ENACT Brings Together Global Leaders To Enhance AI Growth With Reliable Energy Solutions

ADNOC, Masdar, and XRG recently gathered over 100 global leaders from various sectors in Abu Dhabi at the ENACT Majlis. The event aimed to explore integrated solutions for leveraging energy and artificial intelligence (AI) to boost global growth. Hosted by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, the discussions focused on ensuring secure and sustainable energy supplies to support AI advancements.

The ENACT Majlis served as a high-level think tank, addressing the growing electricity demand for data centers, which is expected to quadruple by 2040. This increase will see demand rise from 105 to 450GW. Additionally, urbanisation will lead to 1.5 billion people moving into cities, using an extra 2 billion electric air conditioners. The global airline fleet is also projected to double from 25,000 to 50,000 planes during this period.

Dr. Al Jaber emphasised that "Energy and AI are the twin engines that have the potential to turbo-charge socioeconomic growth." He highlighted the need for investment in energy infrastructure today to meet future demands. Collaboration among energy, technology, and investment sectors with governments is crucial for addressing these challenges effectively.

The ENACT Majlis discussions also focused on building infrastructure at scale through integrated approaches. Leaders explored the skills and policies needed to attract capital for combined AI and energy investments. The event underscored the importance of modernising infrastructure and incentivising investment through supportive regulations.

Since its inception, three ENACT Majlis events have been held. The first took place in Abu Dhabi in November 2024, focusing on connecting energy, technology, policy, and finance to address AI-driven demand surges. The second event occurred in June in Washington DC, highlighting data center growth in the United States.

The latest gathering followed a joint report by ADNOC and Microsoft titled "Powering Possible: Unleashing AI for Energy and Energy for AI." This report draws insights from experts across technology, energy, and finance sectors on the interplay between AI and energy.

Prominent Participants at ENACT Majlis

The ENACT Majlis was attended by notable figures such as Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy; Doug Burgum from the U.S. Department of the Interior; Jurabek Mirzamahmudov from Uzbekistan; Omar Sultan Al Olama from UAE; James Danly from U.S. Department of Energy; Dr. Abdulla Al Jarwan from Abu Dhabi Department of Energy; Andrew Feldman of Cerebras Systems; Arthur Mensch of Mistral AI; Brad Smith of Microsoft Corporation; Bruce Flatt of Brookfield Asset Management; Claudio Descalzi of Eni; Darren Woods of ExxonMobil; Dong Sub Kim of Korea National Oil Corporation; Eric Cantor of Moelis; Jason Liu of Wood Mackenzie; Jake Loosararian of Gecko Robotics; Ken Dillon of OXY; Murray Auchincloss of bp; Patrick Pouyanné of TotalEnergies; Takayuki Ueda of INPEX; Tony O. Elumelu from United Bank for Africa.

The event was conducted under Chatham House rules to encourage open dialogue without public attribution. This approach aligns with Emirati traditions promoting bold discussions aimed at finding solutions across sectors and borders.

Taking place ahead of ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi from November 3-6, this year's ENACT Majlis reinforced Abu Dhabi's role in shaping future energy strategies while unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth through collaboration across industries.

With inputs from WAM