OEF 2025: Overcoming the barriers – Accelerating the energy transition

About

For over 50 years, the Oslo Energy Forum (OEF) has been a beacon of trust-based discussions, drawing leaders from around the globe. In an era where autocracies rise at the expense of democracy, dialogue is more crucial than ever.

Kicking of the year, we explore the implications of a new US Presidency on global relationships with Europe and China. Are we facing a trade war? How will it impact the global economy? And what will it mean for the need to accelerate the energy transition? How can businesses demonstrate leadership in this unpredictable world? What barriers must we overcome to make meaningful progress? That’s the key questions to be discussed at this year’s Forum.

We welcome leaders from energy-related industries, businesses, governments, regulators, and institutions to engage in candid dialogue. Our aim is to stimulate collaboration, share experiences, and develop sustainable solutions for a better future.

Program

Tuesday 11. February

Side-meetings and round tables

Reception & Drinks

Opening Dinner

Introduction by Anders Opedal, Chair, OEF and President and CEO, Equinor, together with Sven Mollekleiv, Managing Director, OEF

Perspectives on the world – what to prepare for in the years to come

Stian Jenssen, Partner/Director Government and Public Affairs, ICP and former Chief of Staff and Director of the Private Office, NATO and and Martin Sandbu, European Economic Commentator, Financial Times in a conversation with Ulf Sverdrup, Professor, Norwegian Business School

Wednesday 12. February

Side-meetings and round tables

OEF 2025 Official Opening

Wars and unrest form the backdrop for OEF 2025, characterized by a lack of trust, impacting world trade, energy production, and climate change efforts. Is what we’re seeing a new world order?

Public resistance challenges policy decisions, and political priorities turn national where global focus is needed. Companies prioritize the supply of energy over lowering GHG emissions, the ambitions of Paris are fading.

What are the implications for global efforts to achieve a more peaceful and sustainable future?

Will policies and international targets be revised? Will businesses adjust their objectives in response to evolving expectations? And what will be the impact on equitable transition and development in developing countries?

Opening speech by Anders Opedal, Chair, Oslo Energy Forum and President and CEO, Equinor

Overcoming the barriers – accelerating the energy transition

Perspectives on policy development, impact for business and implications for the energy transition. With partnership as the new leadership, what can we do to mobilize joint forces to create progress?

Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister, Norway
Landon Derentz, Head of the Energy Program at the Atlantic Council
Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO Yara
Anders Opedal, Chair, OEF / President and CEO, Equinor

Moderated by Siri Lill Mannes

Coffee Break

Balancing the future energy mix – different approaches or different beliefs?

As we seek a pathway to a sustainable future, what factors influence the thinking and actions of energy producers? How can the supply versus demand dilemma be resolved and progress towards achieving net zero be accelerated?

Setting the scene – presenting the world’s energy outlook

Remi Eriksen, President and CEO, DNV

Operator’s responses – opportunities and barriers to overcome

Øyvind Eriksen, President and CEO, Aker ASA
Markus Krebber, CEO, RWE
Birgitte Vartdal, President and CEO, Statkraft
Michał Obiegała, Director, Corporate Affairs & Strategic Projects, BP Europe

Moderated by Maria Moræus Hanssen

Bringing the world along – push or pull from finance and industrial sector

Finance has increasingly expressed support for a rapid and equitable energy transition. Is this still the case, or is there a decline in momentum for advancing the green shift?

Demetrios Papathanasiou, Global Director for Energy, The World Bank
Nivruti Rai, MD and CEO of Invest India
Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, African Development Bank
Kari Ekelund Thørud, EVP, Hydro Energy
Woochong Um, CEO, GEAPP

Moderated by Martin Sandbu, European Economic Commentator, Financial Times

Lunch / Side-meetings / round tables

Geopolitical barriers to progress: Autocracy, polarization and protectionism.

Regional competition is rising, impacting multilateral agreements and free trade. How will these barriers affect our progress?

Introduction by Martin Sandbu, European Economic Commentator, Financial Times

Jens Larsen, Director Global Macro-geoeconomics, Eurasia Group
Julia Friedlander, CEO, Atlantik-Brücke
Georg Riekeles, Associate Director, European Policy Centre
Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO Yara

Moderated by Siri Lill Mannes

Creating breakthrough technologies to accelerate the energy transition

Inspirational examples showing the road to success. How can increased collaboration and private / public partnership create a well-functioning market and level playing field?

Introduction by Jarand Rystad, CEO, Rystad Energy The political role – role and opportunities:

Terje Aasland, Minister of Energy, Norway

The industrial role – contributions and requirements:

Andreas Enger, CEO, Høegh Autoliners
Olivier le Peuch, CEO, SLB
Juergen Maier, Chair, GB Energy
Ulrik Stridbæk, Head of Global Regulatory & Public Affairs, Ørsted
Irene Rummelhoff, EVP, Marketing, Midstream & Processing, Equinor
Kjetel Digre, CEO, Aker Solutions
Pascal de Buck, CEO, Fluxys

Moderated by Alexandra Bech Gjørv, CEO, SINTEF and Chair Statkraft

Closing the day

Summarizing of the discussions by Sven Mollekleiv, Managing Director of OEF

Side-meetings and round tables

Reception & Drinks

Dinner

Leadership in a world in turmoil

Helge Lund, Chair of BP and Novo Nordisk in a conversation with Martin
Sandbu, European Economic Commentator, Financial Times

Thursday 13. February

Side-meetings and round tables

Opening day 2

From policies to actions and implementation

The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP 21, sparked a wave of regulations aimed at encouraging climate action. Now, a decade later, we have unfortunately surpassed the crucial 1.5-degree threshold. The pressing question remains: what is holding us back from achieving our collective ambition?

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
Jacob Werksman, Principal Adviser for International Aspects of EU Climate Policy
Serhii Nahorniak, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency
Terje Pilskog, CEO, Scatec
Kristin Halvorsen, Director of Center for International Climate and Environmental Research
Daniel Silverberg, Managing Director, Capstone

Moderated by Siri Lill Mannes

Coffee Break

Energy as a security weapon / Outlook to Munich Security Conference

Following the closing of OEF, the focus is turning towards the Munich Security Conference. In this session we will discuss the topics expected to dominate the Conference, emphasizing the position of energy in security policy.

Maria Varteressian, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Hanna Zamazieieva, Head, State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine
Stian Jenssen, Partner/Director Government and Public Affairs, ICP and former Chief of Staff and Director of the Private Office, NATO
Detlef Wächter, Ambassador, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Georg Riekeles, Associate Director, European Policy Centre

Moderated by Ulf Sverdrup, Professor, Norwegian Business School

Closing statement – summarizing OEF 2025 and outlook to OEF 2026