A total of 267 energy ministers, experts and CEOs from about 70 countries will speak during the 2013 World Energy Congress that opened in Daegu on Sunday for a five-day run, according to the Korean 2013 WEC organizing committee.

The figure breaks down to 54 energy ministers, 12 heads of international organizations, 103 global company CEOs and 97 experts from NGOs, social organizations and the World Bank.

The speakers are scheduled to address various energy-related problems facing the world.

“The caliber of our speakers is exceptional and we are expecting the discussions in Daegu to bring us closer to solutions to our energy future. Energy has never been higher on the world agenda, which will make the dialogue among energy leaders at this year’s Congress particularly insightful, compelling and influential,” said Christoph Frei, secretary general of the World Energy Council, the main organizer of the Daegu congress.

Top government officials attending the congress include UAE Secretary of State Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Energy Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, South African Minister of Energy Elizabeth Dipuo Peters and Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Cuba.

From international organizations, OPEC chairman Yasser Mufti, IAEA director general Yukiya Amano, IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven, UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres, and U.N. SE4ALL chief executive Kandeh Yumkella, among others, are present.

Also notable CEOs include Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser, Saudi Aramco CEO Khalid Al-Falih, SGCC CEO Liu Zhenya, E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen, Duke Energy CEO James Rogers Jr. and Westinghouse Electric Co. CEO Daniel Roderick.

Other speakers come from hundreds of energy-related companies, such as Saudi Aramco, Sonatrach, Gasprom, Petrobras, Exxon Mobil, KEPCO, KOGAS, KNOC, SK Innovation, GS Caltex, POSCO and S-Oil. Forty companies among them were listed on the Fortune Global 200.

The event holds significance in that it is the largest energy conference Korea has yet hosted ― over 5,000 participants from 140 nations ― and comes at a time when Asia is becoming an essential force in both energy production and consumption. Moreover, it provides a rare opportunity for reputable global figures to convene and discuss all and any matters of energy.

“Korea, and Asia more widely, are at the forefront of the world’s evolving energy needs, and identifying the right blend of traditional resources and modern, progressive technologies has never been more urgent. We are confident that the congress participants can work together during the event in Daegu to find the right energy mix to sustain the way we live and work for future generations,” Korean Vice Energy Minister Han Jin-hyun said.

By Kim Joo-hyun (jhk@heraldcorp.com)