Huge Investments Needed to Meet Growing Demand for Oil

Secretary General of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Haitham Al Ghais on Tuesday said that a whopping $640 billion per annum, or $17.4 trillion till 2050, cumulative investments were needed in the oil sector to reliably meet the expected growth in oil demand.

Speaking to Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2025, Al Ghais highlighted that the exploration and production sectors will absorb the largest share of investments in the oil sector, with total investment needs in these areas estimated at $14.2 trillion, or around $525 billion annually.

Additionally, the investment needs in refining, manufacturing, transportation, and storage are expected to reach approximately $1.9 trillion and $1.3 trillion, respectively, over the same period, he pointed out.

He explained that OPEC’s priorities included supporting and ensuring global oil market stability to secure reliable, cost-effective, and regular petroleum supplies for consumers, a steady income for producers, and a fair return on capital for investors in the petroleum industry.

He also emphasised OPEC’s commitment to securing the future of energy across all types and sources to address energy poverty and promote prosperity for inclusive economic growth under the “all-peoples, all-fuels and all-technologies” approach.

Al Ghais noted that these goals were essential for developing the economies of many countries, particularly developing nations that will be the main drivers of oil demand. To achieve these objectives, investment in all types of energy, including the oil industry, must be encouraged.

Demand Set to Rise

According to OPEC’s World Oil Outlook (WOO) 2024, global oil demand is expected to exceed 120.1 million barrels per day by the end 2050, an increase of 18 million barrels per day from 2023, WAM said.

Due to population growth, urbanisation, and economic expansion, developing countries are expected to see oil demand growth of about 28 million barrels per day, while developed countries will experience a decline in demand by about 10 million barrels per day.

Al Ghais pointed out that the global oil demand growth forecast for 2025 remains at 1.4 million barrels per day. Demand in OECD member countries is expected to grow by 0.1 million barrels per day, while non-OECD countries are expected to see a growth of 1.3 million barrels per day.

Regarding OPEC’s role in maintaining global oil market stability, Al Ghais said that the organisation has long recognised the importance of dialogue between producers and consumers in all areas of energy.

The key international issues related to energy, such as market stability, supply and demand security, economic prospects, and environmental concerns, directly impact the balance of global energy markets, particularly the oil and gas industry. Proactive dialogue is essential to align the views of all stakeholders, the OPEC Secretary General added.