How to pave the way for greater energy cooperation in the GCC

Energy cooperation among member states of the GCC states could pave the way for further integration to increase economic efficiency, harmonise policies, improve governance and ensure security of supply. The region is facing a rapid increase in domestic energy demand as economic growth, coupled with large infrastructure and industrial projects, as well as population growth and immigration (total population jumped from 23 million in 1990 to 53 million in 2015), drive up electricity and fuel consumption. Additionally, such cooperation would create an even stronger regional bloc in the global oil market (that currently exists, to some extent, through OPEC).