Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Energy efficiency has become part of the agenda for lifestyle reform in Saudi Arabia, according to Salam Asmari, director of the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI).

He was speaking at a recent seminar on energy efficiency in automobiles, organized jointly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Nomura Research Institute (NRI) and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) with the cooperation of the Consulate General of Japan in Jeddah.

Asmari has said the Saudis are keen to reduce energy consumption in an effective manner to address climate change. He expressed his confidence that the Saudi youth would become pioneers in the field of energy efficiency in the near future with the technical expertise and cooperation offered by Japan.

As highlighted by the new fuel economy standard for automobiles, Saudi Arabia Corporate Average Fuel Economy (SAUDI CAFE) standard, efficiency in energy consumption is one of the urgent focus areas.

Hailing the Japanese support, Asmari said SJAHI is a proven example for Saudi-Japan cooperation and friendly bilateral relations. He said SJAHI had been playing a significant role in transferring Japanese know-how in automobile maintenance o the Saudi youth since its inception 16 years ago.

Shou Ankshuie, executive director at METI of Japan, said Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman’s reforms as envisaged in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aim to have a healthy, echo-friendly and energy-efficient lifestyle that go along Japanese efforts to utilize energy resources more efficiently.

Masayuki Miyamoto, Japanese consul general in Jeddah, said Japan overcame the shortage of mineral resources through innovations, the use of advanced technology and successful initiatives, and today Japan is considered to be a leading country in energy efficiency.

Appreciating the great awareness in Saudi Arabia on the importance of energy efficiency, and its launching of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program “Kafaa” for automobiles and electronic devices in 2012 under the supervision of Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman, state minister for energy affairs and chairman of the executive committee of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC).

He said SJAHI was one of the prime institutes that transferred Japanese technology in car maintenance, which plays a significant role in promoting efficient fuel consumption.