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Saudi Arabia Registers Increase in Fish Production Self-Sufficiency

Saudi Arabia maintains efforts to raise food self-sufficiency targets, including fish production. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia maintains efforts to raise food self-sufficiency targets, including fish production. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Registers Increase in Fish Production Self-Sufficiency

Saudi Arabia maintains efforts to raise food self-sufficiency targets, including fish production. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia maintains efforts to raise food self-sufficiency targets, including fish production. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture revealed progress in self-sufficiency in fish production, as it aims to increase the per capita fish consumption from 9 to 13 kilograms annually.

The ministry said on Monday that fish production in Saudi Arabia increased from 32,000 tons in 2016 to 119,000 tons until the end of 2022, confirming that it reached 59 percent of fish wealth self-sufficiency.

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, represented by the National Fisheries Development Program, marked World Fisheries Day, which falls on Nov. 21, with an event that was held at the ministry’s headquarters.

The ministry stated that the fisheries sector witnessed great development during the last period, leading to several achievements, including the development of 20 fishing facilities.

“We aim to reach 82 facilities during the next phase,” the ministry announced, noting that the number of fish farming projects increased from 67 to 235 projects in marine and inland waters and closed systems within the Kingdom.

The ministry also said that it was seeking to encourage capacity development, support small fishermen, empower the private sector and increase its contribution to the GDP, in accordance with the objectives of Vision 2030.

The ministry emphasized its efforts to develop infrastructure and investment opportunities in the sector, provide job opportunities for citizens, and raise the quality of production to compete in global markets, in addition to localizing the fishing profession and enabling more than 2,000 fishermen to practice the activity in the Kingdom.

It added that Saudi fish commodities were exported to more than 35 countries around the world.

For his part, CEO of the National Fisheries Development Program Dr. Ali Al Shaikhi said that the celebration of World Fisheries Day comes to emphasize the importance of marine and healthy ecosystems and the importance of securing sustainable fish stocks around the world.

He added that Saudi Arabia’s efforts in the field of fisheries contributed to the promotion and development of the sector at the local, regional and international levels.

Al Shaikhi revealed that the Kingdom has been elected to chair the 36th Session of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s fisheries committee to be held in Rome in 2024.

He noted that the committee voted unanimously for the Kingdom in recognition of its leading role in supporting international efforts to promote sustainable fishing and aquaculture.

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Egypt Makes Progress in its Nuclear Energy Project

Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
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Egypt Makes Progress in its Nuclear Energy Project

Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)

Egypt has reported significant progress in the construction of the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant in the country’s northwest, a project being developed in cooperation with Russia. The government announced on Tuesday that more than 20% of the project has been completed.

Egypt and Russia signed a cooperation agreement on November 19, 2015, to establish the nuclear power station at a cost of $25 billion, funded through a Russian government loan. The final agreements for El-Dabaa were signed in December 2017.

The plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a total generation capacity of 4,800 megawatts, each producing 1,200 megawatts. The first reactor is scheduled to begin operations in 2028, with the remaining units coming online gradually as part of Egypt’s energy mix.

In its quarterly performance report, the Egyptian government stated that the project aligns with efforts to expand the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the national power grid.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized in November the importance of executing energy projects efficiently and on schedule, calling them a pillar of Egypt’s development strategy. He underscored the need to adhere to the project timeline while ensuring the highest standards of execution and workforce training.

Also in November, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to the project, stating that El-Dabaa would enhance renewable energy capacity and stabilize the national power grid.

In early March, Russia’s Atomstroyexport announced that construction on the second reactor at El-Dabaa had progressed ahead of schedule. According to the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority, the second tier of the inner containment structure had been installed at the reactor building.

Egypt experienced widespread power outages last summer, which ended in late July after securing sufficient fuel supplies for its power plants.

The El-Dabaa project is part of Egypt’s strategy to diversify its energy sources, generate electricity to meet domestic demand, and reduce reliance on imported gas and other fuels.

On Tuesday, the government also announced an additional 200 megawatts of private-sector solar power capacity as part of its efforts to expand renewable energy. Officials said the move would support energy diversification and advance the country’s sustainable development strategy.