Matthieu Bouyer, TotalEnergies EP Qatar Managing Director, TotalEnergies Country Chair in Qatar
Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies has placed sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations, in order to contribute to the well-being of people.
From ensuring people’s safety and security to meeting the challenges of climate change and strengthening our integration into local communities, the Energy major acts in a sustainable and responsible manner at every turn.
Starting May 2021, the Company transformed itself from Total to TotalEnergies, thereby anchoring its strategic transformation into a broad energy company through its identity. This journey commenced in 2015, the year of the signing of the Paris agreement on Climate Change, and with deliberate actions by TotalEnergies to diversify its portfolio to incorporating a wide range of energies including renewables.
TotalEnergies has the ambition to reach Net Zero carbon emission by 2050, together with society. To achieve this ambition globally, they have outlined three major steps:
1. Net zero across the worldwide operations by 2050 or sooner
2. Net zero across all production and energy products used by customers of TotalEnergies in Europe by 2050 or sooner
3. 60% or more reduction in the average carbon density in energy products used worldwide by customers of TotalEnergies by 2050.
“We are committed to providing energies that are clean, affordable, and reliable while placing sustainability at the heart of our actions. That’s why we have started our transformation into a multi-energy company and that’s why we have integrated the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals into our strategy. Our dual challenge is to supply more energy for a growing world population willing to increase their standard of living; but at the same time reducing our carbon emissions.”, says Matthieu Bouyer, the TotalEnergies EP Qatar Managing Director and Country Chair. “In Qatar, thanks to our long term partnership with QatarEnergy, our strategy is in action with our presence in oil, natural gas and LNG but also in solar power and energy storage ”
TotalEnergies has based this ambition on two main pillars: LNG and renewable, two energies that are in abundance in Qatar; but at the same time, reducing emissions.
Gas is the energy of the transition, emitting twice less than coal in power production. Through its current world-class LNG projects, QatarEnergy will become by far the first LNG company in the world. That means that the role Qatar will play in the energy transition, by supplying large volumes of low carbon gas to its clients, will be fundamental.
TotalEnergies and Qatar have a long common history and are active partners in LNG production and marketing. LNG holds significant growth prospects in the long run as a transition fuel and TotalEnergies has announced already its willingness to participate in the North Field East project, the giant LNG project of 32 Mtpa that QatarEnergy currently develops.
With the ambition to be a world-class player in the energy transition, and to be among the world’s top five companies in renewable energies by 2030 TotalEnergies accelerates its development in renewables.
“We will invest 3 B$/y in renewables by 2025. The Company is organizing itself to leverage its competitive advantages in terms of technical expertise, global footprint, financial strengths to penetrate solar and wind markets. We target 100 GW of renewables capacity by 2030”, says Matthieu Bouyer, “In Qatar we develop the Al Kharasaah project in partnership with Siraj Energy (QatarEnergy and QEWC) and Marubeni. It is one of the world’s largest solar plants of 800 MWp, that will enable a carbon neutral 2022 FIFA World Cup”, he continued.
The Company established a solar branch in Qatar to support Qatar and QatarEnergy’s diversification agenda into renewable energies.
In addition, through its subsidiary SAFT, TotalEnergies has established solar batteries and panels in Qatar’s Dukhan Oilfield, Doha tram in Education city, and Doha Metro.
In order to achieve this transition to cleaner energies, a global effort with a requirement for large investments, and awareness are required. “Industry collaborative efforts are required in order to develop technologies that will accompany the energy transition in domains such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or Hydrogen. And of course, authorities and customers have a role to play to create the appropriate regulations that can foster innovation and technology.” said Matthieu.
Part of these awareness efforts is in line with our CSR strategy, and includes initiatives such as the establishment of the “Qatar TotalEnergies Playground” at National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), in cooperation with Qatar Museums.
The Playground, opening in September 2022, will provide a unique experience for families to explore and discover the story of energy through meaningful play. The playground’s maze-like architecture is inspired by energy on a molecular level and prompts children to act the part of historic and future energy extraction, production, distribution and use through an engaging series of ‘pick-your-own-adventure’ scenarios. Each scenario interprets a variety of stories, including the natural formation of fossil fuels, harnessing renewable energies, reducing carbon emissions, and the myriad of final products used in society.
“This playground will promote a necessary and crucial conversation about energy across all generations - to understand our energy’s past and future. More than just a playground, this experience will allow children to learn about Qatar’s sustainability efforts, and to better understand domains such as solar, LNG, electricity, carbon capture, plastic recycling.
The Qatar TotalEnergies Playground is part of our solid CSR program in Qatar that promotes education, culture, youth inclusion and sport”.
