Cyber Risk in AI-Enabled Energy Operations Is a Business Risk, Says NNPC’s Chief Technology Officer

Cyber Risk in AI-Enabled Energy Operations Is a Business Risk, Says NNPC’s Chief Technology Officer

The Chief Technology Officer, NNPC Limited, Mr. Joseph Samali, on Thursday, said energy companies must treat the cyber risks of artificial intelligence as business risks requiring clear governance and accountability, as the wider use of AI in oil and gas operations exposes the industry to new forms of attack.

Speaking at an executive session titled “Cyber resilience: defending AI-enabled energy systems against evolving threats” on the final day of the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), Samali observed that information technology and operational technology have been brought together at the technical level in many companies, while the structures, governance and accountability required to secure them have not kept pace.

He noted that NNPC Limited has adopted and implemented a durable cybersecurity standard to protect its systems, adding that companies must extend risk management to their people and organisational structures, with shared measures of success that ensure the integration of security, operational efficiency and business continuity.

Advising chief executives, Samali observed that artificial intelligence is now a permanent feature of the industry, stressing that its adoption must be guided by a clearly defined risk appetite that determines investment priorities and ensures its safe use.

The session was moderated by Mr. Luis Parrondo, Managing Director, Accenture. It also featured Mr. Wassim Ghadban, Global Senior Vice President, AI and Digital Engineering, Kent, and Mr. Dev Singh, Vice President and Global Head of Energy and Resources and Managing Director, Qualcomm UAE.