Comments: Blessings and Curses
Authors: Donnelly John 
Published: February 2015

A new television program recently debuted on the BBC that explores issues of interest to the Middle East. Titled The Doha Debates, the program has explored such issues as terrorism, the war in Iraq, the state of journalism in the region, women's equality, and the Palestinians. On the eve of the first International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC), held in Doha, the panel and audience debated the proposition: "This House believes that oil has been more of a curse than a blessing for the Middle East."

The shows are taped before a live audience, primarily students, at Qatar Foundation's headquarters in Education City. It featured two experts on each side of the question, including a professor and a petroleum analyst arguing for the motion and an adviser to Qatar's energy ministry and a Saudi national security consultant speaking against. The motion resoundingly carried, with 63% of the audience voting in favor of the proposition.

The program appeared a bit skewed toward agreement with the motion, but perhaps it does say something about the challenge confronting the industry in its attempt to improve its image when that question is debated in a region where oil has brought enormous benefits, and in Doha, the site of recent spectacular energy successes. Doha is the site of a massive construction boom, a testament to the economic boost oil and gas resources already have brought to the state. Qatar's future looks even more promising, with major projects being undertaken by Qatar Petroleum, Shell, and ExxonMobil, to name a few. Not far from the BBC debate, global oil and gas government officials and executives would be meeting at IPTC, discussing how to satisfy the tremendous growing appetite for hydrocarbons and the critical role that the Middle East will play in providing those resources.

Although the motion addressed in the program was provocative, it was not original. In a 2004 program, the BBC asked, "Africa's oil: A blessing or a curse?" and a recent documentary available through the Filmmakers Library was titled "Oil in Iraq: Curse or Blessing." Recent magazine articles and white papers have asked the almost identical question about East Timor, Canada, and other regions.

The two experts who thought oil has been more of a curse than a blessing for the region cited wars and military turmoil, regional gross domestic product rates compared with other parts of the world, and the great dependence by regional governments on unstable oil prices. Opponents of the argument stressed that it is neither the resource nor the industry that is at fault, but often geopolitics surrounding oil that has tarnished oil's reputation. They were essentially agreeing with the remarks of Daniel Yergin, Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Assocs., who gave the keynote speech at IPTC's Awards Banquet. What happens above ground, he said, is just as important as what lies below ground, emphasizing the importance of proper stewardship of natural resources. Taken further, whether oil is a curse or a blessing may also depend on how the industry—including international oil companies, state-run enterprises, and service providers—manages and develops resources for the good of society.

Such debates are probably healthy for the industry in the long run. Any opportunity that a representative of this industry has to tout its benefits, explain how things really work, share experiences, and counteract public misperception is a positive, even if the playing field doesn't appear level. Those opportunities may even motivate someone to pursue an energy career, improve technological literacy, or help educate a new generation about the oil and gas profession.