Energy PoliticsAnalysis
OPEC chief calls for Age of All Energies as electricity demand rises
Al Ghais says electrification requires petroleum-based supply chains and materials, speaking at COP31.
OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais said the world will need substantially more electricity in the coming decades, but other energy sources must remain part of the global energy mix. Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency on 10 November 2026 at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, Al Ghais called for an Age of All Energies rather than an exclusive focus on electricity.
Supply chains remain petroleum dependent#
Al Ghais outlined four overlooked aspects of the global electrification drive. The first is the material reality of electrification: the installation of equipment across homes, offices, vehicles and cities. Producing and transporting these products relies on international supply chains, Al Ghais said, with materials making multiple journeys across countries before final assembly. Petroleum-powered transportation remains the dominant mode for these logistics networks, he noted.
Plastics demand rises with electrification#
The OPEC chief described the emerging landscape as an Age of More Cables and Chargers, noting that wider electrification would drive demand for petroleum-derived products. Plastic remains central to the devices underpinning this transition, he said. Al Ghais pointed to plastic insulation and jackets used in cables, chargers and power blocks, plastic casings around transformers, and packaging often made from plastic.
Electric vehicle expansion faces multiple challenges#
Al Ghais highlighted several challenges that could affect the expansion of electric vehicles. Critical minerals availability presents one constraint, he said, while public charging network capacity presents another. Subsidies and market conditions also shape the transition, with manufacturers and consumers both navigating economic and practical factors. Oil and petroleum-derived materials retain importance beyond transportation fuels, Al Ghais said, particularly as countries expand electricity infrastructure.
Energy mix debate continues at COP31#
International discussions over the future energy mix, the pace of transition and the role of different energy sources in meeting rising global demand continue, Al Ghais said. The concept of an Age of Electricity has gained attention, he noted, but the vision remains unrealized. The future should bring an Age of All Energies instead, Al Ghais argued, with clarity on how each energy source contributes to the others.
Sources2 sources across 2 domains
- thepeninsulaqatar.comThe Peninsula QatarAl Ghais spoke to KUNA on 10 November 2026 at COP31, outlined four blind spots in electrification debate, cited petroleum dependence of supply chains and plastics in cables and chargers
- economymiddleeast.comEconomy Middle EastAl Ghais called for Age of All Energies, highlighted challenges facing electric vehicle expansion including critical minerals availability and charging capacity
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