Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Awards IEA Chief Fatih Birol Grand Collar Of The Order Of Prince Henry For Leadership On Global Energy Security

At a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Lisbon, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa awarded Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry in recognition of his leadership on global energy security and transitions. The prestigious award, traditionally reserved for heads of state, underscores Dr. Birol’s significant contributions to international energy matters.

During the ceremony at the Palácio Nacional de Belém, Dr. Birol expressed his gratitude to President Rebelo de Sousa, describing the honour as deeply meaningful. He dedicated the award to his colleagues at the IEA, highlighting that it reflected their collective efforts and achievements. Ahead of the ceremony, Dr. Birol and the President held a bilateral meeting to discuss global energy issues and emerging geopolitical trends.

While in Lisbon, Dr. Birol also delivered a keynote address at the 25th anniversary of Adene, Portugal’s national energy agency. In his speech, he highlighted recent developments in global energy markets and praised Portugal’s success in diversifying its energy mix, reducing emissions, and maintaining affordable electricity prices. Additionally, Dr. Birol met with Portugal’s Environment and Energy Minister, Maria da Graça Carvalho, for further discussions on energy and sustainability topics.