Tackling The Middle East Decarbonisation ‘Big Four’

Wedoany.com Report-Oct 29 , The key challenges facing the Middle East energy industry are optimising energy production while reducing emissions, increasing renewable energy capacity, developing green hydrogen and ammonia production, and upskilling local workforces to drive self-sufficiency, according to KBR.

The sustainable technology solutions company will explore strategies for balancing economic development and decarbonising the region’s energy sector at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2024 between November 4-7 – ahead of gasworld’s MENA Industrial Gases Conference on November 18-20.

Nimit Shah, Regional Vice-President, Middle East & Africa at KBR, said it will be discussing how it is working with ADNOC and other regional leaders to achieve their ambitious sustainability goals while maintaining ‘robust energy production’.

He said, “This balanced approach is crucial across the Middle East, where nations are focused on both economic growth and environmental responsibility. We’re seeing this commitment through initiatives like ADNOC’s $23bn investment in lower-carbon solutions and their goal of Net Zero by 2045.”

KBR will be pushing its decarbonisation technologies, gas monetisation strategies, renewable energy integration, green hydrogen and ammonia production technologies, as well as workforce development and training programmes.

Alongside supporting the Middle East’s decarbonisation initiatives, it is working on projects such as the Rumaila field in Iraq, where it has helped set targets to reduce carbon emissions from gas flaring to below 100 mmsfcd by 2025.

Instead of flaring, the gas is gathered and processed for sale or reinjection into oil reservoirs, improving environmental and economic outcomes.

Shah said restoration of oil and gas assets has played a huge role in the economic recovery of Iraq and represents over 90% of its GDP.

“It has also helped to ensure the operation of critical infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, but the Iraqi government – like others – recognises the need to decarbonise and has targeted dramatic reductions in emissions levels by 2030,” he added.

“Nations are under the same pressure to achieve dramatic reductions in emissions. However, there’s a growing recognition of the need to diversify economies and as well as reduce emissions.”

Countries in the Middle East need more than just the technology and that is why KBR is focussed on empowering local talent, combining its global expertise with investment in local skills and knowledge transfer, to create long-term change that drives sufficiency.

Yesterday (28th October) Masdar announced it has produced the first ‘green steel’ in the region in a pilot project with EMSTEEL.