King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center

KAPSARC, the abbreviation for the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it began its activities in 2010. It is as an independent, non-profit institution that focuses on research in energy economics, policy, technology, and the environment. Its research areas include global energy markets and economics, energy efficiency and productivity, energy and environmental technologies, and carbon management. The organization has a multi-national research team.

It was established by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia as an element of the broader theme of reform in the region and emphasizes the openness, equality, and diversity of gender, nationality, and backgrounds—in a manner similar to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The Center has employees from over 20 nationalities, and its workforce is 40% women. One of its first research papers (2012) deals with the welfare state in Saudi Arabia, the social cost resulting from the high correlation between the Saudi income and the oil price.^[1]

History

In July 2007, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for the establishment of an independent center to conduct objective and scientific research in the field of energy, and the idea of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center was born.

Interim management was given to Saudi Aramco in 2008 to plan the center’s mandate and facilities. Temporary staff was subsequently seconded from Saudi Aramco to develop KAPSARC from an idea into a reality.

After a thorough search, appointments were made to the Center’s International Advisory Council (IAC), which held its first meeting in London in 2010. The IAC was tasked with articulating the center’s mandate, strategy, and plans. At about the same time, blueprints for the Center’s physical infrastructure were developed.

The Center’s real existence started in 2012. As work continued apace to build the physical presence, its governance structure also fell into place. The permanent President for the Center was appointed in April 2012, and his successor was appointed in September 2012. KAPSARC's Board of Trustees (BOT), whose primary responsibility is to ensure the independence of the Center and oversee its endowment, was appointed in September 2012 and held its first meeting in January 2013. The same month, the permanent VP of Research joined the team and a recruiting drive began to expand the research and support teams.

The first phase of the facilities opened in September 2012 when the center transferred its base of operations from Dhahran to Riyadh. Employees moved into their new homes and have since watched their residential campus grow to include a host of services and recreational facilities.

In April 2013, the residential campus officially opened for business. The research and office complex, which will house the day-to-day business of the Center, is already a feature of the city landscape – and is close to completion.

Governance

KAPSARC is an autonomous institution, financially and legally. It is funded by proceeds from its own endowment and only reports to an internationally composed Board of Trustees, consisting of seven members, including the a chairman, president, and five independent members, who set policies and approve the strategic, operational, and financial plans of the Center. Members include His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser and Sir Keith O’Nions. US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz was a founding member of the Board of Trustees but had to step down to accept his new role as Secretary of Energy

KAPSARC also has an International Advisory Council that advises on ongoing programs and research projects. It consists of several members of international stature, such as John Hamre, Daniel Yergin, George M. Whitesides, and others.^[2]

References

1. ↑ "The Impact of Oil Price Volatility on Welfare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Implications for Public Investment Decision-Making"
2. ↑ KAPSARC Governance

Coordinates: 24°52′16.0242″N 46°42′46.0434″E / 24.871117833°N 46.712789833°E / 24.871117833; 46.712789833

External links

• King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center website (English)