The announcement follows a vote by the World Energy Council’s member countries at the organisation’s annual Executive Assembly in Cartagena, Colombia. In a closely contested campaign, Abh Dhabi beat Rio de Janeiro to become the site for the 24th World Energy Congress.
“Congratulations to the UAE for winning the bid to host the 2019 Congress," said Marie-José Nadeau, chair of the World Energy Council. "The World Energy Council’s Congress is an extremely influential event gathering the world’s energy leaders to address the challenges of providing sustainable energy supplies.
"The Abu Dhabi and Rio de Janeiro bid teams presented strong cases to host the event and it is clear that both cities and countries are leaders in energy. The World Energy Council looks forward to working closely with the Abu Dhabi 2019 Congress Organising Committee over the next years to prepare for yet another excellent Congress,” Nadeau said.
The UAE’s win represents the first time that the Congress will be held in the Gulf States.
“I would like to thank the member committees of the World Energy Council for their support to our candidacy,” said His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Chair of the UAE National Committee. “Hosting the 2019 World Energy Congress is a key milestone for the UAE energy sector and stands as recognition that Abu Dhabi plays as the epicenter for the future of energy. Our work to create the best World Energy Congress the WEC has seen starts tomorrow and we are looking forward working with the World Energy Council’s National Committees to create an inclusive and unique Congress.”
WEC also announced that the 2016 World Energy Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, will be held from 10 to 13 October 2016.
Russia, which initially intended to bid for the 2019 event, had decided instead to focus on a bid for the Would Energy Council’s 25th Congress in 2022.
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