Rio de Janeiro – As is the case with its neighbours in the Middle East, Oman has projects for production of clean energy. However, according to the country’s Environment and Climate Affairs minister, Mohammed Bin Salim Bin Said Al Tobi, the country depends on gas exploration. Apart from being the main energy resource, it is also the main source of income.
According to Tobi, Oman is developing a project for construction of a solar power plant and a wind farm. A unit with solar panels already produces energy, but at small volume. The country also has a plan to generate energy from garbage and supports, alongside the League of Arab States, the proposals of the G77, a group of emerging nations, at the Rio+20. One of the suggestions, not included in the final document of the conference, was the establishment of a US$ 30 billion fund to begin in 2013, to finance sustainable projects in developing nations.
Tobi complained on Friday (20), in Rio, that the proposal had not been accepted by the rich nations. “The lack of financing for sustainable development projects shows their [industrialized countries’] lack of engagement as a result of the economic crisis, which is stunting their capacity to adopt measures in the area.”
The minister pointed out, however, that the cost of development and implementation of wind or solar plants is high. “A country that is rich in natural resources will also use what it has. However, Oman always considers investing in renewable energy to use it in some sectors of the economy, mainly in the industrial area,” he said. In 2010, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) totalled US$ 57.8 billion. Of this total, 33% came from hydrocarbons.
In his address at a plenary session at the Rio+20, Tobi stated that Oman is “anxious for the historic decision to be adopted at the meeting”. He also stated that no project begins in Oman without considerations as to the impacts it will have on the environment and on the life of the population.
*Translated by Mark Ament
