By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Energy producers at the Qatar Sustainability Expo argue the industry in this region has taken enough steps for sustainability.
The expo runs parallel to the COP18/CMP8 climate conference hosting over 90 exhibitors, majority from the energy industry. The traditional leaders of energy market, showcase how efficiently they can broaden the boundaries of renewable energy, sustainable technology for sustainability.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi mainly claim the commitment of their countries to balance industrial development with care for the environment.
The Jetty Boil Off Gas Project (JBOG), set to become a landmark project for Qatar by 2014, is one such show piece at the expo. This huge investment of $1bn in JBOG by Qatar Petroleum and its partners will reduce the carbon footprint of loading the 77 Mta of LNG production facilities to the lowest practical Levels.
“This shows the commitment of the country. This $1bn is a non-returnable investment. No other country would invest so much,” said an expert at the RasGas, a partner of the project.
The project design is based on collection of LNG boil-off gas from the LNG carriers and transfer of this gas to a Central Compression Area via large diameter stainless steel pipelines. At the Central Compression Area, the gas will be compressed and sent to the LNG trains for use as fuel gas. The project is expected to be completed by early 2014.
“It is a misconception that the Middle East is not doing enough to save the environment. We are doing extensive research and implementing it for the past several years for the sake of sustainability,” said an oil industry expert. Exhibiting under the banner ‘Managing Energy for a Sustainable Future’ the Saudi Arabia pavilion has a design that is made with recyclable materials.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts in carbon management and climate control are showcased under five focus areas: Carbon Management and Energy Technologies, Energy Efficiency, ‘Energy Sustainability,’ ‘Renewable Energy’ and ‘Clean Fuel and Gas Recovery, Flare Management and Minimisation.’
The pavilion has exhibits by Saudi Aramco, researchers at the forefront of investigating ways to improve the performance of petroleum and lighten its environmental footprint along with SABIC and KA CARE showcasing models related to the Kingdom’s initiatives and efforts.
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, a new kind of a global energy company that takes a holistic approach to the changing realities of power generations, transmission and consumption around the world, is also showcasing its work and research extending Abu Dhabi’s energy leadership.
CO2 emissions from energy use increase slower than economic activity in most world regions, except in the Middle East, in OECD Asia and Pacific and other Asian countries, and in about two thirds of the countries in the world, according to reports. The Peninsula
