Robert Pragada on infrastructure redundancy
From Bob Pragada calls for more resilient critical infrastructure at Semafor World Economy Summit · · Jacobs Official
“We need to build that redundant infrastructure because you need to make sure that we don't have these choke points be the burden of energy supply and we're in an energy demand decade. And one of the things that I think is going to come to the forefront is people are going to be willing to look at that as being not a financial return but as a necessity so that they can make sure that supply of energy is there on a continuous basis.”
On , Robert Pragada, Chief Executive Officer & Chair of the Board at Jacobs Solutions Inc, spoke about infrastructure redundancy during Bob Pragada calls for more resilient critical infrastructure at Semafor World Economy Summit on Jacobs Official.
About Robert Pragada
In April 2026, Robert Pragada, Chair and CEO of Jacobs, appeared on the Economics of Infrastructure panel at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, D.C. He discussed global instability, the AI data center supply chain, and the need for investment in redundancy and resiliency for critical water and energy infrastructure. Pragada stated that threats around redundancy, resiliency, and cyber protection apply to facilities worldwide, and that a lack of redundancy in water infrastructure could pose risks to large societies. Pragada also addressed the impact of AI on energy demand, describing a "virtuous cycle" where AI drives innovation and the need for supporting infrastructure. He noted that the full supply chain must be considered holistically, as data centers increase water and cooling needs. When asked about his message to U.S. officials and members of Congress, Pragada said, "Consistency in funding and clarity in approach." He also commented on Middle East development plans, saying that while ambitious projects like Saudi Vision 2030 could be "elongated," the region has "great ambition to be an integrated part of the world."