UAE committed to development of alternative fuels

(SUPPLIED)   

As a major world crude oil producer, the UAE will go ahead with its plans to further develop its oil industries, while at the same time seeking sustainable solutions to global energy bottlenecks and concerns, the UAE minister of environment and water has said.

“The UAE is well aware of the important role alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ethanol will play in fuelling the global economy and mitigating the impact of climate change,” Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad said in a keynote address at the opening session of the Middle East Fuels Symposium 2008, organised by the World Refining Association in Abu Dhabi.

“The UAE will definitely back any international effort to develop such types of fuels.”

However, he admitted that alternative energy will not replace fossil fuels in the foreseeable future.

“Despite the great attention given by the international energy community to extraction of new sources of fuels, their share in the global fuel mix is still below the aspired goals,” he said.

“The world needs to develop new efficient technologies for using conventional fuels in sectors such as industry, services and transport and find fresh alternative sources of energy that are clean, safe and affordable.”

The minister briefed the energy community on the country’s efforts to embrace renewable and sustainable energy technologies and conserve the environment by adopting green concepts.

He said Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding for commissioning a $6 billion (Dh22bn) hydrogen power generation station while the Masdar initiative has recently signed an agreement with BP and Rio Tinto to conduct a feasibility study on the front-end engineering design of an industrial-scale hydrogen-fired power generation project with carbon capture and storage.

The project will be the largest of its kind in the world, and will provide 500MW of clean power.

With the recent launch of regional initiatives to address fossil fuel standards, air quality improvements and alternative energy sources, Abu Dhabi has said it is trying to become a leader in the alternative and advanced energy sector, highlighting the region’s dedication to meeting the world’s demand for clean fuels and making the emirate an appropriate backdrop for the 2008 symposium.