KAPSARC joins 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh as National Partner
Saudi think tank KAPSARC is taking part as a National Partner in the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, sending more than 20 leaders, researchers and experts to contribute across the event's programmes. The Congress runs from 11 to 15 October 2026 and is being hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
- KAPSARC is a National Partner at the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, 11 to 15 October 2026.
- More than 20 KAPSARC leaders, researchers and experts contribute across the Executive, Technical, Synergy and Special Programmes.
- The Congress is hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time; it was first held in London in 1933.
- Sessions cover generative AI for oil markets, carbon dioxide removal technologies and the circular carbon economy.
- KAPSARC's pavilion has five hubs: Oil, Transportation, Clean Energy, AI and Collaboration.
A first for Saudi Arabia
The 25th WPC Energy Congress takes place under the theme "Pathways to an Energy Future for All." According to KAPSARC, the Congress was first held in London in 1933 and will bring together government leaders, industry executives, policymakers, researchers and innovators in Riyadh. Participants will examine the forces reshaping global energy systems, from security and investment to technology and sustainability.
KAPSARC's participation spans the Executive, Technical, Synergy and Special Programmes, as well as additional sessions and activities. The center says this reflects the breadth of its research and policy expertise. KAPSARC President Fahad Alajlan and Dr. Ghadah Alarifi, Dean of the KAPSARC School of Public Policy, are among its speakers in the Executive Programme.
Across the Congress, KAPSARC experts will contribute research and policy perspectives on energy supply and demand, energy access, natural gas, ESG and governance, the Circular Carbon Economy, artificial intelligence, mobility, and lower-emission pathways for refining and petrochemicals.
Generative AI and carbon removal on the agenda
In the Special Programme, KAPSARC leads a Knowledge Sprint session titled "Generative AI for Evidence-Based Oil Markets." The session looks at how generative AI can support oil-market analysis and policy research. It covers AI-assisted data workflows, econometric and scenario analysis, responsible AI practices, and the translation of technical findings into decision-ready insights.
KAPSARC also takes part in the World Café with a session on "Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies." It brings together experts, policymakers and practitioners to discuss the prospects for scaling engineered carbon-removal solutions. The discussion covers direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, and biochar. It also addresses economic, infrastructure, regulatory, carbon-market and regional considerations that influence their deployment.
In the Synergy Programme, KAPSARC experts contribute to two discussions: "Accelerating the Circular Carbon Economy Through Joint Action" and "AI Partnerships for Energy Innovation." According to the center, these bring research-based perspectives to the intersection of energy, technology and sustainability.
A pavilion built around five hubs
KAPSARC also runs a dedicated pavilion at the Congress, structured around five thematic hubs: the Oil Hub, Transportation Hub, Clean Energy Hub, AI Hub and Collaboration Hub. The hubs present KAPSARC research, analytical tools and expertise, giving visitors what the center describes as an integrated view of selected research areas and emerging issues shaping energy systems. They are also meant to create opportunities for engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and other participants.
The pavilion additionally features the KAPSARC School of Public Policy (KSPP) and the Saudi Energy Leaders Assembly (SELA), which KAPSARC says provide further platforms for policy education, leadership development and knowledge exchange.
What it means
According to KAPSARC, its presence across the programmes and the pavilion connects Saudi-based research and policy expertise with international discussions on energy security, investment, technology and sustainability. The emphasis on generative AI in oil-market analysis and on carbon removal technologies shows which topics the center is putting forward at the Congress.
KAPSARC describes itself as an advisory think tank focused on energy, environmental and regional economic issues, and as an accredited observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its stated mission is to advance Saudi Arabia's energy sector and inform global policies through evidence-based advice and applied research.
PR Newswire: KAPSARC TO JOIN 25TH WPC ENERGY CONGRESS IN RIYADH AS NATIONAL PARTNER
