(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The third edition of Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah International Energy Awards honoured six global industry leaders in the presence of former minister of energy and industry H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Oman's Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammed bin Hamad Al Ramahi, Managing Director and CEO of Qatar Petroleum Saad Sherida Al Kaabi and a number of personalities in this sector.

Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director-Elect of the International Energy Agency, was honoured for his lifetime commitment to Producer € Consumer Dialogue as the chief Economist of the IEA and formerly with the Opec. He is responsible for the IEA's flagship World Energy Outlook publication, which is recognised as the most authoritative source of strategic analysis of global energy markets. Dr Birol has been named by Forbes magazine among the most powerful people in terms of influence on the world's energy scene.

Nasser Khalil Al Jaidah, CEO of Qatar Petroleum International, was acknowledged as the 2015 Winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of the Qatar Energy Industry, which he has served for almost 40 years in multiple roles, including currently as a board member of Qatar Petroleum. Previous winners of this accolade include Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim, Economic Adviser at the Amiri Diwan, and H E Dr Al Sada.

"It is a great honour after three years for the Al Attiyah International Energy Awards to now have an alumni group of 20 of some of the most respected figures in the global oil and gas industry," said H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Qatar's former Minister of Energy & Industry. "We should also take the opportunity to thank the distinguished work of the independent 2015 Selection Committee, which is also made up of globally respected figures, including once again headed up by Pulitzer Prize winning Author Dr Daniel Yergin," he said.

The other 2015 winners included Dr Ramzi Salman, Former Deputy Secretary General of Opec, who was recognised for his Lifetime contribution to the Advancement of Opec; Prof Giacomo Luciani, Executive Master in Oil & Gas Leadership, IHEID, was honoured for the Advancement of Education for Future Energy Leaders; Dr Pierre Terzian, President & Editor-in-Chief of Petrostrategies, for the Advancement of International Energy Journalism.

The late CEO of Total, Christophe de Margerie, was recognised posthumously with an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of International Energy Policy & Diplomacy.

"We take great pride and honour in receiving this posthumous recognition of our late CEO Christophe de Margerie", said Stephane Michel, Total's Middle East-North Africa President.

"Christophe dedicated his life to developing Total, and left behind a legacy of one of the top energy industries of this world. Today, we are very honoured to have Mrs De Margerie amongst us to be a part of this extraordinary celebration, and for her to accept the award on his behalf".