The College of Law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) launched a newly published book ‘Local Content and Sustainable Development in Global Energy Markets’ which was edited by Dr. Damilola S. Olawuyi, associate professor at HBKU’s College of Law. 

In lights of the publishing, Dr. Olawuyi hosted a webinar with several of the book’s authors and Dr. Susan L. Karamanian, dean of the College of Law; Catherine Banet, associate professor, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo, Norway; and Tina Soliman Hunter, professor of Energy and Resources Law, Macquarie Law School, Australia. In addition to Eduardo Pereira, professor of Energy and Natural Resources, Siberian University, Russia, and Timothy Meyer, professor of Law and director of the International Legal Studies Program at Vanderbilt University Law School, United States. In the webinar, they discussed the design and implementation of local content requirements (LCRs) in global energy markets.

They focused their discussion on the sustainable and rights-based approach. Furthermore, they discussed the institutional safeguards for designing and implementing sustainable LCRs and shifted the focus on how to balance LCRs with the wider policy priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 7, targeting universal access to modern energy. 

They also made a point about how LCRs could have a negative impact such as unintended social, human rights, and environmental issues, as well as poorly aligned national fiscal policies and global sustainable development goals, if designed inappropriately. Even though generally they are designed to boost domestic value creation and economic growth. 

Additionally, they highlighted the importance of networks and supplier development programs and shared lessons from Norway, Australia, Brazil, and the United States on better aligning LCRs with sustainable development. 

The new book edited by the College of Law’s Dr. Olawuyi is a substantial contribution to this area of growing importance, in which lawmakers are balancing a sustainability agenda with local value creation. In-depth case studies in the book offer valuable lessons for all major gas and oil-producing regions in setting their benchmarks.

Consistent with our teaching philosophy at the College of Law, the book takes a dynamic comparative approach. We appreciate the insights shared by several of the contributing authors at our webinar, who brought new legal perspectives to LCRs.” Said Dr. Karamanian after the event ended.