Saudi Ministry of Energy: Localization of Products Reached 60%

Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Ministry of Energy: Localization of Products Reached 60%

Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Localization of products associated with the industry of electricity reached 60 per cent and prices of domestic energy are very close to current global levels, according to an official at the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources in Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) Saleh al-Awaji stated the past years witnessed the localization of heavy industries in cooperation with the entities related to the energy sector.

He pointed out that there are factories specialized in assembling gas turbines of capacity exceeding 300 megawatts.

During a press conference on the sidelines of the announcement of the meeting of Saudi Electricity Forum scheduled for October 10 to 12, Awaji confirmed that high-tension sectors will be localized in Saudi Arabia. He added that the process of localizing industries related to electricity will continue until needs of local markets have been met, noting that increasing energy efficiency will be reflected on the prices.

During the Forum, achievements of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques program which was launched a year ago, will be presented, stated Awaji. He said that the Forum will see a number of investment opportunities related to renewable energy and the settlement of services.

The Deputy said that renewable energy is a primary and important source for electricity and will help enhance electric energy. 

"Reconstructing sector of electricity is developing properly, and within a year, the general features of the structure of it will be completed," Awaji said.

He pointed that some developments came up which required a revision of the structure with an inclination towards privatization of the electricity sector.

The Deputy explained that the forum will discuss challenges facing the sector and propose the appropriate solutions within the framework of Vision 2030. It will also review incentives and appropriate legislation aiming to introduce additional revenues to the national economy.

Awaji stressed that the ministry is concerned with encouraging and enhancing the localization of the electrical industries supporting these sectors, especially with industries related to the equipment, materials, electrical spare parts used in generating, transmitting, and distributing electric power. 

The forum and its associated Exhibition provide great opportunities for the local and international companies to directly market their innovative technologies and expertise to decision-makers, participants, and visitors. Also, they present a good chance to conduct meetings with companies, businessmen, and officials during the event.

International and local specialists will attend and give speeches in this Forum which represents an opportunity for senior officials, experts and investors to exchange experiences and enrich knowledge in the field of electricity, in addition to identifying investment opportunities in the Saudi market within the framework of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.



UAE's Masdar Launches Facility to Produce 1GW of Uninterrupted Renewable Energy

Windmill turbines stand in Masdar's wind farm on Sir Bani Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File photo
Windmill turbines stand in Masdar's wind farm on Sir Bani Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File photo
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UAE's Masdar Launches Facility to Produce 1GW of Uninterrupted Renewable Energy

Windmill turbines stand in Masdar's wind farm on Sir Bani Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File photo
Windmill turbines stand in Masdar's wind farm on Sir Bani Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File photo

UAE state-owned renewables firm Masdar has launched a renewable energy facility that will produce 1 gigawatt of uninterrupted clean power and that is expected to cost around $6 billion, company executives said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, chairman Sultan Al Jaber, who also serves as the chief executive of energy giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) and is the UAE minister of industry and advanced technology, called the project a significant step in transforming renewable energy into baseload power, Reuters reported.

"This will, for the first time ever, transform renewable energy into baseload energy. It is a first step that could become a giant leap," Al Jaber said.

"How can we power a world that never sleeps with energy sources that do? How can we transform renewable resources into reliable power? Today...we have an answer," Al Jaber said before announcing the project.

The project is expected to start operations by 2027, Masdar's chief operating officer Abdulaziz Alobaidli said during the event.

It is expected to cover 90 square kilometres (34.75 square miles) in "the desert of Abu Dhabi" and cost around $6 billion, he said, adding it will be "equity and project finance debt funded."

The facility "is just the beginning for more projects here and in the region, where we can unlock the full potential of solar," the UAE energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei told the public at a summit taking place in the same Abu Dhabi venue.

Earlier on Tuesday, Al Jaber had said that the rapid growth of energy-hungry applications like ChatGPT could lead to a 250% increase in energy demand by 2050, reaching 35,000 GW. This highlights the need for diverse power sources to meet the unprecedented demand, he added.