World Energy Congress in Istanbul ends with ceremony

By Sibel Akbay

ISTANBUL

The 23rd World Energy Congress (WEC), which started in Istanbul Sunday, and of which Anadolu Agency was the global communication partner for 2016, ended with a closing ceremony on Thursday.

Upcoming WEC chair Younghoon David Kim said the world would have to look for new technologies to create alternative energies in the future and look to balancing energy security, sustainability and affordability at the same time.

Kim said it did not look possible to meet energy demands in the near future without fossil fuels and emphasized about 59 percent of global energy mix by 2050 would still consist of fossil fuels.

"We have to search for efficient ways of creating and using fossil fuels as they will still continue to play an important role.

"We have to keep on searching for the new generation of sustainable technologies and keep on sharing the spirit of COP21 [Paris Climate Conference]," the current co-chair said.

Current WEC President Marie-Jose Nadeau said environmental issues would play an "increasingly important element of future global energy policy".

"It is a positive development that major hard carbon producers look committed to decreasing their own carbon emissions,” she added.

Turkey’s Energy Ministry Undersecretary Fatih Donmez said everyone who had participated in the congress should remember to share for peace and inclusive development.

"Please remember Africa, how fragile the planet is, how powerful the forces of technological change are and not to use private jets for grabbing environmental prizes," he said.

United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei said he felt sure the world would be a greener place in the future.

"The future of energy would have to be more innovative to make sure the commitments made by all nations in COP21 are met.

"But they cannot be met only by governments. The collaboration of the private sector and young generations is also needed," he said.

The 24th WEC will be held in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.