Day two of ADIPEC 2026 focused on strengthening global energy infrastructure, with ministers, CEOs and industry leaders calling for greater investment in grids, transmission networks, storage and supply chains to meet rising demand and improve energy security.

Discussions centred on the need to modernise energy systems as industrial electrification, expanding economies and artificial intelligence (AI) drive electricity consumption higher. Speakers highlighted the importance of international collaboration, diversified supply chains and resilient infrastructure to ensure reliable energy delivery amid growing geopolitical and logistical uncertainty.

During the ministerial panel, ‘Beyond borders: can national energy strategies deliver a connected global system?’, ministers examined how national energy priorities could be aligned to support a more connected and secure global energy system.

Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Egypt, said: "The world needs more energy, and unlocking and delivering this energy can only be done through collaboration and partnership. No single country or company can do this alone. Collaboration and partnership are the essence of unlocking these opportunities."

The need to strengthen local capabilities and global supply chains was also highlighted by Dr Christian Bruch, President and CEO of Siemens Energy, during his session, ‘Powering what comes next: energy for a changing world’.

Dr Bruch said: “There are new criteria emerging in the design of our energy systems. This region will be the first and leading region in building resilient energy systems. If you want to learn what the resilient energy infrastructure of the future will look like, this is where it is going to happen…The key question now is how to ensure more resilient supply chains in the event of global logistics disruptions. This means understanding what local capabilities are needed, which global supply chains can be leveraged, and what kind of storage is required.”

Digitalisation and energy efficiency featured prominently in discussions on meeting growing electricity demand. During the panel, ‘The energy productivity opportunity: unlocking more value from every kilowatt’, Olivier Blum, CEO of Schneider Electric, highlighted the role of digital technologies and AI in improving energy consumption and system performance.

Blum said: “We have to increase electricity generation. We do not really have a choice, as demand continues to rise. Industries are electrifying, cities are expanding and electric cars are becoming increasingly common. We need to produce more energy while also consuming it more efficiently.”

The relationship between AI and energy infrastructure was further explored during the session, ‘AI-driven energy demand: planning infrastructure for an accelerating growth curve’. Caspar Herzberg, CEO of AVEVA, said: "It is clear that AI requires significant amounts of power and that its infrastructure is being deployed very quickly. Other resources and infrastructure are developing at a slower pace. However, I see this more as a question of coordination than simply one of speed.”

Energy security and supply chain resilience were also central to the CEO panel, ‘Turning disruption into advantage: resources, power and global growth’. Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, stressed the importance of diversifying supply sources and identifying vulnerabilities.

He said: "We should never stop examining our different vulnerabilities and alternatives. This means looking across the supply chain and logistics, and making sure you have secondary, tertiary and even fourth sources of supply. You cannot afford to be dependent on single choke points; you need to be able to navigate and respond to different circumstances."

Across the exhibition halls, companies showcased technologies and capabilities spanning critical infrastructure, digitalisation, lower-carbon solutions, maritime and logistics. The event also featured 30 country pavilions highlighting national investment opportunities and industrial capabilities, alongside four specialised zones showcasing solutions across the energy value chain.

The Strategic Leadership Roundtables continued at the Global Energy Club, bringing together ministers, CEOs and senior industry representatives for discussions on infrastructure development, investment and supply continuity.

Day three will turn the focus to technologies transforming the energy sector, with discussions examining how AI, automation and advanced analytics can improve infrastructure efficiency, intelligence and resilience. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service