(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 10. OPEC fully
supports Azerbaijan's collaborative spirit for COP29, Haitham Al
Ghais, OPEC Secretary General, said in an exclusive interview with
Trend .
“Azerbaijan has been a valued partner in the Declaration of
Cooperation (DoC) between OPEC and non-OPEC producers since its
inception at the start of 2017. The country is not only a key
player in helping to foster oil market stability and maintain
energy security, but also in the important goal of helping reduce
emissions.
Tackling this combination of intertwined challenges is
increasingly vital, as by 2045, global primary energy demand is
projected to increase by 23% and the global population increase by
1.5 billion people. Additionally, about 500 million people are
expected to move into cities worldwide by 2030, equating to more
than 225 new cities the size of Baku,” he said.
Al Ghais highlighted that Azerbaijan's pragmatic and inclusive
approach to COP29 exemplifies the importance of striking a balance
between reducing emissions and delivering the affordable energy
products and services that people need.
“We should remember that billions of people still lack access to
modern energy services. For these people, their energy future is
not about reducing emissions (they are not contributing any),
deciding on the purchase of an electric vehicle, or reflecting over
the costs and benefits of energy sources. Instead, it is about
achieving the energy basics that others take for granted, such as
being able to turn on a light, cook on a clean stove or have
motorized transport to move to and from work or school.
OPEC fully supports Azerbaijan's collaborative spirit for COP29,
and OPEC backs just, orderly and stable energy pathways that have
both energy security and emissions reductions at their heart.
National circumstances, and common but differentiated
responsibilities, should be borne in mind at all times too, as well
as the provision of adequate climate financing to the developing
world without further delay,” added OPEC secretary general.
Haitham Al Ghais noted that in the lead up to COP29, the OPEC
Secretariat will be hosting a technical workshop and a climate
change coordination meeting in mid-October for Member Countries and
partners in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC).
He pointed out that the OPEC-Azerbaijan relationship is an
extremely positive one.
“In June of this year I was at Baku Energy Week and it was an
honour to be in the presence of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev, and share a platform with Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of
Energy of Azerbaijan.
Al Ghais highlighted that President Ilham Aliyev has been a
strong advocate of the DoC and it was heartening to recently hear
the President state that abundant hydrocarbons were a“gift from
God” and that“as the head of a country rich in fossil fuels, of
course, I will defend the right of these countries to continue
investments and production because the world needs it.”
“These are extremely important words, and these precious
resources are indeed a“gift from God”. They have brought
tremendous benefits to the world. Oil and its associated products
help power cars, ships and airplanes, light and heat homes, and
enables the development of plastics, pharmaceuticals and medical
supplies. This list could go on ... and underscores how vital oil is
to our everyday lives,” he said.
OPEC secretary general went on to add that the high-level energy
dialogue held in Vienna in May with Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of
Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, and
President-Designate for COP 29, can be viewed as a vital stop on
the road to COP29.
“It was clear from our engagement that Azerbaijan seeks the
views of all stakeholders, including those of the oil industry,
allowing every country to chart its own path based on national
circumstances, and taking into account the principles of equity,
and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective
capabilities. In the lead up to COP29, the OPEC Secretariat will
also be hosting a technical workshop and a climate change
coordination meeting in mid-October for Member Countries and our
partners in the DoC,” said Al Ghais.
He expressed hope that the recent meeting with Azerbaijan is the
first of many high-level energy dialogues, ones that fit well with
the DoC, and the broader Charter of Cooperation, a voluntary
framework for dialogue and a platform for multilateralism on energy
issues.
“In this regard, we hope to welcome the COP29 President and his
team back to Vienna before COP29,” added OPEC secretary
general.
Efforts of OPEC members to tackle climate
change
Balancing sustainable development with the need to address
climate change is an important question, and one that OPEC Member
Countries are embracing, said Haitham Al Ghais.
“We need to promote all energies and all technologies, that can
help deliver energy security, energy availability and reduce
emissions. In this regard, we should remember that the oil
industry, renewables and efforts to reduce emissions are not as at
odds with each other as many people think. The reality is that
hydrocarbons also power the transportation and construction
industries necessary for renewable infrastructure development. For
example, depending on their size, wind turbines require between 200
and 1,400 litres of lubricants for the smooth operation of their
gearboxes, bearings, hydraulic systems and transformers, while
resins produced with ethylene are also needed to waterproof the
turbines themselves. Without petrochemical-based products, the mass
production of solar panels would be similarly impossible, he
said.
Al Ghais noted that moreover, oil and its derivatives provide
crucial fiscal support for numerous countries, many of whom rely on
revenues from the oil industry to fund government budgets, support
economic activities, diversify economies and mitigate against any
potential adverse socio-economic impacts of transitioning.
“It is why OPEC Member Countries are investing in both
hydrocarbons and renewables, and why at the same time, these
countries, and the oil industry, in general, are actively working
to reduce emissions through operational efficiencies and advanced
technologies. This includes optimizing extraction and refining
processes – including excellent reservoir management practices –
and engaging in flare minimization and reducing methane leaks, as
evidenced by around 50 major oil and gas producers at COP28
agreeing to curb methane emissions to near-zero by 2030. The
industry is also scaling up carbon capture utilization and storage,
and developing clean hydrogen technologies, direct air capture, and
carbon dioxide removal, all within the concept of the circular
carbon economy,” noted OPEC secretary general.
He highlighted that additionally, it is important to reference
the vital work being undertaken by OPEC's sister organization, the
OPEC Fund for International Development.
“The OPEC Fund was established by the Member Countries of OPEC
in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen
communities and empower people. It is focused on financing projects
that meet essential sustainable development needs, such as food,
energy, infrastructure, employment, clean water and sanitation,
healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed
about US$27 billion to development projects in over 125 countries,
all in the developing world,” Al Ghais added.
He believes that realistic approaches needed to tackle
emissions, HE Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General, said in an
exclusive interview with Trend.
“Our Member Countries are present at all COP meetings. The OPEC
Secretariat provides support to its Member Countries in climate
change negotiations, but it is for individual Member Countries to
provide their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as part of
the Paris Agreement,” he said.
Al Ghais pointed out that additionally, it is important to take
note of the global stocktake, the first one having taken place last
year at COP28 in the UAE.
“This is also part of the Paris Agreement and allows Parties to
periodically take stock of its implementation to assess the
collective progress towards achieving the purpose of the Agreement
and its long-term goals.
OPEC Member Countries are taking a proactive approach to their
climate commitments. In this regard, we need nuanced and realistic
approaches to tackle emissions; ones that also enable economic
growth, help eradicate energy poverty, and increase resilience at
the same time,” added OPEC secretary general.
Future energy pathways
Future energy pathways need to take on board the needs of people
in every corner of the world, said Haitham Al Ghais.
“It is clear there is 'no one-size-fits-all' solution. It is not
about charting a single pathway, there are multiple pathways, each
with solutions that fit individual nations and peoples. We need to
fully appreciate the different circumstances of nations and peoples
across the world,” he said.
Al Ghais noted that it is why OPEC Member Countries are so
serious about the world taking the best and most just future energy
pathways.
“Pathways that provide for energy security, do no impede
socio-economic development, enable the necessary investment in all
energies and all technologies, and help reduce emissions. Future
energy pathways need to take on board the needs of people in every
corner of the world and follow an all-energies and all-technologies
approach. We should not be dismissing any energy, or any
technology; we will need them all,” OPEC secretary general
added.
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