Opinion Energy A new nuclear age dawns – against all the odds Despite its bad press, emissions-free nuclear power can bridge the gap between fossil fuels and renewables August 28, 2023
Energy Israeli startup hopes to take nuclear fusion mainstream This week US scientists announced they had achieved net energy gain in a fusion reaction for the second time since December. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California deemed the successful experiment “a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defence and the future of clean […] August 11, 2023
Analysis Trade Nuclear energy to power UAE-Romania trade growth Dubai International Chamber has set up a Romanian Business Council as part of efforts to build on non-oil trade between the UAE and the Eastern European nation, which exceeded $1 billion last year. The council will promote the interests of Romanian businesses and Romanian-owned UAE-registered companies in Dubai. It will also support Dubai’s presence in […] August 10, 2023
Renewable Energy France’s Engie ramps up Middle East renewables push French utilities firm Engie is closing in on several opportunities in the Middle East as it looks to the region to help it hit targets to double renewables generation to 80 gigawatts by 2030. “We are trying to identify the best geographies for renewables and clearly the Middle East is one of those,” said Frédéric Claux, […] August 7, 2023
Opinion Energy Inside the Gulf’s great energy balancing act The region must be mindful of cannibalising hydrocarbons too early August 2, 2023
Analysis Energy Green for go: UAE’s long-term plan for hydrogen The UAE has unveiled its national hydrogen strategy as analysts predict that GCC members can play a key role as exporters. The blueprint for hydrogen is a “long-term plan to turn the UAE into a leading and reliable producer and supplier of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031”, according to Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, minister of […] July 26, 2023
Renewable Energy Total signs deal to expand Turkey’s green energy output France’s TotalEnergies and Turkey’s Ronesans Holding have entered into a partnership to expand renewable power generation capacity in Turkey. TotalEnergies will take a 50 percent stake in Ronesans Enerji and jointly develop 1,000 megawatt (MW) of wind and solar farms over the next three years, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported, citing Ronesans Holding president Erman […] July 24, 2023
Banking & Finance UK helps UAE address financial grey list challenges The UK is helping the UAE deal with shortcomings highlighted by the Financial Action Task Force when it grey listed the Gulf state, a British government minister has told AGBI. “Our officials have very strong links in terms of assisting the UAE in how to improve systems and internal compliance and what sort of transparency […] July 20, 2023
Opinion Environment The UAE has a difficult path to negotiate As Cop28 host and a major oil exporter the Emirates faces a tricky balancing act July 17, 2023
Opinion Energy UAE roadmap for Cop28: high energy, low impact There are constraints imposed by life in a maritime desert, however July 14, 2023
Analysis Energy UAE’s nuclear finance deal ‘sets standard for region’ The Barakah One Company has successfully completed the refinancing of the first commercial nuclear power station in the Arab World, based in the UAE. Located 53 kilometres from the city of Ruwais, the $32 billion Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is being developed by Barakah One – a joint venture between Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) […] July 5, 2023
Energy Turkey talking to Russia and China for more nuclear plants Turkey is holding talks with Russia, South Korea and China to construct its second and third nuclear power plants. It is ready to build the second nuclear plant in the northern Sinop province, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing Salih Sari, head of the Turkish energy and natural resources ministry’s general directorate of nuclear energy and international projects. […] June 23, 2023
Trade South Korea delivers as UAE trade continues to grow Adnoc Logistics and Services took delivery of its first new-build oil tanker on Tuesday as part of growing UAE-South Korea trade and investment ties. The Adnoc subsidiary received Hafeet, a large crude carrier built by Hanwha Ocean at its Okpo Shipyard in Geoje Island, South Korea. The vessel, designed for long-haul voyages to ship crude […] June 22, 2023
Renewable Energy Gulf is worst performer for investment in renewables The Middle East is the worst-performing region for investment in renewable electricity sources, new research has found. Africa and the Middle East combined represented just 1.6 percent of worldwide investment last year, according to the Renewables 2023 Global Status Report. China accounted for 55 percent of total investment, followed by Europe at 11 percent and […] June 21, 2023
Opinion Trade Saudi Arabia’s ‘transactional’ relationship with China is evolving fast There's more to the partnership than just energy June 12, 2023
Health Saudi awards first PPP project in healthcare sector Saudi Arabia’s health ministry has awarded one of the kingdom’s first public-private partnerships (PPP) in the healthcare sector to Riyadh-based Altakassusi Alliance Medical. The project will deliver better radiology and imaging services to more than one million people across seven hospitals – King Fahad Medical City, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Dawadmi General Hospital, […] June 9, 2023
OPINION Energy Crisis looms for the Iranian natural gas sector While the world’s attention has been focused on the sanctioned Iranian oil industry, another vital part of the country’s energy infrastructure is deteriorating – its natural gas sector. Iran’s domestic economy and its consumers depend far more on gas than they do on oil. But if urgent financial, technical and commercial support is not provided […] June 2, 2023
Opinion Energy Time to deploy the ‘silver bullet’ against climate change There is a solution ready to hand in the global warming challenge – technology May 15, 2023
Economy Gulf is ‘ideal playground’ for surging French investment France aims to boost its investment relationship with the GCC region by hosting an inaugural Vision Gulf event in Paris next month. The flagship conference organised by Business France, the country’s national trade agency, aims to promote increased collaboration between Middle East-based investors and French corporates. Taking place on June 13-14 at the French Ministry […] May 15, 2023
Energy UAE and China seek tie-up to develop nuclear energy The UAE state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Chinese nuclear energy organisations. The MoUs were signed with Nuclear Power Operations Research Institute, China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas and China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation, the UAE state-run WAM news agency reported on Sunday. The first MoU with Nuclear […] May 8, 2023
Economy Iran growth forecasts cut but Gulf trade could rally Growth forecasts for Iran’s economy have been cut as analysts see US sanctions remaining in place “for the foreseeable future”, but expanding trade with the UAE and improved relations with Saudi Arabia may help to cushion the blow. Fitch sees growth slowing to 2.3 percent in 2023-24 from a previous forecast of 5.8 percent because […] April 27, 2023
Energy Xlinks in talks to boost UK-Morocco project funding British renewable power firm Xlinks is in talks to raise new funding for its proposed plan to build vast solar panel and wind farms in the Moroccan desert that could power more than seven million British homes by 2030. Founder and CEO Simon Morrish said the talks represented “a significant step up in the level […] April 7, 2023