CAIRO: The Sultanate of Oman is pressing ahead with its engagement in the Climate Summit at Sharm el Sheikh (COP27). On the sidelines of the summit, Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, discussed energy-related issues with Dr Fatih Birol, CEO of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The discussion covered areas of cooperation in studies related to production and storage technology and knowledge transfer of carbon neutral technologies and hydrogen. It also covered capacity building in energy transformation towards a sustainable future.
Al Aufi also held a meeting with Henry Gonzalez, Deputy Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund. The meeting touched on boosting cooperation in funding green energy projects and related programmes and policies. The fund is responsible for promoting climate financing programmes within the purview of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The minister also participated as a speaker in the Global Energy Future Meeting organised by the IEA. During the meeting, the minister stressed the importance of providing sustainable and clean energy at an affordable cost.
Oman’s delegation also took part in summit meetings of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East region, as well as a two-day presidential COP27 summit meeting which concluded on Tuesday.
Oman’s pavilion at the summit continues to receive participants keen on learning about investment opportunities in the field of energy and Oman’s efforts to cut carbon emissions. The pavilion organises discussion sessions on the green hydrogen economy, as well as opportunities and challenges of carbon capture and storage in the Sultanate of Oman.
Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Foreign Ministry’s Under-Secretary for Diplomatic Affairs, and Shaikh Humaid bin Ali al Ma’ani, Head of the Global Affairs Department at the Foreign Ministry, participated in a discussion on forging local and international cooperation in climate issues and attracting green energy investments.
On the sidelines of the summit, Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, held a meeting with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional and International Cooperation in the United States.
During the meeting, the American side was briefed about the Sultanate of Oman’s efforts in preserving the environment, limiting carbon emissions and utilising renewable energy and green hydrogen.
The two sides also explored means of cooperation by which the United States could provide technical support towards capacity building and research in Oman. - ONA
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