His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar has officially opened the fourth edition of the International Petroleum Technology Conference.
The theme for the IPTC is ‘World Energy Challenges: Endurance and Commitment’. The opening plenary session focused on how energy leaders can mitigate the negative effects of the global economic and political volatility, and how the financial crisis can be turned into an opportunity for the industry to devote resources to increase efficiency in the production and use of fossil fuels.
Delegates in the plenary session were called upon to confirm their commitment to explore more efficient ways to produce energy and cleaner fuels to alleviate greenhouse gas emissions. Discussions took place on investing in new extractions and processing technologies in order to exploit unconventional hydrocarbon resources.
In the coming months work will commence on building India’s first and largest green city.
The Rs50-billion Godrej Garden City, which will use solar power and water recycling-and harvesting methods, will spread over 330 acres (40 million square feet) of land will accommodate 20,000 three-room and four-room flats for some 100.000 residents.
Following an MOU between a founder member of Indian Green Building Council, and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) programme for the Ahamedabad township project, one of the 16 real-estate projects in the world selected by CCI, for climate positive development and reduction of the net greenhouse gas emission, it will take 10 years to complete the city, while one million square feet of the land will be developed to accommodate around 500 units in the first phase.
Ducab, UAE’s cabel manufacturing company, has commenced the construction of its Dh500 million manufacturing facility that will produce up to 30,000 tons of high voltage cables. The company’s current investments exceed Dh1 billion as it expands production capacity.
The facility, which will start production late next year, will bring up to 10,000 tons of high-voltage cables to the market during the first year of operation.
The company, whose major shareholders are Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea), will export 75-80% of its production to the GCC countries, India, Hong Kong, Singapore and North America, and the rest will be for the local market.
Currently, its share is 50% of the UAE cables market and it aims to have a 25% share of all GCC countries.
Last year, Ducab generated Dh3.3 billion in sales but expects revenues to fall 27% to Dh2.4 billion this year as a result of weakening global copper prices.
According to Leor Rotchild from the World Petroleum Council Youth Committee, the average age of an oil and gas employee is 50 years old and there will be an estimated 38% shortage of engineers and geoscientists in the industry by 2010.
The organizers of the biennial International Petroleum Technology Conference, which took place in Doha, Qatar from 7 to 9 December under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, responded to the concern for new talent with new features at the conference designed to open the industry up to young people.
Key issues addressed were career progression opportunities, the different challenges faced by men and women in the industry and technological advances which can help redefine company priorities.
It could become the first project of its kind on US Bureau of Land Management property, leaving a footprint for others to follow on vast stretches of public land across the west. But the construction would come with a cost: Government scientists have concluded that more 15 square kilometers of habitat for the federally threatened desert tortoise would be permanently lost.
The Sierra Club and other environmentalists want the complex relocated to preserve what they call a near-pristine home for rare plants and wildlife, including the protected tortoise, the western burrowing owl and bighorn sheep.
The dispute is likely to echo for years as more companies seek to develop solar, wind and geothermal plants on lands treasured by environmentalists who also support the growth of alternative energy. The question will be what is worth preserving and at what cost as California pushes to generate one-third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
A vast fan-shaped compound in China has officially taken the title of “largest solar-powered office building in the world”. Located in Dezhou in the Shangdong Province in northwest China, the 75,000 square meter structure is a multi-use building and features exhibition centers, scientific research facilities, meeting and training facilities, and a hotel – all of which run on solar power.
The design of the new building is based on the sun dial and “underlines the urgency of seeking renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels.” Aside from the obvious sustainable nature of the solar panel – clad exterior, other green features include advanced roof and wall insulation practices resulting in an energy saving of 30% more than national standards. In addition, the external structure of the building used a mere 1% of the amount of steel used to construct the Bird’s Nest.
The African group of countries has scaled back demand for climate finance from rich countries, meeting proposals made by developed nations and signaling agreements on a core obstacle in UN talks.
Addressing talks meant to agree to a global climate pact, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi supported $100 billion (Dh367 billion) in annual funds by 2020 from developed countries to help the developing world fight climate change and adapt to its impact. The EU has proposed a figure of about US$150b, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown $100 billion. “On longterm financing I propose funding for adaptation and mitigation [emission curbs] should start by 2013, to reach up to $50 billion per annum by 2015 and $100 billion by 2020,” he said on behalf of the African group. “While no less that 50% should be allocated to adaptation to vulnerable and poor countries and regions such as Africa and small islands states.” The fund is to be financed by creative financing mechanisms and include carbon taxes and sales of emissions rights.
Dulsco has announced the opening of a new branch at the Lagoon Tower near the Al Buhairah Corniche in Sharjah to address the waste management needs arising from the emirate’s rapidly growing economy. While the company has in the past worked with various Sharjah-based organisations such as Bee’ah, the Sharjah Environment Co.; Lamprell; Maritime Industrial Services Co. Ltd.; and Conmix Ltd.; the new branch office is currently in contact with government entities such as Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority and the Sharjah Aquarium to begin providing its services.
Dulsco’s Waste Management Services, the first waste management firm in the UAE to be Integrated Management Systems certified, handles hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste in compliance with strict municipal and environmental provisions. This year Dulsco plans to introduce tanker services and increase the customer base of companies using waste related services in Sharjah. It also intends to actively promote human resource related services in the emirate.
As the largest producer for less-efficient incandescent bulbs, China is moving with the times as the classic light bulb, which produces more heat than light, is slowly being switched off.
Developed countries have already begun phasing them out and China, the world’s top source of the carbon dioxide emission blamed for climate change, is expected to follow, with potentially huge ramification on emissions.
80% of energy-efficient bulbs are made in China, mostly by domestic companies, but foreign giants such as General Electric of the United States and Germany’s Osram also have a substantial presence here.
Till Mor, a spokesman for Osram, said demand for quality energy-efficient lighting products in China was expanding rapidly. Foreign firms are also attracted by what they see as a promising Chinese market of 1.3 billion consumers largely untapped by “green” lamps.