Jan 22 - Al Bawaba


The Egyptian energy sector is on track to become the leader in Middle Eastern renewable energy initiatives, states one of Egypt's high-ranking government officials.

"Wind farms clustered in the Saidi area of Egypt will employ thousands and produce 20 percent of the country's diversified energy needs by 2020," said HE Dr. Hassan Younes, Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Energy at this week's World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Younes' summit announcement came during day one of the largest-ever international meeting of influential figures within the renewable energy industry. He revealed that Egypt's stand-alone project involves moving farms that generate electricity from the wind to the Saidi area, creating new sustainable-energy jobs for thousands of Egyptian workers in the process.

The Egyptian Minister was a special guest at the Media Roundtable panel organized by CNBC Arabiya at the summit. Roundtable participants were overall optimistic on the future of the transition from fossil energy consumption to renewable energy, provided that there would be sufficient awareness amongst the public on this initiative.

Participants also expressed disappointment at the current state of the region's media coverage on renewable energy topics, noting that the media's low-priority approach threatens renewable energy development across the Middle East. Arab communities have come under increased pressure to become more aware of the environmental and health risks that stem from the region's high concentration of fossil fuel-burning energy producers.

As the region's first and premier 24-hour live Arabic Business TV channel, CNBC Arabiya recently launched Bil Akhdar ("Green Business" in English), a program dedicated to environmental issues impacting the business world, green industry, new sustainable initiatives and companies spearheading the green movement. Green Business also broadcasts details about environmental legislation and guidelines and offers advice to companies seeking to make their business more eco-friendly. The weekly show airs on Sundays at 8pm (KSA time).

2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

Originally published by By Al-Bawaba Reporters.

(c) 2009 Al Bawaba. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.