DFC CEO Ben Black Underscores American Global Energy Leadership During Atlantic Council Energy Forum

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Ben Black highlighted American global energy leadership during a fireside chat at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Forum. Speaking alongside Venture Global CEO Michael Sabel, CEO Black underscored how DFC's creative financing is supporting energy security for U.S. allies and opening markets to U.S. energy.

On DFC's mission:

"We are at an inflection point. Under President Trump, the United States is the largest producer of crude and natural gas in the world, and the largest exporter. So what the DFC really aims to do to meet the administration's goals and vision is 4 things: we build economic ecosystems that are predicated on U.S. capital markets; they're insulated from adversarial control; they produce strong returns and dollars to the taxpayer; and they move the needle in terms of development for our allies and help develop their economies. As we do that, in this inflection point, we are using all of our authorities."

On energy infrastructure for allies and jobs at home:

"By 2030, 44% of new demand in global oil and gas is going to be met by Western Hemisphere countries... and that infrastructure needs to be built."

"Building out the infrastructure, especially ports, power, pipelines, regassification terminals, is absolutely important for the United States because... we have all of this gas, and if we're just using it for our own domestic needs, then that's going to be a lot fewer jobs working inside the United States... by building out the infrastructure globally, and serving those markets, we create a greater supply of jobs domestically."

On energy as the foundation for economic growth:

"If you want a mining project, and the U.S. is getting offtake for that, it requires a lot of power. And if you're in a country that does not have that level of power, it all starts with energy first. It is the most important thing."

On the transformational power of energy:

"If you look through the whole scope of human civilization, the single component that has brought the most people out of poverty is industrialization. And if you think about that as you build large-scale projects, particularly in energy and logistics and infrastructure, that is how you're going to create markets and not stranded assets that are particularly susceptible to adversarial control."

These remarks have been lightly edited for clarity.

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The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the international investment arm of the United States Government and central to U.S. economic statecraft. DFC mobilizes private capital to advance U.S. foreign policy and economic development. Our investments deliver strong returns for American taxpayers, drive meaningful economic development for our allies and partners, and secure supply chains to counter and outcompete our adversaries.