KSA to lower use of oil in power generation

The Kingdom is keen to increase the share of renewable energy to meet its development needs, say officials.

MARRAKECH, Morocco: Saudi Arabia is committed to doubling its natural gas production and lower its use of oil in electricity generation, Khalid Al-Falih, energy, industry and mineral resources minister, told delegates at UN climate talks in Morocco.
“We are committed to doubling production of natural gas and at the same time rely less heavily on oil in producing electricity,” Al-Falih, energy, industry and mineral resources minister, said in a statement to delegates.
He also said the country is also committed to using nuclear and renewable energy.
Saudi Arabia has the world’s fifth largest natural gas reserves at 291 trillion cubic feet, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Speaking at the climate conference, US Secretary of State John Kerry underlined the perils that await the world if leaders drag their feet on cutting planet-warming greenhouse gases.
“At some point even the strongest skeptic has to acknowledge that something disturbing is happening,” Kerry told delegates.
Britain ratified the Paris agreement on climate change Thursday, joining more than 100 other countries in a move that campaigners hope will prompt US President-elect Donald Trump to honor the deal.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson signed the Paris Agreement as countries met in Morocco for the latest round of UN climate talks, focused on implementing the treaty by the end of the year.
“The Paris Agreement has completed the 21 day sitting period before parliament and the Instrument of Ratification has been signed by the Foreign Secretary,” the foreign ministry said in statement.
The pact commits countries to limiting global temperature rises to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to keep increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The move was hailed by environmental campaigners.
“It has never been more important for the world to stand together on climate change and the UK joining the Paris Agreement is a welcome signal,” said Stephen Cornelius, chief adviser on climate at WWF-UK.
ClientEarth said: “The UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement is a welcome sign that the world is forging ahead with climate action.
“President-elect Trump should take this ratification, and the comments by China, France and others in recent days as a warning that any reneging on the agreement would make the US a global environmental pariah,” the group said in a statement.
Trump’s election victory this month has shocked UN diplomats and notably put a question mark over the fate of the Paris climate deal championed by UN chief Ban Ki-moon during his 10 years at the helm.