Power Engineering - Hisham Khatib wins 2007 global energy award

16 November 2007 - Dr. Hisham Khatib of Jordan was named winner of the World Energy Council's 2007 Global Energy Award at a ceremony during the closing day of the World Energy Council (WEC) in Rome yesterday.

The award, which is the highest honour bestowed by the World Energy Council (WEC), was presented to Dr. Khatib by WEC Chair André Caillé.

Dr. Khatib's impressive career in the energy sector spans nearly 50 years. Currently Chairman of the Jordan Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Khatib has also served as Minister of Planning, Minister of Water and Irrigation and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for the government of Jordan, as Director General of the Jordan Electricity Authority and as a senior energy expert for the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development in Kuwait.

Dr. Khatib is on the Advisory Board of POWER-GEN Middle East and will be making the introductory remarks and moderating the opening session of the conference when it takes place in Bahrain on 4th February 2008.

In accepting the award, Dr Khatib described the changes that had occurred in the World Energy Council over his 30-year period of association with the organization, saying it had evolved from an elite club into a respected worldwide body and forum for all energy exports with a mission to resolve the energy-related problems of the world.

"Global energy markets are under greater threat more than any time since the 1980s - with high oil prices, carbon abatement technology still in its infancy, large investment requirements, materials costs rising and manpower shortages. These problems are putting a strain on economies of countries around the world, particularly the developing countries," said Khatib. He called for WEC to encourage greater energy efficiency in order to reduce the environmental impact of energy use.

Turning to the issue of availability, Dr Khatib said, "Still one third of the world's population has no access to electricity. It is the duty of the World Energy Council to make electric energy available globally."

"Energy is needed to fuel economic growth but we must limit its environmental impact and not allow it to divide nations."

In addition to being a frequent lecturer on energy and the environment, Dr. Khatib has authored three books: "Economics of Reliability in Electrical Power Systems" (1978) and "Financial and Economic Evaluation of Projects" (1997, 2003) and a history book, "Palestine and Egypt under the Ottomans" (2003). Dr. Khatib was also a co-author of the UNDP/UNDESA/WEC World Energy Assessment, "Energy and the Challenge of Sustainability" (2000).

Dr. Khatib has been an active member of the World Energy Council for over 30 years, serving as Vice Chair from 1989 to 1992 and being elected an Honorary Vice Chair of WEC in 1992.

Created by the World Energy Council in 1998, the Global Energy Award is presented at each triennial World Energy Congress to an eminent international personality who has contributed substantially to the understanding of the global energy sector, who has supported the World Energy Council in its work and who has made significant contributions to his company or organisation, government, community and country. Nominations for the award are made by WEC Member Committees, and the winner is selected by WEC's Board of Trustees, the Officers Council.

Headquartered in London, the 84-year-old World Energy Council is the leading global multi-energy organisation, with Member Committees in nearly 100 countries around the world. Its mission is to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all people.

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