CERAWeek conference of industry executives and government officials opens today in Houston

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference returns to Houston yet again for another full week, with sessions beginning this morning (Monday). The annual event, held downtown at the Hilton Americas Hotel, draws hundreds of energy industry executives and governmental officials, not only from the U.S., but from a number of countries. Accordingly, CERAWeek 2022 sessions will “address the challenges, opportunities, and pace of change around energy, climate, technology and innovation,” say event organizers.

On tap for today are conversations between IHS Markit Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin and the Biden administration’s Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry (9:30 am), as well as ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods (10:00 am). Immediately following the session with Mr. Woods is a panel discussion on The Energy Transition, featuring Yergin conducting a conversation with Cheniere Energy President and CEO Jack Fusco, Hess Corporation CEO John Hess, and Petronas President and Group CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik.

Following the panel discussion will be a conversation between Yergin and TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanné. Further down in the day, Monday’s luncheon will feature an address by Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulazziz  bin Salman. Concurrently, a separate session (12:00 to 12:40 pm) discussing digital technology’s impact on The Energy Transition will feature executives from Shell, Petronas, Baker Hughes and IHS Markit. Two more highlights for the day will be a session from 1:00 to 1:40 pm on “Driving Low-Carbon Innovation,” as well as “Policies Needed to Support Development of a Hydrogen Economy” (2:30 to 3:00 pm). Also worth noting is a session scheduled for 4:35 to 5:00 pm, featuring a conversation between Yergin and Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth.

No less than four U.S. Senators will make an appearance at CERAWeek during the week. The first of these sessions will be a “Leadership Dialogue” between Yergin and Sen. Daniel Sullivan (R-Alaska) at 6:05 to 6:30 pm today (Monday). In addition, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will occupy the 6:05 to 6:30 pm time slot on Thursday, March 10, in a conversation with Yergin. And on Friday morning, March 11, two additional senators will make back-to-back appearances in give-and-take sessions with Yergin. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) will visit the conference from 10:25 to 10:55 am. He will be followed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), who will appear from 11:05 to 11:30 am

Also, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm will deliver a keynote address on Wednesday, March 9, during that day’s luncheon, while FERC Chairman Richard Glick will participate in a conversation with Yergin on Thursday, March 10, from 1:50 to 2:15 pm.

For additional sessions and highlights through the rest of the week, please consult the CERAWeek full agenda at ceraweek.com.