23rd World Energy Congress, Istanbul 2016

Under the theme ‘Embracing New Frontiers’, the 23rd World Energy Congress took place in Istanbul, Turkey from 9 – 13 October 2016. The Congress convened some 266 world class speakers from around the world, including over 60 government Ministers and Heads of State. In total, some 5000 delegates gathered in Istanbul from over 150 countries to an engaging week of sessions exploring the Grand Transition of the energy sector.

Heads of States from some of the world’s largest suppliers addressed the Congress on the opening day, including President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Nicolas Maduro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and our host, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey.

This Congress was a historic milestone for the World Energy Council, attracting the highest level energy leaders yet and at a time of unprecedented uncertainty, threats and opportunities in the global energy sector. Discussions offered unique insights into the New Energy Realities facing the industry and reaffirmed that governments, business leaders, investors, and society alike will have to rethink the energy contract and strive for continued innovation and stable investment frameworks.

Looking ahead, the next 24th World Energy Congress will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 7 – 14 September 2019.

For more information on the World Energy Council’s global and regional events, details can be found at our website