Energy Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza took part in the opening session of the Ninth World Future Energy Summit, a part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The summit is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who were among those present at the opening.
Mexican President Enrique Banaanieto, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Iceland President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius were among the world leaders present.
Dr. Mirza spoke about the importance of this annual forum in which decision-makers discuss the biggest challenges to the sustainability of energy and review the latest developments in the energy, oil and gas and renewable energy sectors.
They also discuss other countries' strategies to extensively embrace renewable energy sources in light of technological advances and in generation of solar and wind power.
The minister also pointed out that the discussions at the forum included financing methods and available options for renewable energy, which have led to a decline in the cost of power from these sources. This, he said, will lead to rapid increase in its use and reach 30 per cent of total energy use by 2030.
He said this would be of immense benefit to Bahrain, which is also looking at an expansion of renewable energy options and an increase in total production of electrical capacities.
The minister took part in a panel discussion along with several other ministers, including those from Jordan and Malaysia. The minister explained Bahrain's obligations at the recent Paris meeting on the environment and the role to be played by sustainable energy. The minister said the Bahrain government gives special attention to the security and sustainability of energy, and there are a number of renewable energy sources that are currently being set up in newly developed projects.