Abdulaziz bin Salman: KSA Keen on Achieving Concept of Sustainable Development

Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Minister of Housing signing a memorandum of understanding at the opening of the forum. Badr al-Ahmad, Asharq Al-Awsat
Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Minister of Housing signing a memorandum of understanding at the opening of the forum. Badr al-Ahmad, Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
20

Abdulaziz bin Salman: KSA Keen on Achieving Concept of Sustainable Development

Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Minister of Housing signing a memorandum of understanding at the opening of the forum. Badr al-Ahmad, Asharq Al-Awsat
Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Minister of Housing signing a memorandum of understanding at the opening of the forum. Badr al-Ahmad, Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of State for Energy Affairs Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, who is also President of the Executive Committee of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center, has assured the Kingdom’s keenness on achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions, economic, social and environmental.

He pointed out that the ministry of energy, industry, and mineral resources and other relevant agencies have efficiently participated over the past three decades in a number of sustainable development meetings.

“I am pleased to express my gratitude to the organizers of the forum, wishing it will contribute to achieving the goals in the field of housing sustainability and improving the quality of life for individuals and the society,” said Prince Abdulaziz in his speech Monday during the opening session of the Sustainable Housing Forum, which was organized by the Ministry of Housing in Riyadh.

The sustainability of cities and communities is one of the 17 sustainable development goals adopted in 2016 at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development.

It was linked to the other goals, particularly the seventh goal on clean energy, the eighth goal on decent work and economic growth and the 13th goal on climate change.

He added that Saudi Arabia, represented by the ministry of energy, has joined many global initiatives to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals, the most important of which are the Innovation Initiative, the Global Methane Initiative and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) forum initiative.

Prince Abdulaziz pointed out the establishment of the Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency, which sought to cooperate with the Ministry of Housing to develop and enhance joint coordination through the development of programs and mechanisms that contribute to rationalize and raise the efficiency of energy consumption in urban plans, units, buildings and residential and commercial complexes.

He said that a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Housing and the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center has been signed, in order to ensure the application of the outcomes of Saudi Energy Efficiency Program in projects implemented, supervised, funded, or supported by the ministry.



Gazprom, CNPC Discuss Future Russian Gas Supplies to China

A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
TT
20

Gazprom, CNPC Discuss Future Russian Gas Supplies to China

A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo

The heads of Russia's Gazprom and China's energy company CNPC discussed future Russian gas supplies to China during talks in Beijing, Gazprom said on Friday, as Moscow seeks stronger ties with the world's biggest energy consumer.

Russia, the holder of world's largest gas reserves, has diverted oil supplies from Europe to India and China since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, Reuters said.

At the same time, Russia's diversification of pipeline natural gas from the European Union has been slow.

It started gas exports to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline in the end of 2019 and plans to reach the pipeline's annual exporting capacity of 38 billion cubic meters this year.

Russia and China have also agreed on exports of 10 bcm of gas from Russia's Pacific island of Sakhalin starting from 2027.

However, years of talks about the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would ship 50 bcm of gas per year to China via Mongolia, have yet to be concluded as the two sides disagree over issues such as the gas price.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to travel to China in early September to participate in celebrations marking the anniversary of the victory over Japan in World War II.

The trip follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow in May.