Adipec, the world’s largest energy conference, took place in Abu Dhabi last week – and it was hot. Not just metaphorically, but literally: the event was moved a month earlier to accommodate the Cop28 climate gathering at the end of November, and the October weather was sweaty.
After the world experienced its hottest September on record, eyes were on the energy industry to progress its net-zero carbon promises.
Like Indiana Jones trapped in a room with the walls closing in, the energy sector is under stress from four sides.
Consumers, particularly in developing countries, need access to reliable, reasonably-priced energy. Governments and regulators require the carbon footprint of operations to drop towards zero. Environmentalists and climate activists want oil and gas production to drop off rapidly to nothing and be replaced by renewables. And shareholders demand that whatever the companies do, it should be profitable.
Decarbonisation and the road to net zero were the core theme of this year’s Adipec, and have been prominent for several years.
Low-carbon technologies have increasingly gained ground, but the displays of compressors, valves, drill bits and other oilfield kits were as prominent as ever.
The crucial question: with such conflicting pressures, is the industry doing enough to meet climate imperatives?
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, and President-designate of Cop28, told The Guardian: “Not having oil and gas and high-emitting industries on the same table is not the right thing to do.”
At Adipec itself, Dr Al Jaber repeated his exhortation to the petroleum business to “step up, align around net zero by or before 2050, zero-out methane emissions and eliminate routine flaring by 2030”.
The company he heads has made substantial steps in this regard.
Adnoc has reported that it emitted 24 million tonnes from its upstream operations last year. It aims to reduce operational intensity – emissions per barrel of oil or cubic foot of gas – by 25 per cent by 2030, from what is already one of the lowest levels globally.
Since Adnoc’s oil and gas capacity is intended to rise significantly, it will need strong action to stop overall emissions from rising. By 2045, it wants its upstream emissions, those from oil and gas production operations, to reach net zero.
At the start of Adipec, the state oil firm doubled its carbon capture target to 10 million tonnes per year by 2030, having last month made the final commitment to a 1.5 million tonne per year capture project at the Habshan gas processing plant.
On Tuesday, it signed with American oil corporation Occidental to plan a million tonne per year plant to capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, which would be the first such large site outside the US.
On Thursday, it awarded $17 billion of contracts for the Hail and Ghasha offshore gas development, capturing another 1.5 million tonnes and intended to operate with net-zero emissions. By 2030, it also wants to eliminate releases of methane, the main constituent of natural gas, with a much more powerful global warming effect than carbon dioxide.
But overall, the industry has to do much more.
The lack of trust from wider society in much of the West is not surprising when it has spent decades dragging its feet. Ingenious enough to coax oil and gas out of almost impermeable shale, to find and extract hydrocarbons from under 3,000 metres of water or 10,000 metres of rock, but not to zero-out its own emissions.
Methane is one egregious example. This is a flammable gas, and a valuable one. Yet overall leakage rates range from 1.4 per cent to 3.7 per cent, even higher in some examples. Some centres vent unwanted methane directly into the air. Flares that burn off wasted gas don’t combust it entirely; as much as 10 per cent may escape.
Only in 2019 did the topic really gain prominence, when new measurements and satellites revealed the rates of escape to be much higher than previously estimated. Then the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war distracted attention.
Now limiting methane is finally back on the agenda. The US government has introduced a fee for leaks, but the industry has fought it, claiming absurdly that unburnt methane from flares, or leaks from equipment that is technically not “operating”, should be exempt.
The failure to tackle one of the simplest and highest-impact problems is not encouraging for bigger challenges. Carbon capture is an essential technology for cutting emissions from oil and gas operations as well as from industry. Indeed, it is the core method for continuing the use of hydrocarbons in a climate-compatible way.
We could have had large-scale carbon capture for two decades. Governments dragged their feet on paying for it properly. But that in turn represented a failure of the industry to make its case and to bring forward ambitious yet viable projects.
Among several successes, a few underperforming operations have been used by opponents to tar the whole enterprise. If oil companies had perceived carbon capture as critical to their business, they would not tolerate that underperformance. Instead, they have been content to pay minor penalties and take their time to fix the issues.
Although about 40 million tonnes of capacity is in operation, and 244 million tonnes in development, almost 1,300 million tonnes are needed by 2030 to be on track for the International Energy Agency’s net-zero scenario.
Globally, the oil and gas industry, and its industrial partners, need to put that extra billion tonnes forward – and challenge governments to support it properly.
Indeed, as Dr Al Jaber says, the business needs to step up. At Adipec, and again at Cop28, it will have its seat at the top table. Only if it demonstrates and delivers its commitments on its own emissions, can it have a voice in the much tougher conversations on its long-term future.
Robin M. Mills is chief executive of Qamar Energy and author of 'The Myth of the Oil Crisis'
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
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6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
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• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Results
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Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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1. Fasting
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3. Hajj
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50-man Royal Rumble
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Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns
Casket match
The Undertaker v Rusev
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Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
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Sheamus and Cesaro v Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
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Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
Singles match
Triple H v John Cena
To be confirmed
AJ Styles will defend his WWE World Heavyweight title and Cedric Alexander his Cruiserweight Championship, but matches have yet to be announced
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role.
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
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Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
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The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Borussia Dortmund 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
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Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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MATCH INFO
Brescia 1 (Skrinia og, 76)
Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 33, Lukaku 63)
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
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6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
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7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
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Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Napoleon
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If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
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