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Saudi Oil Sustainability Program Launches Empowering Africa Initiative

The Empower Africa Initiative was announced during Climate Week in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Empower Africa Initiative was announced during Climate Week in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Oil Sustainability Program Launches Empowering Africa Initiative

The Empower Africa Initiative was announced during Climate Week in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Empower Africa Initiative was announced during Climate Week in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Oil Sustainability Program of the Saudi Ministry of Energy launched the "Empowering Africa" initiative in cooperation with the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology and the Ministries of Health.

The initiative aims to provide clean energy, connectivity, e-health, and e-learning solutions to improve lives and advance sustainable development in Africa.

Empowering Africa builds on the Clean Fuel Solutions for Cooking Program, a vital Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) component.

The initiative represents a milestone in advancing sustainable development and improving the lives of millions of people. It will empower communities across Africa.

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said on the sidelines of the MENA Climate Week 2023 that energy is a human right, indicating that the program enables energy access.

Additional information on the program will be revealed during COP28 in Dubai.

The initiative offers solutions to vulnerable populations globally, many facing dire consequences due to traditional and hazardous cooking practices, such as coal and wood usage.

Clean cooking solutions have the potential to save countless lives by mitigating the health risks associated with these cooking fuels.

Launched in 2021 as part of the MGI, Clean Fuel Solutions for Cooking provides cleaner cooking fuels, including Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), solar power, and biodigesters, to 750 million people worldwide.

The collaborative effort among Saudi institutions underscores the Kingdom's commitment to one of its most ambitious initiatives, which will forge a brighter future for African communities, and signifies the Kingdom's steadfast commitment to addressing worldwide challenges.

It encourages public involvement and advances international regulatory collaboration to pursue a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

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Russia’s First Ice-Class LNG Carrier Enters Sea Trials, Data Shows

A concrete gravity-based structure (GBS) of Arctic LNG 2 joint venture is seen under construction in a dry dock of the LNG Construction center near the settlement of Belokamenka, Murmansk region, Russia July 26, 2022. (Reuters)
A concrete gravity-based structure (GBS) of Arctic LNG 2 joint venture is seen under construction in a dry dock of the LNG Construction center near the settlement of Belokamenka, Murmansk region, Russia July 26, 2022. (Reuters)
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Russia’s First Ice-Class LNG Carrier Enters Sea Trials, Data Shows

A concrete gravity-based structure (GBS) of Arctic LNG 2 joint venture is seen under construction in a dry dock of the LNG Construction center near the settlement of Belokamenka, Murmansk region, Russia July 26, 2022. (Reuters)
A concrete gravity-based structure (GBS) of Arctic LNG 2 joint venture is seen under construction in a dry dock of the LNG Construction center near the settlement of Belokamenka, Murmansk region, Russia July 26, 2022. (Reuters)

The first Russian-built ice-class liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has entered sea trials, LSEG data showed on Friday, as part of Russia's efforts to raise global LNG market share despite US sanctions.

The tanker, named Alexey Kosygin after a Soviet statesman, was built at the Zvezda shipyard and is due to join the fleet of vessels for Russia's new Arctic LNG 2 plant, which has been delayed because of the US sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine.

The US Treasury has also placed sanctions on the new vessel, which Russia's leading tanker group Sovcomflot ordered to be built at Zvezda, Russia's most advanced shipbuilding yard. LSEG ship-tracking data shows it is anchored near the Pacific port of Vladivostok.

Sovcomflot has not replied to a request for comment.

Novatek, which owns 60% of Arctic LNG 2, has said 15 Arc7 ice-class tankers that are able to cut through two meter (6.5 ft) thick ice to transport LNG from Arctic projects, will be built at Zvezda shipyard.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Novatek shut down commercial operations at the first and only operational train of its Arctic LNG 2 project in October with no plans to restart it during winter.

Ice-class tankers usually have double hulls - strengthened structures to withstand the pressure of ice - and reinforced propellers.

So far, only three suitable gas tankers have been built for Arctic LNG 2, according to public information: the Alexey Kosygin, Pyotr Stolypin and Sergei Witte vessels.

Six more Arc7 tankers were due to be built by Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, including three for Sovcomflot and three for Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

However, the three tankers ordered by Sovcomflot were cancelled due to the sanctions against Russia, Hanwha said last year in regulatory filings.