Bahrain unveiled its National Energy Strategy: a clear, credible, and responsible pathway to reaching the climate targets the Kingdom pledged to achieve at COP26, namely a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2035 on the road to net-zero emissions by 2060.
The Strategy is rooted in the twin objectives of decarbonising Bahrain’s economy while ensuring reliable and affordable access to the energy the Kingdom needs to sustain and, indeed, accelerate its growth. It is one of 6 priority sector strategies that stem from the Kingdom’s forward-looking Economic Recovery Plan.
Recognising that there are many ways to approach decarbonisation, with some countries focusing on a regulatory approach and others focusing on industry-led initiatives, the Kingdom leveraged its small country advantage to opt for a partnership model. The Strategy is the product of genuine collaboration between government and industry.
This comes in an effort to harness the latter’s expertise and know-how to build a comprehensive, cross-sectoral plan that takes full advantage of synergies and opportunities to scale.
Government and industry are taking a coordinated approach to future planning on skills requirements, infrastructure and other issues that will require cooperation.
The Strategy relies on three levers: optimising energy demand to reduce energy intensity and consumption, diversifying the country’s power mix to include cleaner energy sources, and deploying carbon abatement technologies to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors. Each lever includes a series of initiatives carefully designed and sequenced to ensure Bahrain maximises the environmental benefits that accrue as a result of their implementation while minimising the overall cost of transition.
Bahrain sees economic opportunity in its plan: Bahrain’s size, strategic location, favorable regulatory environment, and agile government, make it uniquely positioned to serve as a regional hub for the development and testing of innovative clean technologies.
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of Bapco Energies said that Bahrain is embarking on a transformative journey towards a more sustainable future where energy security evolves as a shared responsibility, nurtured by the innovation of our domestic energy industry, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
“The National Energy Strategy provides a realistic pathway to decarbonising our national economy in a holistic manner, guiding us in achieving our energy transition goals and fulfilling our Net-Zero national commitments by 2060,” he added.
BNA(R)
