The United Arab Emirates and Nigeria have called for greater investment in resilient energy infrastructure and diversified supplies to strengthen energy security amid geopolitical disruptions.
Speaking during an opening-day ministerial panel at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, UAE Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei said spare capacity, alternative export routes and operational readiness had helped his country maintain supplies during the U.S.-Iran conflict.
“Spare capacity is part of resiliency, and having optionality is part of being resilient,” he said during the session, titled “Energy Security is National Security: Building Resilient Supply in an Uncertain World”.
“Those two things the UAE has worked on years before this war started, and it helped us,” he added.
Al Mazrouei cited the UAE’s pipeline to Fujairah, shipping fleets and preparedness as factors that supported exports during disruption linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the country had at times increased supplies to some long-term customers to cover shortfalls elsewhere, although he did not disclose export volumes.
The minister praised employees at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for maintaining operations during the conflict and acknowledged the impact of higher fuel prices on consumers.
“You need to have a fighter’s DNA in order to deal with crisis,” he said.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said his country’s natural gas resources offered an opportunity to strengthen domestic and international energy security through supplies that did not need to pass through Hormuz.
“Natural gas is a critical asset that we intend to use to guarantee energy security and economic transformation in our dear country,” Ekpo said.
He said Nigeria’s gas reserves had risen to 215 trillion cubic feet from 209 trillion cubic feet in 2023, while domestic utilisation had increased.
However, turning those resources into reliable supplies required further investment, he said, inviting investors to develop Nigeria’s gas sector.
Al Mazrouei echoed the call.
“Invest, invest, invest in a resilient infrastructure. That’s what we need,” he said.
The discussion also examined how renewable energy could diversify supplies and reduce exposure to disruptions. Al Mazrouei said many countries, particularly in Africa, were failing to make sufficient use of their renewable resources, citing the need for policies that attract investment.
“There is a huge potential that is not utilised,” he said. “We are not utilising renewable energy enough in many countries, especially in Africa.”
Asked about rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data centres, Al Mazrouei said he expected the UAE to have the infrastructure and investment needed to meet future requirements. Ekpo said AI was not currently placing a major burden on Nigeria’s generation system.
Al Mazrouei said the UAE needed additional infrastructure protection and spare capacity, adding that AI could help improve planning and preparedness.
“We need the AI to help us design better, think of different scenarios, and be more resilient,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of developing young talent and expanding opportunities for women in leadership, citing PETROSOL’s Women Network and Next Energy Talent initiatives.
He also encouraged companies to support the growth of their dealers, distributors, suppliers and small contractors.
Three Proposals For The GNCCI
Bozumbil proposed three initiatives for the GNCCI: a capital-readiness programme to prepare small and medium-sized enterprises for investment; a standards and certification support desk; and evidence-based advocacy supported by regular data on business conditions.
Such data, he said, should cover borrowing costs, regulatory bottlenecks, tax changes, logistics costs and delays in government payments.
He urged members to participate actively in the Chamber’s work and mentor emerging entrepreneurs.
Reflecting on his relationship with the Chamber, Bozumbil recalled being named Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2016 at the Chamber Business Awards held in 2017, before receiving the Chamber Businessman of the Year award in 2024.
