Bahrain has unveiled its National Energy Strategy, with the objective of achieving a 30% reduction in emissions by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2060, in line with its COP26 goals
The Strategy aims to decarbonise Bahrain’s economy while ensuring reliable and affordable access to the energy the Kingdom needs to sustain and accelerate its growth. It is one of six priority sector strategies that stem from the Kingdom’s forward-looking Economic Recovery Plan.
The strategy is based on a partnership model and is the product of genuine collaboration between government and industry, harnessing the expertise and know-how of industry to build a comprehensive, cross-sectoral plan that takes full advantage of synergies and opportunities to scale. By working together from the outset, 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 is looking to serve as a regional hub for the development and testing of innovative clean technologies, with the advantages of its size, strategic location, favourable regulatory environment and agile government.
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, “The Kingdom of 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. The National Energy Strategy provides a realistic pathway to decarbonizing our national economy in a holistic manner, guiding us in achieving our energy transition goals and fulfilling our Net-Zero national commitments by 2060.”
