Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies in OPEC+ always strive to ensure balance in market fundamentals between supply and demand, to avoid an accumulation in global oil inventories that could lead to instability and speculative activities in global markets.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) ahead of the 8th OPEC International Seminar, which will be held on Wednesday in the Austrian capital, Vienna, Al Mazrouei stated that OPEC’s technical team constantly monitors variables in global oil markets and presents its recommendations to the ministerial committee to make appropriate decisions, which can help improve market stability and drive sustainable growth.

The OPEC International Seminar’s 8th edition, which will be held under the theme, “Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Transition”, is an important global platform for forecasting and shaping the future of the global energy sector, with the participation of oil producing and consuming countries, energy sector leaders and experts from around the world, he added.

It will also contribute to a fair and realistic energy transition towards a more sustainable future, and ensure reliable energy supplies by utilising the latest tech solutions in this vital sector, he continued.

Regarding the update of the country’s energy and hydrogen strategies, Al Mazrouei stressed that the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has completed the update to the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the development of the hydrogen strategy, which were announced today.

Both strategies are in line with the UAE’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, through expanding the use of renewable energy, implementing new projects in areas such as hydrogen energy and waste-to-energy conversion, and encouraging investments in the energy and advanced technology sectors, which will support the country’s climate and achieve sustainable economic growth across various sectors, he said.

He also pointed out that both strategies are key tools for increasing reliance on clean energy sources and improving efficiency-enhancing technologies, which are strategic priorities of the UAE, especially in terms of supporting its climate action efforts as it prepares to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) at the end of 2023 in Expo City Dubai, with the participation of many countries.

Regarding the UAE’s energy transition, Al Mazrouei said that the UAE has made significant progress as shown in the Green Future Index 2023, rising eight ranks from the previous year to rank second globally.

In recent decades, the UAE has witnessed a significant energy transformation, becoming a global leader in the use of modern technology and innovation in the energy sector, he added.

He also pointed out that the UAE has vital natural resources in the oil and gas sector, and through a long-term strategy, it has diversified its economy and transitioned to a more diverse and sustainable energy mix, as it increasingly focuses on developing renewable energy sources, such as solar and nuclear energy and hydrogen.

The UAE Government encourages investments in these strategic sectors, and due to its commitment to innovation and sustainable development, the country has enhanced its position as a global leader in the energy sector, he added.

Al Mazrouei affirmed that the UAE is committed to driving sustainability and transitioning to more sustainable energy sources, adding that this growth in the energy sector is expected to continue within the framework of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to encourage investments in renewable and clean energy projects, and raise awareness about the importance of achieving sustainable development.

Regarding the UAE’s investments in new and renewable energy sectors, Al Mazrouei noted that it has helped build the future-proof energy ecosystem through local and international investments in solar energy projects, peaceful nuclear technologies, carbon capture and storage solutions, and energy efficiency.

The UAE has invested more than US$50 billion in clean energy projects across 70 countries and has pledged to invest another US$50 billion in clean energy projects domestically and internationally over the next decade.

It has also provided over US$1.5 billion in grants and concessional loans for renewable energy projects, including projects in 30 developing island countries, which aim to improve access to electricity, meet a significant portion of their energy needs, create job opportunities, support community development and local economies, and reduce pollution, while enhancing these countries’ capacities to counter climate change.

In November 2022, the UAE announced the UAE-US Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which aims to attract US$100 billion in financing to deploy 100GW of clean energy in the US, UAE and emerging economies around the world by 2035.

Prof. Jukka Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, said that the the UAE economy is less than 20% dependent on fossil fuels, making it the finest model in the Gulf region in this field.

The international official emphasised that this move away from relying on energy produced from fossil fuels is well thought of when discussing the success of minimising the effects of climate change because “nations should start replacing fossil fuel energy sources with climate-friendly ones, as the UAE has done.”

“The World Economic Forum re-affirmed that climate change is a serious economic issue and that there are significant threats to the world economy if we don’t take action to mitigate or adapt to climate change during the next ten years,” he added while commenting on UAAE’s hosting of COP28 later this year.

“The World Meteorological Organisation recorded a significant increase in ocean warming rates, in addition to an acceleration in snow melting, and sea level rise doubled during the last twenty years. Additionally, the world has started to witness a significant increase in climate disasters such as heat waves in Europe, Asia, and the United States, the floods inundating Pakistan and the tropical cyclones in previously unseen locations such as southeast Africa.,” he added while commenting on the annual report produced by his organisation.

“The organisation has identified increasingly significant issues regarding water scarcityو drought, and forest fires, all of which are extremely detrimental to human life. However, the usage of electric vehicles, reasonably priced batteries for them, and other tactics, are now part of a clearer picture that is being formulated on how to deal with this challenge,” he continued.

He added that the world has already begun to move toward a solution, but it is not moving quickly enough in terms of limiting global warming, preserving an average temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius against 2 or 2.3 degrees. “Greater issues and challenges would arise if the world did not move swiftly to achieve this aim,” he cautioned.

Regarding the hosting of COP28 by the UAE, the secretary-general of the international organisation expressed his pleasure at making two trips to Abu Dhabi this year and meeting with Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President-Designate, with whom, he said, a number of fruitful meetings were held.

“The World Meteorological Organization is extremely pleased with the United Arab Emirates’ actions, including their decision to increase investment in clean energy and other projects that support the organisation’s strategy for addressing climate change issues, as well as their decision to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which is a key player in this field,” he added.