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Abu Dhabi meet shows the way to diversify energy resources
The annual energy conference, organised by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), in Abu Dhabi last week, provided a platform for experts and specialists from around the globe to discuss the world's most important energy issues.
- By Dr Mohammad Al Asoomi, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 23:16 December 3, 2008
The annual energy conference, organised by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), in Abu Dhabi last week, provided a platform for experts and specialists from around the globe to discuss the world's most important energy issues.
The 14th ECSSR Energy Conference on Nuclear Energy in the Gulf Region, which concluded on November 26, discussed the relatively recent nuclear programmes in India, Pakistan, Iran and Israel, as well as future peaceful nuclear energy programmes in GCC countries.
Energy is the key to development in that it can lead to qualitative leaps in the economic structure. In Europe, the discovery of steam energy, coal, oil and electricity had led to the setting up of advanced industrial societies.
Nowadays, the world is facing a crisis of energy, whose signs began to surface, as hydrocarbon reserves - the main source of energy - are limited and very costly at present. This is why the world started to look for alternative energy sources, including the controversial nuclear energy.
However, nations are divided on the issue of their rights to develop nuclear energy and its usage. One group of nations supports the development of nuclear energy, while the other opposes it owing to security concerns and potential damages.
These issues topped the agenda of the Abu Dhabi energy conference, which received worldwide coverage.
Furthermore, the presence of British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Iran's failure to seize the opportunity and explain its views added significance to the discussions on energy and the political and security issues in the Middle East.
The important conclusion that can be drawn from the conference lies with the need to diversify energy resources in association with economic and social development programmes, while keeping away from military nuclear programmes, which are a waste of money and time without any economic returns.
Dr Jamal Al Suwaidi, the ECSSR director general, said: "The conference aimed to spread awareness about the use of peaceful nuclear energy in the Gulf. The conference also contributed to formulating new ideas on this topic."
It seems that the new members of the nuclear club have begun to realise this fact. For example, India, which started its peaceful nuclear programme in the 1960s, is stepping up its efforts to widen the use of nuclear energy in medicine, agriculture and power generation.
On the other hand, Israel, which has so far manufactured more than 200 atomic bombs, is troubled with its old nuclear reactor and a possible deadly leak at any moment. Large sectors of the Israeli society are calling for shutting it down.
The GCC countries are seeking to diversify energy resources with the aim to implement developmental programmes, especially with electricity consumption increasing by 7-10 per cent annually.
The annual increase in power consumption in the Gulf clearly means demand for electricity will double every 10 years and this is the highest growth in energy demand in the world.
The GCC countries can benefit from the French experiment, which depends on nuclear energy for 80 per cent of its production of electricity.
The completion of the GCC power grid project in 2009 requires the Gulf countries to adopt a common programme on the production of electricity through nuclear energy for economic, security and safety reasons.
The UAE is planning to build a nuclear reactor for producing electricity, work for which will begin in 2015. This project can be turned into a Gulf common project.
Dr Mohammad Al Asoomi is a UAE economic expert
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