MUSCAT : The global energy debate has changed fundamentally in recent months, requiring policymakers, investors and industry leaders to place greater emphasis on infrastructure resilience and energy security alongside decarbonisation efforts, a senior executive from Vision Invest said at the Oman Capital Market Conference.

Speaking during ‘The Global Energy Debate’ panel at the conference’s second edition in Muscat on Monday, Zaki Sumar, Senior Vice President, Portfolio & Investments at Vision Invest, said the energy sector is undergoing a significant shift as geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions reshape priorities.

“The energy debate has changed fundamentally,” Sumar said, noting that countries are increasingly focused on ensuring secure and reliable energy supplies while continuing to pursue climate goals.

He said the challenge facing governments and businesses today is balancing “infrastructure, resilience and decarbonisation all at the same time.”

According to Sumar, the developments of the past two to three months have underscored the need for substantial investment not only in energy production and efficiency but also in the infrastructure that supports the movement and delivery of energy.

“I think what’s changed in the last two to three months is that we have to have a significant push, not just in access to energy and efficiency of energy, but also the infrastructure surrounding it,” he said.

Sumar argued that energy should be viewed as a broader ecosystem rather than solely through the lens of resource availability.

“Energy has to be looked at as an ecosystem and not just access to molecules,” he said. “If you can’t move those molecules around, the energy access is insufficient.”

He added that infrastructure investments will be critical to maintaining reliable energy systems and supporting economic growth in an increasingly complex global environment.

Drawing on Vision Invest’s experience as an infrastructure investor and developer, Sumar said periods of disruption can also create new opportunities for long-term investment.

“Where there is crisis, there is opportunity. And we do see opportunity,” he added.

The conference brought together investors, issuers, regulators, policymakers and industry leaders for high-level discussions on the opportunities and challenges shaping Oman’s financial sector and the wider regional investment landscape.

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