energy policy, politics, players and markets, covering the full oil, gas and power value chain. 

In this podcast the following questions are answered: 
How is China balancing its transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy while ensuring energy security?
To what extent do China’s decarbonisation policies align with the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?
How do you assess the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the global energy sector, particularly in the context of shifting alliances among the West, China, and the Gulf states?

In this episode of the Al-Attiyah Foundation podcast, we are joined by Mr. Joe Saddi, Lebanon’s Minister of Energy and Water. Appointed to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in February 2025, Mr. Saddi shares his insights on Lebanon’s economic and social challenges, the country’s energy strategy, and opportunities for reform and investment.

In this podcast the following questions are answered: 

• What are the main factors contributing to the ongoing power crisis in Lebanon? 
  
  
• What can your ministry do to gain the trust of the Lebanese people in this time of uncertainty?
  
  
• Will Lebanon implement Floating Storage Regasification 
  
  

Units (FSRUs) to import LNG?

In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by  H.E. Mohammed Hamad Al Rumhy. As the long-standing Minister of Oil and Gas (1997-2020), subsequently Minister of Energy and Minerals (2020-2022), H.E. Dr. Al Rumhy spearheaded the Sultanate of Oman’s entry into petrochemical and chemical production in the early 2000s. 

In the interview, the following questions are explored:
-How should young Omanis be thinking about their role in the country’s energy and development going forward?
-How will the global energy landscape evolve in the next decade, especially with the push toward renewables?
-How can fossil fuel producing countries like Oman strike a balance between economic dependence on fossil fuels and the urgency of the energy transition?

In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Luyue Tan, a Senior Carbon Analyst at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Her expertise covers price developments, market dynamics, and forecasting trends in the carbon trading market, such as European Union Allowances (EUA) and UK Allowances (UKA) prices.

In the interview, the following questions are explored:
-What are carbon markets and how do they relate to carbon dioxide emissions and combatting -climate change?
-What is the Chinese Carbon Trading System?
-What are “carbon offset credits” and how are these traded?

In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by award winning researcher Dr Veronica Bermudez Benito. A PhD graduate in Physics from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, Dr Benito is the Director of Energy at the Al Wajba Establishment and the former R&D Director, Energy at the Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI) . She also acts as an independent expert for a number of international funding agencies such as the European Commission and European National funding bodies. 
In the interview, the following questions are explored:
• What role do you see solar power playing in the Middle East's transition to a renewable energy future?
• Will solar power take a major role in electricity generation given that the marginal cost of production of fossil fuels is low in the Middle East? 
• For the smaller Middle Eastern countries, is the availability of land a problem for the installation of solar farms?

In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Ahmed Badr. Mr Badr is the Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) Project Facilitation and Support division (PFS). The division offers member countries dedicated project implementation support. Mr. Badr joined the Agency in April 2020 and brings more than 30 years of international experience in the field of banking and finance

In the interview, the following questions are explored:

Does IRENA finance projects or is it a facilitator between developers and financial institutions? 
How does IRENA advise on the problems associated with integrating renewable energy into their existing energy systems?
What types of climate change support projects is IRENA mostly involved in?

In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Michal Zuk. Mr Zuk is a Hydrogen Analyst at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Joining their Natural Gas European Research team in 2022, he has worked on developing LSEG’s bottom-up fundamental analysis of the global hydrogen economy, to help clients navigate through the noise and uncertainty of a dramatically changing energy system. 

In the interview, the following questions are explored:
• What role can hydrogen play in the energy transition and combatting climate change? 
• Can hydrogen be considered a truly sustainable energy carrier, given current production methods?
• How does hydrogen contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to other energy sources?

In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by. Karim Elgendy. Mr Elgendy is an urban sustainability and climate consultant based in London with more than two decades of experience. His areas of expertise include developing sustainable and resilient cities and neighbourhoods, climate policy analysis, and energy transition.

He is the founder and coordinator of Carboun, an advocacy initiative promoting sustainability in Cities of the Middle East and North Africa through research and communication, and Associate Fellow at Chatham House. 

In the interview, the following questions are explored:

How do climate change policies differ between fossil fuel-rich and fossil fuel-poor countries?
What are the most effective measures cities can adopt to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events?
How do coastal cities balance economic growth with climate resilience efforts?

In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by. Dr. Anas F. Alhajji. Dr. Alhajji is a world-renowned energy markets expert, researcher, author, and a speaker with more than 900 papers, articles and columns to his credit. He advises governments, companies, financial institutions and investors on various energy markets issues. Dr. Alhajji focuses on oil and gas market outlook, energy geopolitics, energy security, and the impact of disruptive technologies on the supply and demand of energy.

In the interview, the following questions are explored:
• What does Donald Trump’s reelection mean for the energy markets?
• What is the outlook for the global energy market in 2025? 
• Is the COP process still fit for purpose?

In the latest episode of our podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation welcomes Robert Mogielnicki, a Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

An expert in the political economy of the Middle East and North Africa, Mr. Mogielnicki is a Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations. He also teaches graduate-level seminars on China-Middle East and North Africa relations as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.

In this insightful discussion, we explore:
• Key trends in technology related to fossil fuels and non-fossil fuels in the Gulf region.
• The impact of the U.S. presidential election on its relationship with the Gulf.
• The role and purpose of Free Zones in the GCC.