KFAS FORUM BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000100 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/IEC/EPC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG EPET SENV KU SUBJECT: KFAS FORUM BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY ¶1. (U) Econoff attended the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) Perspectives on Energy and Climate Forum from January 18-20, an event cosponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The forum assessed the domestic energy question from both the supply and demand side, and concluded that the GoK needs to up its investment in renewables and pursue new technologies to promote carbon capture. Factors considered included current market demands for cleaner oil and the need to extend the life of Kuwait's oil and gas reserves. ¶2. (U) According to Salem Al-Hajraf, a research scientist with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR),the GoK intends to supply 10% of its domestic energy demand from renewable resources by the year 2020 in an attempt to diversify Kuwait's economy and energy supply. Also raised at the conference were: -- The short and long term economic advantages of renewable energy and potential applications for renewable energy in the oil sector; -- the demand and supply sides of energy consumption in Kuwait; --the potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, sequestration and conservation; and, --the potential for Kuwait to develop peaceful nuclear energy. ¶3. (U) Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) executives presented three feasibility studies conducted by KISR addressing the use of mini-wind farms to fuel telecommunication stations, how KPC can utilize hybrid wind/solar stations to generate hydrogen to produce water for power stations and oil reservoir injections, and the presently under-construction reverse osmosis (RO) treatment plant to desalinate ground water. Mohammed Husain, the Deputy Chairman of KOC, focused on the possibility of using CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) as a long-term method for improving hydrocarbon recovery and minimizing Kuwait's excess CO2. KPC is in the initial phase of evaluating carbon capture technology and reinjection as a commercially viable reservoir management tool. ¶4. (U) Comment: Discussions of renewable energy sources and ways to improve energy efficiency are increasing in Kuwait, driven in part by concerns about the economic bottom-line, and in part by growing recognition of the consequences of global warming. While major concrete steps to move forward have yet to be taken, the fact that KPC is investing in feasibility studies and that KISR continues to conduct research in this area suggests that forums such as this one represent more than "kalaam faudy" (empty words). End Comment. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES