ADNOC, TAQA Conclude $3.8b Deal on Clean Energy, Decarbonization

General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo
General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo
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ADNOC, TAQA Conclude $3.8b Deal on Clean Energy, Decarbonization

General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo
General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) revealed concluding a $3.8 billion strategic project to power and decarbonize ADNOC's offshore production operations.

Together with a consortium comprised of Korea Electric Power (KEPCO), Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden) and Électricité de France (EDF) (the Consortium), this is a first-of-its-kind high-voltage direct current (HVDC) sub-sea transmission network in the MENA region.

A consortium comprising Korea Electric Power (Kepco), Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden) and Electricite de France (EDF) will build, own, operate and transfer the state-of-the-art transmission system alongside ADNOC and TAQA, with the full project returned to ADNOC after 35 years of operation.

In this regard, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said: "ADNOC has once again demonstrated its ability to successfully structure and close a bold and progressive transaction that will help secure our low-carbon future as we intensify our efforts to decarbonize our operations."

The development is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of ADNOC's offshore operations by more than 30%, replacing existing offshore gas turbine generators with more sustainable power sources available on the Abu Dhabi onshore power network, operated by TAQA's wholly owned subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO), state news agency WAM reported.

For his part, TAQA Chairman Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi said: "TAQA is taking a progressive role in accelerating the UAE's energy transition by delivering cohesive solutions that enable cleaner sources of power to fuel economic growth."



Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
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Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)

The United States on Thursday called on Israel to extend its cooperation with Palestinian banks for another year, to avoid blocking vital transactions in the occupied West Bank.

"I am glad that Israel has allowed its banks to continue cooperating with Palestinian banks, but I remain convinced that a one-year extension of the waiver to facilitate this cooperation is needed," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro.

In May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to cut off a vital banking channel between Israel and the West Bank in response to three European countries recognizing the State of Palestine.

On June 30, however, Smotrich extended a waiver that allows cooperation between Israel's banking system and Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank for four months, according to Israeli media, according to AFP.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the decision on the waiver was made at a cabinet meeting in a "move that saw Israel legalize several West Bank settlement outposts."

The waiver was due to expire at the end of June, and the extension permitted Israeli banks to process payments for salaries and services to the Palestinian Authority in shekels, averting a blow to a Palestinian economy already devastated by the war in Gaza.

The Israeli threat raised serious concerns in the United States, which said at the time it feared "a humanitarian crisis" if banking ties were cut.

According to Washington, these banking channels are key to nearly $8 billion of imports from Israel to the West Bank, including electricity, water, fuel and food.