ADIPEC to fast-track the energy transition

H.E. Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, outlines the UAE’s journey to an ambitious yet pragmatic transition as it marks the Year of Sustainability, and how ADIPEC sets the pace for decarbonisation initiatives across the industry

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, ADIPEC 2023 is at the heart of the global dialogue and collective action to decarbonise quicker and future-proof the energy system. In an exclusive interview, His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, shares his thoughts on how the world’s most influential energy event will engage the industry this year and help accelerate the global energy transition under the theme of Decarbonising. Faster. Together.

ADIPEC provides a world-class platform for the industry to demonstrate how it can fast-track the energy transition – building the energy system of the future, while rapidly decarbonising the energy system of today.

Your Excellency, how is the UAE taking the lead in decarbonisation initiatives as it celebrates the Year of Sustainability?

The UAE has always been a pioneer of adopting policies and strategies that contribute to shaping a more sustainable future at home and globally, and is a role model for an ambitious yet pragmatic transition to clean energy sources. In the Year of Sustainability, the updated UAE Energy Strategy 2050 reflects our keenness to accelerate the energy transition and increase the share of clean energy in our energy mix to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The strategy reinforces our global vision of sustainable development, and sets ambitious targets for 2030: including increasing the contribution of clean energy generation to 32% of our energy mix, tripling the contribution of renewable energy, and achieving a grid emission factor of 0.27 kg Co2/ kWh, making the UAE one of the lowest emitters, compared to the global average.

We are seeing transformational progress in the direction of decarbonisation in the UAE. Building on its legacy as a responsible global energy pioneer, ADNOC recently became the first company in its peer group globally to accelerate its net-zero target to 2045, and has also allocated $15 billion to low-carbon solutions.

The key element in creating a roadmap for a sustainable future lies in addressing the challenges of the energy transition while continuing to meet today’s global energy needs and investing heavily in the clean energy systems of tomorrow, and that is exactly how the UAE is setting a global benchmark for a prosperous, climate-safe, and clean energy future.

We are seeing transformational progress in the direction of decarbonisation in the UAE. Building on its legacy as a responsible global energy pioneer, ADNOC recently became the first company in its peer group globally to accelerate its net-zero target to 2045.

Taking place ahead of COP28, how critical is the role of ADIPEC this year in accelerating the energy transition and securing a sustainable energy future?

As one of the first countries in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement and as the host nation of COP28, the UAE perceives the global energy transition as a front and-centre focus for its COP presidency, and is committed to joining forces with the international community to drive collective action to limit global warming. This year, ADIPEC provides a world-class platform for industry to demonstrate how it can fast-track the energy transition – building the energy system of the future, while rapidly decarbonising the energy system of today.

I am confident that as the UAE prepares to welcome global leaders to COP28 in November, ADIPEC will be the perfect precursor in showcasing game-changing low carbon solutions and facilitating dialogue across the entire energy ecosystem that help deliver a COP of collaborative action, and a COP for all.