Energy Council reviews gas plan

Dubai: Dubai's Supreme Energy Council yesterday discussed the progress achieved in Dubai's Integrated Gas Strategy 2030 during a meeting chaired by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, and Chairman of the Council.

Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of the Council, and Najib Zafarani, Secretary General, also attended.

In a statement after the meeting, Al Tayer said the strategy aimed to secure more efficient and sustainable gas transfer to Dubai. He said the council also reviewed and compared gas consumption in 2011 with 2010. "The results were encouraging in terms of rationalising electricity and water usage and enhancing capacities," said Al Tayer.

He said the council had appointed a consultative body to find the most suitable financial mechanisms to move forward with the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy.

"The first phase, called Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030: Comprehensive Financial Accord/Agreement, aims to provide the initiatives and general limitations for fin-ancing strategic projects of the strategy," he said. "The council also discussed avenues of cooperation with Masdar on the Atlas Project, which aims to provide data and information related to the best sites to set up solar and wind energy stations, renewable energy sources in the region, and best globally available technologies for solar energy."