MoEI Joins Forces With RAK Petroleum Authority To Foster Sustainable Energy Shift

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and the Ras Al Khaimah Petroleum Authority (RAKPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their collaboration in the energy sector. The agreement was formalised by Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, and Christopher Wood, Chief Executive of RAKPA.

The MoU aims to facilitate cooperation on sustainable energy transformation. Key activities include sharing geological, geophysical, and hydrogeological surveys and studies, researching natural hydrogen, investigating carbon capture through mineralisation, and assessing geothermal energy potential in Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE.

These initiatives reflect a shared commitment to a low-carbon future. They support the increasing energy demand while striving to meet common goals in sustainable energy transformation. Al Olama stated, "Our commitment to enhancing synergy among government entities to achieve national energy targets and drive a shift to sustainable energy is unwavering. Our partnership with RAKPA is in line with this commitment and a major step in realizing the UAE’s net zero by 2050 objective that has been underscored at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28)."

Al Olama further noted that the collaboration with RAKPA aids efforts to transition to clean energy and improve environmental sustainability by integrating innovative technologies like natural hydrogen and carbon sequestration. "This will help us achieve our national vision of making the UAE a leader in clean and renewable energy and ensuring a sustainable future for next generations," he added.

Christopher Wood commented on the significance of this agreement for RAKPA. He said, "This MoU highlights RAKPA's commitment to driving innovative energy solutions in Ras Al Khaimah. Teaming up with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure enables us to combine our expertise to explore cutting-edge technologies in natural hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage."

The partnership also includes plans for joint technical and regulatory workshops. Both entities will initiate studies on emerging energy technologies as part of their collaborative efforts.

This agreement marks an important step towards achieving the UAE’s ambitious net-zero goals by 2050. It underscores both organisations' dedication to advancing sustainable energy practices through innovation and cooperation.

The focus remains on leveraging advanced technologies to ensure a cleaner, more sustainable future for upcoming generations while meeting current energy demands efficiently.

With inputs from WAM