Member Corner
4 June 2026 | St. Petersburg, Russian Federation - H.E. Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), participated in the high-level panel discussion entitled “Global Energy Systems: How the World’s Energy Sector Responds to Challenges and Risks” during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026. The session welcomed leading energy policymakers and industry executives, including HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC; H.E. Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; H.E. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Arab Republic of Egypt; H.E. Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, Minister of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia; Mr. Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Mr. Alexander Dyukov, Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom Neft. During these discussions, Dr. Mshelbila emphasized that recent years have demonstrated the growing interconnectedness of global energy systems. Dr. Mshelbila noted that major disruptions to global energy markets are no longer exceptional or temporary events. Rather, they have become a recurring feature of the contemporary energy landscape, requiring energy systems and market participants to continuously adapt, innovate and strengthen resilience through enhanced international cooperation. The Secretary General highlighted that building resilient energy systems requires robust and interconnected infrastructure, diversified supply chains, flexible contracting, technological innovation and effective international partnerships. He stressed that enhanced cooperation across regions and institutions is essential to strengthening the adaptability of energy systems in an increasingly uncertain environment. Dr. Mshelbila further underscored the transformative role of innovation and technology in shaping the future of the energy sector, noting that digitalization, artificial intelligence and advanced energy technologies are creating new opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance market transparency, optimize operations and support more integrated, resilient and sustainable energy systems. Concluding his remarks, the Secretary General reaffirmed that international cooperation remains the cornerstone of global energy security and sustainable development. He emphasized that building resilient energy markets requires dialogue, trust and long-term collaboration to ensure secure, affordable and reliable energy for all.