Energy Without Borders: OMEC Joins the ADIPEC 2026 Debate on Cross-Border Integration
What does it take to make cross-border energy integration commercially viable? That was the question at the center of “Energy without borders: trade rules and the commercial case for cross-border integration,” a session at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi. OMEC’s Director General, Dr. Houda Ben Jannet, spoke on the panel alongside Nadja Håkansson, COO of thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies and CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde. Carole Nakhle, Founder and CEO of Crystol Energy, moderated.
The conversation began with the South Mediterranean’s record as a supplier to Europe. Its role has grown since 2022, and long-term partnerships and existing infrastructure delivered security when it mattered most. The panel then turned to how much further that cooperation could go. The Southern Gas Corridor added 1.2 bcm per year of capacity as of January 2026, and fuller use of existing infrastructure and LNG terminals could potentially supply Europe with an additional 40 bcm. Realizing that potential depends on investment, upstream development and the management of local gas demand.
The session also looked ahead. Gas will still be needed in the region, including on a decarbonization path alongside integrated renewables, and electricity integration should build on the complementarity of the two shores. Speakers stressed that integrated markets need predictable rules and credible standards that build trust and lower risk for investors, so that cooperation works for both shores. The discussion also touched on resilience, which now sits next to affordability, sustainability and reliability, and on how unclear policy slows investment.
More info available at adipec.com