Key facts
- Top energy executives from ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron, and BP were removed from the WPC Energy Congress schedule in Riyadh.
- The WPC Energy Congress is taking place in Riyadh, approximately 10 kilometers from the international airport.
- Riyadh's international airport has been attacked four times in the past week.
- A Houthi attack on Sunday evening on the airport killed one person and injured nearly a dozen.
- A Houthi strike on Saturday killed 13 people and wounded over 300.
Several top energy executives were removed from the schedule of the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh as Saudi authorities proceeded with the event despite deadly attacks claimed by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The chief executives of major oil companies including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron, and BP were no longer listed on the agenda released early Monday.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who opened Monday's session, thanked attendees for traveling to Riyadh and emphasized the kingdom's safety and commitment to protecting its guests. He acknowledged the seriousness of recent events and stated the kingdom's response must be equally serious, while also stressing the importance of continuing with Vision 2030.
The attacks are seen as a blow to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program, which aims to diversify the economy and position the kingdom as an investment and tourism hub, with hosting international events being a key priority. The program has already faced delays and recalibrations.
A BP spokesperson noted the company's efforts to participate but cited travel disruptions for its inability to attend in person, valuing its partnerships in the region. Shell declined to comment, while TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, and Chevron did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The WPC Energy Congress is being held at a conference center about 10 kilometers from Riyadh's international airport, which has been targeted four times in the past week. On Sunday evening, Saudi authorities reported that one person was killed and nearly a dozen injured in a new attack on the airport. This followed a Saturday strike, claimed by the Houthis, which killed 13 people and wounded over 300, marking the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade.