The Chief Technology Officer of NNPC Limited, Mr. Joseph Samali, has urged energy companies to treat cybersecurity risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) as business risks requiring clear governance, accountability and strategic management.
Samali said the growing deployment of AI in oil and gas operations was exposing the industry to new forms of cyberattacks, making it imperative for companies to strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks.
He made the call while 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).
He observed that although many energy companies had integrated information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) at the technical level, the governance structures, accountability frameworks and organisational arrangements required to secure these systems had not kept pace.
According to him, addressing the emerging threats requires companies to extend cybersecurity risk management beyond technology to include their people, organisational structures and business processes.
Samali disclosed that NNPC Limited had adopted and implemented a durable cybersecurity standard to protect its systems.
He stressed the need for organisations to establish shared measures of success that would ensure security, operational efficiency and business continuity are pursued together.
Advising chief executives on the growing adoption of artificial intelligence, Samali said AI had become a permanent feature of the energy industry and could no longer be ignored.
He, however, emphasised that its deployment must be guided by a clearly defined risk appetite to determine investment priorities and ensure its safe and responsible application.
The session was moderated by Mr. Luis Parrondo, Managing Director of Accenture.
Other speakers included 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.
