CERA Week, Houston Tx. 2026
HOUSTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is among keynote speakers at one of the world’s largest energy conferences this week, as global leaders gather to discuss the intersection of energy, technology and geopolitics.
Smith is speaking at CERAWeek by S&P Global, a major annual symposium that brings together industry executives, policymakers and technology firms. This year’s event features participation from companies including Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA and Meta, reflecting the growing link between energy systems and emerging technologies.
Alberta Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean, who is also the MLA for Fort McMurray–Lac La Biche, is attending alongside Smith as the province looks to position itself as a key global energy supplier.
“The demand for Alberta oil has never been higher. The world is looking for reliable and secure energy in this ever-changing geopolitical environment,” the minister’s office said in a statement. “Alberta has some of the largest reserves in the world and we have the most responsibly produced oil on the planet.”
The conference theme, “Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology and Geopolitics,” focuses on how artificial intelligence, data centres and electrification are reshaping energy demand and investment, while geopolitical tensions continue to influence supply and market stability.
“We can bring energy security to North America and our global trading partners. We have a goal of doubling our oil production to eight million barrels per day by 2035, to do this we need more pipelines, especially to our west coast,” the statement continued. “This will also mean more investment in our oil sands to increase production, with projects like the Blackrod oilsands which began production in January, near Lac La Biche.”
Organizers say discussions this year are expected to centre on rising global energy demand, the role of innovation in reducing emissions and the need for reliable, affordable energy sources.
“The Premier and Minister Jean are in Houston for CERAWeek to grow our trading partners and bring investment to Alberta,” the minister’s office added. “CERAWeek is one of the biggest energy conferences in the world and it is critical we are there to tell Alberta’s story.”
Alberta’s participation comes as the province continues to promote its oil and gas sector, carbon capture initiatives and export capacity to international markets.
The conference runs through March 27, with leaders expected to address ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and its impact on global energy security.
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