Climate Protesters Disrupt MIT Event Featuring Saudi Aramco CFO Demonstrators Call for Clean Energy Amid Discussion of Oil Investments

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Approximately 15 demonstrators stormed the stage while Al-Murshed was delivering his remarks, brandishing posters with the word "murderer" and chanting slogans such as “no more drilling rigs.” Al-Murshed, an alumnus of MIT, exited the venue and did not return.

Following his departure, the protesters directed their chants at the audience of finance executives, declaring, “we need clean air, not another billionaire,” before vacating the hotel venue in Newton.

Before the disruption, Al-Murshed had been discussing Saudi Aramco's investment strategies, highlighting over $50 billion in planned capital expenditures for 2024 and stressing the necessity for increased energy production. “The world is going to need all those forms of energy,” he stated, referencing shale gas, oil, renewables, and other energy sources. “The worry, if there is a worry, is will we have enough energy going forward?”

The organizers of the event, the MIT Sloan CFO Summit, released a statement indicating that “in abundance of caution, the decision was made to end the talk.” They also noted that the incident is currently under investigation by local police.

A spokesperson for Saudi Aramco declined to provide any comments regarding the disruption.