The workshop addresses how countries in the Middle East and North Africa can manage rapidly growing electricity demand while improving energy security and integrating more renewables. Although MENA is a major global supplier of oil and gas, the region is also becoming a fast-growing energy consumer — especially in electricity, driven by population growth, higher incomes, extreme heat, cooling needs, and desalination.

Today, nearly 90% of regional electricity is generated from fossil fuels, creating economic opportunity costs as large volumes of oil and gas are diverted from export markets. Despite world-class solar potential, renewables still represent a small share of the power mix — though ambitious plans now aim to triple renewable capacity by 2030.