Oil, gas and coal will still make up majority of the energy sources by 2040. The president and general manager of ExxonMobil Qatar, Bart Cahir said this at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar as part of the Dean’s Leadership Series.
By 2040, the world’s population will rise by more than 25 percent, reaching almost 9 billion. By then, oil, gas and coal will continue to make up the bulk of the energy supply, with natural gas being the fastest growing source. Cahir, said that population growth, along with improved standards of living, will translate into increased energy demands over the coming decades.
“Energy plays a fundamental role in powering economies, enabling modern life and supporting progress and development. Thus the world faces a tremendous and growing challenge: The need to develop new sources of energy and to do so in a safe, secure, and environmentally responsible way. That’s our challenge and our business at ExxonMobil, and it is one that begins with economics, and some of the key drivers for ever-increasing energy demand,” Cahir said.
Cahir drew his observations from ExxonMobil’s annual Outlook for Energy report, which examines trends in the types of energy the world will need and where that energy will come from. Cahir highlighted how ExxonMobil is making investments in research and development that will unlock new resources, improve the efficiency of its operations, and increase the value of its products.
He spoke to students and faculty about the importance of studying the links between population growth, economic progress, and the amount and types of energy used around the world.
“I encourage you to never stop learning, be enthusiastic and engaged with the world around you and remember that integrity in everything you undertake matters,” he said.
Carnegie Mellon University is known for its creativity, collaboration across disciplines and programs in business, technology and the arts. The university has about 95,000 alumni spread across the world and amongst them are 19 Nobel Laureates and 11 Turing Award winners.
