A report issued by World Energy Council, along with other studies, estimated that the value of investment in energy projects will reach at $45.6 billion during the coming decade, with Kingdom and the UAE taking the lion's share of these projects. The energy consumption rate in the GCC countries is estimated at 10.7 percent in the UAE, seven percent in the Kingdom and between four and six percent in the other GCC countries. This rise has come as a result of the accelerated economic growth in non-oil sectors, with the real estate and industrial sectors at the forefront of this boom. These sectors are supported by government for the key role they play in diversifying the economy away from oil revenues. Demand for power in the GCC countries has surged by nine percent, an increase of three times the global average. Kingdom and the UAE require as much as 2,000 and 1,500 additional megawatts, respectively, on an annual basis during the coming decade to generate more power to cover the increasing needs. In keeping with its plans to spread awareness on the sustainable development concept, the Emirates Energy Award, one of Dubai Quality Group's initiatives, has embarked on a tour across the GCC countries to hold workshops with concerned parties with the objective of addressing the environment and energy consumption issues. The move is in line with the award's aggressive campaign to instill a clean environment culture and to promote optimal energy consumption as part of a global approach to sustainable development. Dr. Abdullah Al-Amiri, the Emirates Energy Award chairman, said “this initiative aims to open new vistas of cooperation with GCC countries and boost the already established position of the award on the GCC environment protection map.” “EEA is not limited to the UAE, but aims to promote leadership and excellence in sustainable practices across the GCC countries. We have been warmly welcomed in the GCC countries, as we are spreading awareness on sustainable development principles in KSA, Kuwait and Oman with the ambition to create a unified agenda to significantly contribute to spreading clean environment ethics and policies, as well as the efficient use of the region's energy resources,” he said. “Studying the GCC models in environment protection policies is another objective of the visit. We are reviewing the strategies of the GCC countries in maintaining clean environment, highlighting their efforts to meet international standards in recycling processes and minimize the effects of emissions and contamination, as well as studying their forthcoming projects in these regards,” Al-Amiri added. __
