Oil and gas rich Gulf seeks alternative energy

With booming domestic demand for power, the hydrocarbon-rich Arabian Gulf countries are exploring the use of alternative and renewable energy resources – including coal, nuclear, solar, wind and hydrogen – says a leading industry expert.
‘The vast majority of power generation projects in the Arabian Gulf are for power stations using conventional gas for their energy source,’ said David Weaver, Group CEO of ESR Technology, one of the world’s leading engineering, safety and risk management companies.

‘But the region is struggling to find enough suitable gas to meet future power demands and the first signs are beginning to emerge of major investment in the region into alternatives,’ he added.

There are 114 active power generation projects of all types in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates worth a combined total of well over $160bn.

‘The United Arab Emirates – with an insatiable and growing demand for power which it is unable to meet from gas alone, along with pressures to reduce high per capita carbon dioxide emissions – is leading the way in looking seriously at alternative energy sources,’ said Weaver, chairman of the Power and Finance Week conference taking place from 28 October – 1 November 2007 at the Sheraton Hotel, in Bahrain.

‘One of the major areas of study is nuclear,’ said Weaver of ESR Technology which was formed from the commercial arm of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and is presenting an overview on nuclear safety management and nuclear licensing at the Power and Finance Week conference.

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