The Minister of Energy for the UAE has said that its nuclear power plans are essential for the growing energy needs in the Gulf state.
Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit currently being held in Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Al Hamli said that the spedd of the UAE’s growth in terms of both its economy and population means that it has to look at alternative sources of energy to hydrocarbons.
“The UAE firmly believes that nuclear power represents an important clean energy source that should be developed along with other clean fuels.” Hamli said
“Our aim is nuclear energy to provide eventually 25% of the UAE’s power requirements we believe that the best way of securing a sustainable economic future in a carbon constrained world is to develop a balanced portfolio of clean energy sources in which nuclear, renewable energy, oil and natural gas all have a role to play,” he added.
Hamli also said that the UAE was taking its role as the venue for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) seriously.
“Small as it is, the UAE will not shrink from this responsibility this summit will hear multiple examples of just how the UAE is carving out for itself a role as a future energy centre,” Hamli said.
Hamli also took the time to defend oil as an energy resource and answer critics who claim the oil price is too high.
“At meetings such these, people often come up to me to complain that the price of oil is too high prices are determined in international markets .this is not the venue to discuss the current state of the oil market but I would like to make on point: namely that oil is an inherently valuable resource and one that is increasingly expensive to produce,” he said.
“Likewise, alternative energy sources require intensive capital investments to develop and implement whatever the source.”
“The era of cheap energy is over producers and consumers alike need to work together by pooling technology and capital to ensure that the world benefits from various energy options which guarantee stable supplies for future generations,” he added.
The minister also acknowledged the high per capita carbon footprint of the UAE and said that the country is trying to reduce it.
