President of the Global Electric Power Research Institute: Gulf countries achieved their 2030 carbon reduction goals

Irshad Mansoor, President of the Global Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), told (Mal): The world views the Gulf region primarily as a hub for oil and gas, which leads to perceptions that are not interested in climate action and adopting low-carbon solutions. He stressed that we are now witnessing tangible actions, such as installing hundreds of gigawatts of wind, solar and battery storage in the region, and turning these initiatives and pledges into reality, as the real data speaks for itself and this progress is being made in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to reduce emissions and reach net zero. Arshad Mansoor called on the world to reduce carbon, adding that the Gulf region has achieved its 2030 carbon reduction targets, which greatly enhances its global position at the present time, noting that the Gulf region is achieving its emission reduction targets by importing and deploying solar, wind and battery technologies on a large scale, stressing the importance of allocating 5 to 10% of clean energy investments this decade to emerging technologies such as long-term energy storage, gaseous CCUS, hydrogen, critical minerals, renewable recycling centers, and small modular reactors. Arshad stated that investing in these innovative technologies now will put the Gulf region in a position to export clean energy technologies in the next decade, instead of importing them, which contributes to changing the perception that the Gulf is only about oil and gas. He pointed out that the responsibilities of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are shifting significantly in the process of net zero, stressing once again the keenness of the GCC countries to cooperate regionally and internationally to achieve net zero.