2009 Energy Security Conference

As Asian nations increasingly stake their future economic prosperity on the growth of, and access to, future global oil and gas supplies, China, Japan, India, Korea, and Southeast Asia are scrambling to gain access to tight supplies from all the key oil and gas exporting regions. Most important of these regions is the Middle East, home to two-thirds of the world’s proven oil reserves. Oil and gas investment and trade between Asia and the Middle East is booming, which, in turn, is driving an expanding nexus of political, economic, trade, financial, and strategic ties. This Asia-Middle East energy nexus has the potential to profoundly re-shape global oil and gas markets, geopolitics, and prospects for future oil and gas supply growth and infrastructure development.

To better understand of the implications of Asia’s growing energy ties with the Middle East, NBR’s 2009 Energy Security Conference invited high-level figures to focus on the likely future evolution of Asia’s involvement in Middle East oil and gas development. Representatives from corporations, government, and academia examined the geopolitical implications of Asia’s involvement, how Asia may impact future Middle East and global oil and gas supply development, and the implications for U.S. policy. This invitation-only event, “The New Energy Silk Road: The Growing Asia-Middle East Energy Nexus,” was held May 18-19 at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C.

Agenda

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Jonathan Shrier, Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy Office of Policy and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy

MAIN SPEAKERS

The Middle East and Asia: Oil Trade and Investment
Fareed Mohamedi, PFC Energy

Asia-Middle East Energy Trade and Investment Trends
Mikkal Herberg, The National Bureau of Asian Research

China’s Energy Role in the Middle East and Prospects for the Future
Philip Andrews-Speed, University of Dundee

India’s Future Energy and Geopolitical Role in the Region
Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University

Saudi Arabia’s Relations with China and Asia and Prospects for the Future
Jean-Francois Seznec, Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University

Iran’s Views on Future Relations with China and Asia and Prospects for the Future
Hormoz Naficy, Petroventures Advisory Ltd. London

Japan and South Korea’s Energy Diplomacy in the Middle East and Gulf and Prospects for the Future
Kent Calder, SAIS

Russian Energy and Strategic Interests in the Middle East and Gulf and Prospects for the Future<
Paul Saunders, Nixon Center

DISCUSSANTS

Asian Perspectives on the Growing Asia-Middle East Energy Nexus

Robert Sutter, Georgetown University
Robert Bo Kong, Global Energy and Environment Program, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University
Robert James Clad, National Defense University
Manpreet Singh Anand, Chevron Corporation

Middle East Perspectives on the Growing Asia-Middle East Energy Nexus

Jon Alterman, CSIS
Leverett, New America Foundation

Roundtable Discussion: Strategic Implications for the US of the Growing Asia-Middle East Energy Nexus

Mikkal Herberg, NBR
Dan Blumenthal, AEI
Edward Chow, CSIS
Alan Hegburg, U.S. Department of Energy

Agenda, Speaker Bios, and Attendee List

Agenda | Speaker Biographies | Attendees

Conference Supporters

The 2009 conference and the accompanying report were supported by the generous contributions of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Conoco Phillips, and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation.