Saudi Arabia Calls for Integrating Circular Carbon Methods to Manufacturing, Production Systems

Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Integrating Circular Carbon Methods to Manufacturing, Production Systems

Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stressed that the kingdom was not part of the climate change crisis, emphasizing that the Kingdom is working seriously towards leading the world to a life free of carbon and gas emissions.

Underlining that Saudi Arabia was working towards a solution for climate change, Prince Abdulaziz affirmed that capturing Carbon will be the critical technology everyone must work on and collaborate on implementing.

During a seminar held in Riyadh on Wednesday, Prince Abdulaziz explained that several gases, other than CO2, are being emitted, such as methane.

For Saudi Arabia’s part, the energy minister reaffirmed that the Kingdom has the capabilities needed to lead an appropriate solution.

“Compared to the US, Canada, Britain, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and other countries, our numbers show that we stand far from the emissions of these countries,” said Prince Abdulaziz, noting that the Kingdom is among the promoters of green economies.

He stressed the need to enhance international cooperation on employing the latest technology to help integrate circular carbon systems at all levels, enable industrial integration, prevent emissions, and create climate-friendly structures that support sustainable development.

Prince Abdulaziz stressed that Riyadh had called on all world countries to adopt this initiative to achieve carbon neutrality.

Prince Abdulaziz’s remarks were given at a virtual symposium entitled “Circular Carbon Economy: Total Carbon Management” organized by the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF).

The seminar brought together clean energy researchers, policymakers, regulators, and academics for practical discussions on policy and regulatory reforms needed to advance clean energy technologies and innovation successfully.

It tackled topics related to manufacturing and production systems integrating circular carbon systems at all levels.

Prince Abdulaziz stressed that Saudi Arabia would not be part of the global problem but instead will be at the forefront of work towards a solution and environmentally friendly activities.



EU Needs Rare Earths Strategic Reserves against China Threat

File photo: A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
File photo: A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
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EU Needs Rare Earths Strategic Reserves against China Threat

File photo: A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
File photo: A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)

European Union countries should create joint reserves of rare earths to prevent supply chain disruptions and economic blackmail from China, the EU's Commissioner for Industrial Strategy, Stephane Sejourne, told the Handelsblatt newspaper.

Sejourne also said he would launch further tenders this year to promote alternative raw material sources, the German newspaper said.

"All European countries today have strategic reserves for oil and gas. We should do the same for strategic raw materials," Sejourne was quoted as saying on Monday.

The European Union in June announced 13 new raw material projects outside the bloc to increase its supplies of metals and minerals essential to its competitiveness in the energy transition as well as defense and aerospace.

The announcement followed China's decision in April to impose export curbs on rare earth magnets until new licenses are obtained, leaving diplomats, carmakers and other companies from Europe and elsewhere scrambling to secure meetings with Beijing officials and avert factory shutdowns.

Sejourne also warned Beijing that the EU has the tools to defend itself in a potential trade war. "Europe must finally use the same weapons as its competitors," he said.

China in June said it attached great importance to the EU's concerns and would look into speeding up the approval process to ship rare earth exports to the EU.