HOUSTON — Alberta — and The Western Standard — will be front and centre the world’s largest and most influential oil and gas conference, dubbed the “Coachella of oil” set to take place in Houston next week.
Running from March 10-14, more than 10,000 attendees from 80 countries will gather to hear top energy executives, political leaders and innovators discuss the future of global energy.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean will among the speakers, reinforcing the province’s central role in North American energy.
They will be joined by Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe as well as federal officials to showcase Canada’s innovations in low-carbon technologies, carbon capture, hydrogen and geothermal energy in addition to good old oil and gas.
One person who won't be attending — as far as anyone knows — is federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Alberta’s energy leadership will be highlighted in multiple sessions:
• Premier Danielle Smith will sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and CERAWeek chairman Daniel Yergin for a panel on “Mega Energy Centres,” positioning Alberta as a global hub for resource production and innovation.
• Energy Minister Brian Jean will join Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on March 11 for a discussion titled ‘The Giant of the North’, focusing on Canada’s role in global energy security.
All the while the government of Alberta will spotlight two cutting-edge energy projects:
• Eavor Technologies Inc., which has developed the world’s first scalable, dispatchable geothermal system.
• Dow Chemical Canada’s Fort Saskatchewan facility, which is being upgraded to triple ethylene and polyethylene production while achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
The federal government, through Natural Resources Canada and Global Affairs Canada, will also be part of the ‘Invest in Canada’ to highlight the ways Canada is “an energy partner of choice” for global companies.
Alberta’s presence at CERAWeek is a direct signal that the province intends to remain a global leader in energy production, even as markets shift toward decarbonization.
Smith has often said her government's mission is to reduce emissions while doubling oil and gas production.
CERAWeek will also feature global energy powerhouses, including Amin Nasser the head of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company and Michael Wirth, chairman and CEO of Chevron Corp.
Adding to the event’s high-profile nature, Donald Trump is rumoured to make an appearance.
If the US president does attend, he is expected to tout his pro-oil policies which include expanding American fossil fuel production and reducing regulations on industry.
However, his presence would likely be met with protests, as climate activists have already announced coordinated demonstrations in Houston and across the European Union targeting the fossil fuel sector.
Despite the protests, CERAWeek is being billed the must-attend event for energy leaders shaping the future of the industry. For Alberta, it’s a chance to reinforce its role as a global energy powerhouse — not just in traditional oil and gas but also in emerging clean energy technologies.
The Western Standard's Energy Reporter Shaun Polczer is in Houston and will be providing in-depth coverage of the companies and personalities that will shape the energy landscape both at home and abroad for decades to come. Stay tuned.