GROWING GREEN
TBY talks to Ernest Moniz, former US Secretary of Energy, on the country's green energy transformations, its geographical benefits, and achieving sustainability.
BIOGRAPHY
Ernest Moniz is a former US Secretary of Energy. Before this position, he was the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he has been a faculty member since 1973. From 1997 until January 2001, he served as Under Secretary of the Department of Energy. From 1995 to 1997, he served as Associate Director for Science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President.How encouraged are you that a country like Saudi Arabia has committed to a major renewable energy initiative?
This is of global significance and is clearly important for the country and its diversified economy of the future. It is also extremely important globally. The US and Saudi Arabia clearly have economies that are in different stages of evolution; however, we should not lose sight of the fact that both are energy powerhouses. The US is often viewed through the lens of continuing large oil imports, and that is true; we still import between 7 and 8 million barrels of oil per day. The reality is that we are but an enormous oil producer and an enormous gas producer as well as coal, uranium, and renewables. The transformations may look different in both countries but they are absolutely central for how the world will follow in this transformation. What the country is doing is just right in terms of preparing for the future and preparing the human resources that will be required. It is a great global stimulus as well. On the human capital side, I was involved in discussions with KACST and other institutions in Saudi Arabia before it was established. It is hard to imagine any other place with such a degree of progress that has been made in such a short amount of time.
Is Saudi Arabia uniquely positioned to generate a significant portion of its energy from renewables?
It is not a fair characterization to say that advancing renewables in the US has been difficult. Many states have adopted portfolio standards. In addition to the US, federally it is back and forth though we have tax incentives for wind and solar. We need to look at another factor that contributes to a great deal of the discussion, which is the fact that demand is not growing. When demand is not growing and we require the introduction of a certain amount of new generation, we are going directly against incumbent providers. In Saudi Arabia that factor will not be there. Demand is growing here and that is a different environment for introducing new technologies. Second, the government appears united in wanting to pursue this direction. There are many factors, including its commitments to Paris and other goals. Here there is also the feature that it is almost the anti-incumbency. The country would like to displace its current product for the export market. When all is said and done, it is the demand side in a certain sense that is the major difference in the two countries.
Is it possible for Saudi Arabia to be in a position to generate a higher percentage of its overall energy from renewables than any country in the region?
I do not know about the highest percentage. Germany is a different economy that has enormous wind penetration. There is also Spain, Portugal, and Denmark. There are many European countries in particular in that regard. China has aggressive targets as well. Here it is the issue of a major producing country taking this tack of dramatically changing the energy mix. That is not being done in a vacuum. The Kingdom sees this as an opportunity for the issue to build up a different domestic economy. The US and Saudi Arabia are different economies and yet we both have a jobs issue. In Saudi Arabia's case, it is a question of a growing young demographic that has to be educated and employed. No matter what, hydrocarbon demand growth will be challenged in a low carbon world, and in a world of demand management, of high efficiency vehicles, some electrification of vehicles, high efficiency construction, and others. It fits a dual purpose, including this idea of an economy that looks different in the future because this economy does not look like it will be a sustainable model for many decades.
GROWING GREEN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Column
YB Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office & Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei
TBY talks to YB Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office & Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei, on the sector.
read articleReview
A Crude Awakening
The Kingdom has made renewables a critical aspect of its ambitious Vision 2030 effort to diversify its economy and wean itself from a strictly carbon-based diet, not to mention empower local businesses and individuals to take up the mantle and lead the energy sector into the next generation.
read articleInterview
Abdulaziz AbdulKarim, Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain Management (PSCM) , Saudi Aramco,
TBY talks to Abdulaziz AbdulKarim, Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain Management (PSCM) at Saudi Aramco, on the IKTVA program, supporting local content, and looking back over a successful year.
read articleInterview
Ayman Abdullah Alfallaj, CEO, Thiqah
TBY talks to Ayman Abdullah Alfallaj, CEO of Thiqah, on how the private sector can keep pace with the speed of public reforms, delivering a strong and lasting value proposition, and integrating the fruits of privatization into the public sector.
read articleFocus: Technology Investments
Investment Calling
A technological revolution is underway in the Kingdom. Already one of the most tech-savvy nations in the Middle East, the Saudi market has long sought a thriving domestic technology and innovation scene. And with Vision 2030, it is on course to deliver just that.
read articleReview
A Hejaz Unhindered
An ambitious series of road and rail projects from the Jordanian border down to the Indian Ocean are slated to open in part before the end of 2017. They bring the Kingdom that much nearer to its goal of greater non-carbon-based economic integration with the world.
read articleInterview
Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Former Minister of Transport and Minister, Civil Service
TBY talks to Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Former Minister of Transport and current Minister of Civil Service, on an attractive legislative framework for investment, railway linkages, and port developments.
read articleInterview
Rumaih M. Al-Rumaih, President, Public Transport Authority (PTA
TBY talks to Rumaih M. Al-Rumaih, President of Public Transport Authority (PTA) & Acting President of Saudi Railway Organization, on teaming up with commercially committed partners, making sure the Kingdom's land and sea bridges are of the first order, and providing employment for all the Kingdom's inhabitants.
read articleInterview
Nabeel M. Al-Amudi, President, Saudi Ports Authority, and Minister of Transport
TBY talks to Nabeel M. Al-Amudi, Minister of Transport, and President of Saudi Ports Authority, on optimally restricting concession agreements, resolving bottlenecks in the logistics chain, and privatizing as rapidly as possible.
read articleInterview
Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Hogail, CEO & Managing Director , Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO)
TBY talks to Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Hogail, CEO & Managing Director of the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO), on the importance of strong and rational regulations, knowledge transfers, and unifying public and private transportation networks.
read articleInterview
Imad El-Zein, CEO, Auto World-Sixt Saudi Arabia
TBY talks to Imad El-Zein, CEO of Auto World-Sixt Saudi Arabia, on growing market share in challenging circumstances, partnering with world-class players to boost its local presence, and combining better services with lower costs.
read articleInterview
Saleh H. Al-Ghamdi, Acting CEO, Saudi Air Navigation Services Company (SANS)
TBY talks to Saleh H. Al-Ghamdi, Acting CEO of Saudi Air Navigation Services Company (SANS), on maximizing safe and effective services, effectively increasing the rate of Saudization, and easing the pathway of women into the workforce.
read articleInterview
Khalil Kutubkhanah, CEO, Jeddah Development and Urban Regeneration Company (JDURC)
TBY talks to Ibrahim Khalil Kutubkhanah, CEO of Jeddah Development and Urban Regeneration Company (JDURC), on Jeddah's unplanned settlements, the company's redevelopment projects, and its partnership model with the private sector.
read articleInterview
Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Shaibani, Deputy Minister, Planning and Health & Director of the Vision Realization Office
TBY talks to Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Shaibani, Deputy Minister for Planning and Health & Director of the Vision Realization Office, on reforms within the Ministry of Health, the corporatization of healthcare provision, and transformations in care delivery.
read articleInterview
Mohanad A. Dahlan, CEO, University of Business and Technology (UBT) Company
TBY talks to Mohanad A. Dahlan, CEO of University of Business and Technology (UBT) Company, on the evolution of the company, education investments, and upcoming sectors that will need support from the sector.
read articleFocus: Universities
Broad and Deep
As part of the continuing decentralization of higher education in Saudi Arabia, individual universities are pursuing their own paths to grow their faculties, engage with various international stakeholders, and ultimately move toward a more privatized future.
read articleInterview
Rafique Izhiman, Area General Manager KSA Jeddah, Yanbu Hotels
TBY talks to Rafique Izhiman, Area General Manager KSA Jeddah/Yanbu Hotels & General Manager, Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), Jeddah, on the role the firm plays in the market, expanding its footprint in the country, and expectations for 2017.
read article