Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Saudi Aramco/Yanbu NGL Fractionation Plant was this year's winner of the Energy Globe Award in Saudi Arabia, implementing a sustainable and outstanding project. A flare gas recovery project recovers the ethane tank boil off and compresses it instead of flaring it into the atmosphere, reducing the annual CO2 emissions by 30,000 tons. It is considered a sustainable initiative for a sustainable future!

The 2,000 projects submitted from 178 different countries around the world to develop solutions for the most pressing environmental problems like resource scarcity, air and water pollution, erosion, climate change or dependence on fossil fuels. The event was held recently and hosted by the Commercial Section at the Austrian Embassy in Riyadh.

Dr. Kurt Altmann, Austrian Commercial Counsellor told the Saudi Gazette: “The Austrian Energy Global Award is considered one of the most important initiatives in the world of energy. It is number one award for energy saving, energy measures, alternative energy and pollution reduction in the world.”

He stressed that energy saving and pollution reduction in the environmental techniques and policies take significant part in our economy. “It goes back in our history since 1970s. By the time and due to historic factors, we started to implement very strict regulations for environmental production. Austria has very strong industry in these areas that explains why we would like to share the knowledge we have with other countries and help spread of that through such events,” he added.

Speaking of the winner of 2017, he said: “I firstly want to congratulate Saudi Aramco for winning. The effort made by Saudi Aramco is breathtaking, they are adopting new techniques for saving coasts, alternative and solar energy.”

“We are proud to say that there is a number of Austrian companies which already cooperate with Aramco regarding oil field and gas equipment. We want to enhance this cooperation. Austria is a country with a population of 8 million but a GDP over €350 billion.

“Environmental technologies are a substantial part of this success and we are ready for any kind of for more cooperation,” he added.

“We are very impressed with the Kingdom’s vision 2030. The success made by this vision was clearly shown in the last conference “First Investment Initiative”: Austria had participation there. There are lots of Austrian companies interested in entering the Saudi market to be part of the efficacy enhancement plans. — SG