Abu Dhabi: The UAE assured its full support to the activities of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) at the start of the agency’s third assembly in the capital on Sunday.
Addressing the delegates at the assembly, Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar, also emphasised the importance of setting up national working plans to implement renewable energy strategies.
“In the UAE, strategic plans to increase the share of renewable energy have been adopted. The UAE also serves as the headquarter for Irena,” Al Jaber said.
Officials revealed at the two-day assembly that in 2012, the UAE was the single largest contributor to Irena’s approved budget of $28.4 million (Dh 104.3 million). While the UAE provided $7.9 million (Dh 29 million) and Germany provided $4.5 million (Dh 16.5 million) last year (2012), all other members contributed a total of $16 million (Dh 58.7 million).
The UAE also provided an additional $849,000 (Dh 3.1 million) for various projects.
Adnan Z Ameen, director general at the Irena, announced that the Irena is maturing as an organisation, especially as 2012 was its first full cycle dedicated to programme implementation.
“The utilisation rate [in 2012] was 90 per cent of our core budget and for voluntary contributions, presenting a 15 per cent increase in performance from 2011,” he said.
