IEA Executive Director meets with top US government officials

WASHINGTON DC – Dr Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency’s Executive Director, met with top officials from the United States government this week during a multi-day visit to Washington that centered on US energy policy. 

Dr Birol’s schedule included a comprehensive discussion with US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, covering oil and gas markets, energy security and the upcoming IEA and Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) meetings. He also held meetings with Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska, a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; Kenneth Juster, the Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs; as well as other senior representatives in the Department of Energy, Department of State and the White House.

These discussions focused on developments in global energy markets, energy priorities under the new US administration, the role of the IEA in underpinning global energy security and overcoming energy-related environmental challenges, and recent progress on efforts to modernize the IEA by deeper engagement with the major emerging economies. 

On Friday, Dr Birol opened a high-level workshop on the strategic role of natural gas that was organized jointly by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the IEA. The workshop examined the rise in US natural gas production and its impact on American consumers, and looked at what additional US LNG exports would mean for liquidity, diversity of supply and security of international gas markets.

The event was attended by senior experts, officials and industry representatives from the US, Europe and Asia.