Deloitte at ADIPEC 2025

The total mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal value reached $255 billion in 2024, largely driven by energy security concerns, decarbonization efforts and demand for critical minerals. A significant proportion of these upstream deals focused on the consolidation of the US’ Permian Basin, with IOCs driving much of the activity. As high-quality acquisition targets become increasingly scarce, are we likely to see other basins and other industries – such as chemicals and renewables – follow suit? Having fallen short in the past, the energy sector needs a solution-focused approach to creating sustained value with M&A activity. A shift in energy-related M&A activity seems likely as joint ventures and other partnership types become more favourable, and NOCs continue to enter the space through new initiatives. But how will the landscape evolve?

Moderators: Alexios Zachariadis, Partner, Strategy & Transactions 

Location: Finance & Investment – Conference room A

The energy landscape is shifting, demand is growing, and industrial competitiveness is now increasingly defined by a company’s ability to navigate the energy trilemma - balancing security, affordability, and the adoption of low-carbon technologies. While the global conversation once focused solely on accelerating decarbonization, today’s leaders recognize that success depends on turning these challenges into opportunities for growth and differentiation.

One key pathway to achieving commercially viable low-carbon technologies is by funneling investment to scale up supply in regions with matching, growing demand. By co-locating supply and demand, low carbon hubs can bring down infrastructure costs and drive economies-of-scale, serving as an aggregation point for local demand before expanding transportation infrastructure to provide dispersed supply elsewhere in the country or for export. 

Bound by a specific region, representing a significant level of aggregated point-source emissions, and bringing together actors from across value chains and sectors, hubs sit at the intersection of customers, geography, and collaborators that enable organizations to maximize value and drive down costs. 

Ultimately, scaling these low carbon hubs, technologies and business models will depend on stronger international cooperation, targeted policy support, and innovative financing mechanisms that can drive replication and impact across markets.

Speakers:

• Tarek Helmi, Global Leader in Low Carbon Solutions  E&C NSE Leader Deloitte Netherlands
• Dave Yankovitz, Global Energy & Chemicals Leader

Location: Global Energy Club Round table – Global Energy Club

The United States and European Union have adopted distinct regulatory approaches when it comes to reducing methane emissions and advancing global decarbonization goals. Initially bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act and reinforced by EPA methane rules, the U.S. framework now faces headwinds following the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which scales back clean energy support and signals a broader rollback of federal climate incentives. This shift has introduced new uncertainty around the durability and direction of U.S. methane policy. Meanwhile, the EU’s Methane Regulation, implemented in 2024, enforces strict monitoring, reporting and reduction requirements that extend to fossil fuel imports, positioning the trading bloc as a leader in methane mitigation. Greater regulatory consistency would be a boon for operators, who are also dealing with non-binding and irregularly implemented agreements such as the Global Methane Pledge, data gaps, monitoring challenges, and economic and infrastructure barriers. Companies must take a pragmatic approach to compliance and investment, balancing technological solutions with policy uncertainty to keep decarbonization goals within reach.

Moderator: Tarek Helmi, Global Leader in Low Carbon Solutions  E&C NSE Leader Deloitte Netherlands

Location: Methane reduction in a divided regulatory landscape – Conference room A

As new technologies, low-carbon solutions, and evolving business models take center stage, the ideas and ambitions of young professionals entering the workforce are reshaping what success looks like.

Across the industry, a generational handover is under way. Experienced specialists are stepping back just as demand for new capabilities in AI, digitalization, and sustainability surges. This is not simply a hiring challenge - it is a transformation moment. Companies must inspire the next wave of talent to see the energy industry as a career destination, not a steppingstone.

Youth voices are not just the future of the sector - they are critical today. When given the tools and platforms to contribute, they bring fresh perspectives to legacy challenges and new energy to innovation. Embedding their input into leadership pipelines, project design, and organizational culture is key to building an agile, united, and resilient workforce.

Moderator: Abihishek VS, Managing Director, Human Capital, Deloitte Middle East

Location: ADIPEC Youth Round Table

As the global energy sector grapples with the demands of the energy trilemma, delivering sustainability, ensuring security, and maintaining profitability, capital allocation has become a high-stakes balancing act. Investors are seeking strong returns, governments are enforcing decarbonisation mandates, and consumers expect uninterrupted, affordable energy. Gone are the days of binary choices between fossil fuels and renewables. Today’s energy leaders must craft diversified investment strategies that are resilient to geopolitical volatility, regulatory shifts, and rapid technological change. Natural gas and LNG, clean hydrogen, battery storage, and carbon capture are among the possible investment pathways where capital is being deployed.

Speakers: Johannes Wiik, NSE ER&I Industry Leader, Deloitte Middle East

Location: Finance & Investment – Conference Room B

More comprehensive global disclosure regulations are encouraging companies to reduce emissions across their value chains, as well as within their own operations. Frameworks such as the European Union’s (EU) Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and initiatives like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s climate disclosure rules have driven a new era of supply chain transparency and accountability. Through collaborative decarbonization, supplier engagement is opening new avenues for cost efficiency, innovation and resilience. Emerging business models are shifting this dynamic, as suppliers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors co-invest in decarbonization initiatives that align incentives and embed long-term value into project delivery. Meanwhile, structured supplier programs and green finance tools are enabling the adoption of low-carbon materials and collaborative emissions tracking. To decarbonize supply chains at scale and deliver collective progress, operators will need to move beyond transactional procurement and form long-term partnerships that support innovation, risk-sharing and emissions reductions.

Moderator: Christopher Armitage, ER&I Industry Leader, Deloitte Middle East

Location: Sustainable Procurement – Conference room A