DOHA: The Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman & Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada addressed the third session of the International Renewable Energy Agency assembly held on Sunday and Monday at St. Regis Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) brought together ministers and senior officials from over 150 countries, and was aimed to chart the way forward in doubling the global use of renewable energy by 2030.
Dr Al Sada focused on programmes and initiatives implemented for the development of renewable energy in Qatar. Under its National Vision 2030, Qatar is committed to develop clean energy and a sustainable environment through the responsible management of our hydrocarbon resources, Dr Al Sada said.
“Since joining IRENA in 2010, Qatar has developed a strong renewable energy agenda and promoted the use of renewable energy sources through enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing. In partnership with IRENA, we have signed an agreement to collaborate on the Global Renewable Energy Atlas initiative, which will eventually produce and make available, high-quality renewable energy resource data,” he added.
Formally established in 2009, IRENA is the first major international organisation to be headquartered in the Middle East, and its mandate is to promote the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy worldwide. IRENA has 105 member countries, with 55 others serving as IRENA signatories or applicants for membership.
Qatar officially became a member of IRENA in June 2010. At last month’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar signed a Letter of Interest to formalise its participation in IRENA’s Global Atlas for Solar and Wind Energy project.
On the sidelines of the IRENA assembly, Dr Al Sada met Alfred Rollen Carlot, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of the Republic of Vanuatu.
Talks covered issues of mutual interest as well as cooperation between the two countries, mainly in the energy and industry sectors.
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