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Arab-German Efforts to Boost Partnership in Fields of Alternative Energy

Arab-German Efforts to Boost Partnership in Fields of Alternative Energy
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Arab-German Efforts to Boost Partnership in Fields of Alternative Energy

Arab-German Efforts to Boost Partnership in Fields of Alternative Energy

Participants in the two-day Arab-German Business Forum discussed means of boosting partnerships in the field of alternative energy production.

They also discussed the possibility of benefiting from German technology and expertise in developing the energy sector in Arab countries.

This sector is witnessing important transformations in terms of increasing energy production and utilizing renewable energy sources.

The Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa) organized this forum in Berlin, in which about 300 experts and researchers in the field of alternative energy from both sides have participated.

The size of Arab delegations attending the forum indicates the Arab world’s growing interest in renewable energy since all its elements of production are provided, including wind, sun, and others.

This was shown through the interventions and workshops’ focus on means of developing the Arab-German partnership in this field and the possibility of benefiting from German technology and expertise.

The demand for energy from natural resources has been increasing, and many Arab states have developed programs to upgrade their industry not only to protect the environment but also to meet their rapidly growing population.

One of the prominent examples of fruitful Arab-German cooperation in the renewable energy sector is currently represented in the German-Moroccan partnership.

The Secretary-General of Morocco’s Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Environment, Mohammed Ghazali, stressed his country’s continued efforts in the field of energy transmission through its strategic cooperation with Germany, especially in the field of developing storage options in addition to reducing the energy price.

Saudi Arabia’s interest in the production of renewable energy from natural resources was shown through the size of its participating delegation.

The Kingdom’s delegation discussed several aspects related to the production of this future energy “despite the existence of some technical obstacles that are being overcome,” according to Suleiman bin al-Sayari, member of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Ghorfa) Board of Directors.

Sayari is also CEO of Shuaibah Water and Electricity Company and a member of the Board of Directors of Tarshid Energy Services Company.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the principal activity in the Kingdom is reducing the dependence on oil and its consumption.

“So far, we approximately consume 30 percent of local oil production,” he said, explaining that in 30 years, the Kingdom could be forced to consume all its local oil production.

For this reason, he added, it has decided to reduce its consumption by using renewable energy, hoping to be able to also export this kind of energy, especially to Europe, instead of exporting oil.

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Oil Falls as Trump Says New Iran Attacks ‘Unlikely’

A worker walks past oil pipes at a refinery in Wuhan, Hubei province March 23, 2012. (Reuters)
A worker walks past oil pipes at a refinery in Wuhan, Hubei province March 23, 2012. (Reuters)
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Oil Falls as Trump Says New Iran Attacks ‘Unlikely’

A worker walks past oil pipes at a refinery in Wuhan, Hubei province March 23, 2012. (Reuters)
A worker walks past oil pipes at a refinery in Wuhan, Hubei province March 23, 2012. (Reuters)

Oil prices fell at Monday's open after US President Donald Trump said he was highly unlikely to order new Iran attacks while talks to end the conflict make progress, despite both nations' reports of attacks on ships in or near the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent was down 84 cents, or 0.85%, to $97.48 a barrel by 0138 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate fell 32 cents, or 0.35%, to $90.51 a barrel.

The fall reversed minor gains made on Friday’s settlement as the market assessed the possibility of further US ‌strikes on Iran, ‌although Brent fell 17% last week, the ‌steepest ⁠weekly drop since the ⁠start of the COVID pandemic and the biggest in absolute terms, according to LSEG data dating back to 1988.

"It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," Trump told CNN in a phone interview. "The answer is, highly unlikely it's going to be necessary."

Trump had hinted at renewing attacks on Iran after ⁠last week's US midterm elections, but there has ‌been no sign of a large-scale ‌US military operation. Iran has said it would respond by striking US and ‌Israeli targets.

Tim Waterer, chief analyst at KCM Trade, called ‌Trump's comments "more measured" but said "the market is still waiting to see whether the midterms have produced a lasting shift in Trump’s approach to the conflict, or whether this is just another temporary change in tone."

Oil is headed ‌for a glut again as recovering Middle Eastern oil flows, rising production from other countries and ⁠weak demand have ⁠pushed global supply above consumption, JPMorgan said in a report on Friday, estimating a surplus of 1.1 million barrels per day in September, widening to 1.4 million bpd in October.

On Sunday, Iraq reached an understanding with the US to allow Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz via a shipping lane near Oman, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

He said Iraq's losses from the Iran war and disruptions to oil exports had reached $60 billion.

Business

Bahraini Transport Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Each Country to Finance Its Share of Gulf Railway Project

A conceptual rendering of the Gulf railway interconnection project. (X)
A conceptual rendering of the Gulf railway interconnection project. (X)
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Bahraini Transport Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Each Country to Finance Its Share of Gulf Railway Project

A conceptual rendering of the Gulf railway interconnection project. (X)
A conceptual rendering of the Gulf railway interconnection project. (X)

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states took a new step toward completing the railway interconnection project by signing the project's general agreement in Bahrain on Sunday. This comes as part of efforts to establish an integrated transport network linking the six nations and boosting the movement of passengers, goods, and commercial trade among them.

Bahraini Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Dr. Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa told Asharq Al-Awsat that each country will fund and execute the portion of the project located within its territory.

Meanwhile, the costs, fees, and expenses associated with the shared interconnection components among member states will be determined collectively, he added.

He explained that the agreement establishes a joint framework for the project's execution and operation, while defining the obligations of member states and their coordination mechanisms.

He noted that the network, which extends some 2,117 kilometers, aims to transport 6 million passengers and 200 million tons of freight by 2030, with the figures projected to rise to more than 8 million passengers and 271 million tons of freight by 2045.

The project spans from Kuwait, passing through Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, all the way to Oman, with the goal of achieving full network operations by December 2030.

According to the minister, interconnection lines between adjacent countries can become operational as soon as their components are completed, without the need to wait for the entire Gulf network to be finalized.

National financing and potential partnerships

On private sector participation, Al Khalifa said that it remains one of the viable options for financing, executing, or operating certain components of the project, depending on the outcomes of economic and financial studies. He stressed that there is no unified public-private partnership model approved across the entire network.

There are currently no pre-existing agreements with specific international partners to finance or execute the project, he said. However, the expertise of global companies in the fields of design, engineering, technology, and operating systems could be utilized based on the project's needs and its various phases.

Bahraini Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Dr. Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

Concerning the project's announced completion rate, the minister explained that the 50 percent figure represents the average progress achieved across member states, and does not mean that half of the construction work for the entire Gulf network has been completed.

The project's cost estimates are currently undergoing review and updates in light of economic shifts, rising prices for materials and services, construction costs, and inflation, he revealed without specifying an updated total cost at the present time.

Returns beyond passenger and freight transport

Al Khalifa said that the economic impact of the project is not limited to facilitating passenger movement and freight transport, but extends to improving supply chain efficiency, boosting trade among GCC countries, and linking industrial centers, economic zones, and logistical hubs, as well as supporting employment and investment opportunities.

He added that determining the project's exact contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) or estimating expected savings in time and costs remains premature, given that returns vary depending on transport routes, the nature of the cargo, and the points of origin and destination.

In light of the challenges facing maritime navigation in the region, the minister stressed that the Gulf railway network is not intended to serve as a substitute for maritime transport. Instead, it acts as a complementary route that boosts transport options and connectivity among GCC nations, increasing the resilience of supply chains against disruptions that could affect various modes of transportation.

He noted that integration between ports, roads, railways, and airports will strengthen the flexibility of the Gulf transport system, while connecting to broader international logistical corridors remains a future possibility contingent on completing studies, understandings, and coordination with the relevant countries and entities.

King Hamad Bridge to link Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

Regarding the connection between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Al Khalifa explained that the King Hamad Bridge project includes road lanes and railway lines, enabling the international passenger station in Bahrain to connect with the Saudi railway network and forming one of the essential components for completing the Gulf interconnection.

He added that work is underway on the privatization procedures for the King Fahd Causeway Authority, alongside completing the necessary studies and procedures to transition to the execution of the new bridge project.

Achieving the connection between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is a fundamental requirement for operating the railway line between the two countries within the project's targeted timeframe in December 2030,e he said.

Business

Egypt Seeks Faster Progress on Libya Gas, Refining and Power Projects

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference with Minister of Information Diaa Rashwan (not pictured) in Cairo, Egypt, March 25, 2026. (Reuters)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference with Minister of Information Diaa Rashwan (not pictured) in Cairo, Egypt, March 25, 2026. (Reuters)
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Egypt Seeks Faster Progress on Libya Gas, Refining and Power Projects

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference with Minister of Information Diaa Rashwan (not pictured) in Cairo, Egypt, March 25, 2026. (Reuters)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference with Minister of Information Diaa Rashwan (not pictured) in Cairo, Egypt, March 25, 2026. (Reuters)

Egypt aims to accelerate energy projects with Libya, including gas pipeline links, refining of Libyan crude in Egypt and an electricity interconnection, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said late on Saturday.

Abdelatty's comments were in ‌a ministry ‌statement after a meeting ‌with ⁠Libya’s acting oil ⁠and gas minister Khalifa Abdulsadek in Tripoli.

Abdelatty also ‌called for cooperation on petroleum products and the completion of projects to refine Libyan ‌oil in Egypt and re-export it, the statement said, ⁠adding ⁠that Abdulsadek had said that Libya would continue implementing existing projects and would visit Cairo soon to continue technical talks with Egypt’s petroleum and electricity ministers.

The statement did not provide details on costs or the status of the projects.