Around 70 energy sector experts convened at the International Energy Agency (IEA) headquarters in Paris for the 7th Joint IEA-IEF-Opec Symposium on Gas and Coal Market Outlooks.

Organised by the IEA, the International Energy Forum (IEF), and Opec, this event brought together representatives from various sectors, including government, academia, and the energy industry.

The symposium was held amid rising global energy demand, fuelled by population growth, urbanisation, and increased income levels.

Notably, the surge in demand for air conditioning and data centres, particularly for artificial intelligence, is accelerating electricity consumption.

The energy sector faces the ongoing challenge of providing secure, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions.

Discussions were divided into three main sessions:

The first focused on natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), exploring the impact of new infrastructure and flexible trading on supply security.

The second session concentrated on coal market trends, especially in Asia, which has become a key player in global production and consumption.

The final session assessed investment outlooks across gas and coal value chains, considering the implications of increasing electricity demand and the diversification of energy sources.

It also highlighted the importance of carbon management technologies, including carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS).

This symposium is part of the Trilateral Work Programme established by the three organisations, which aims to enhance dialogue between producers and consumers and improve market transparency.