Jordan Times
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
PM highlights importance of renewable energy resources
AMMAN (Petra) — Deputising for His Majesty King
Abdullah, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit inaugurated the 1st Global Renewable
Energy Conference and Exhibition (GC READER) on Monday.
In his opening address, Bakhit stressed the importance of renewable energy
resources, noting that the development of countries heavily relies on the use of
these resources.
The premier said there was a need for the creation of an international
institution to help the countries to develop the use of renewable energy
resources, stressing that such a body would help the developing countries to
grow and advance.
Stressing the significance of utilising renewable energy that is
environment-friendly, the premier said a total of 15 per cent of energy consumed
in the world comes from the renewable energy resources, while 85 per cent comes
from oil and nuclear power.
Bakhit added that the use of solar energy in the region could be large scale as
there are many sunny desert areas in the Middle East.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Azmi Khreisat said the use of solar
energy in Jordan would also reduce dependency on fuel derivatives, especially
since the country does not produce oil.
During the Sept. 18-21 event, international experts and scientists will deliver
lectures on energy-related issues, and present working papers on the issue.
The conference was organised by the Energy and Mineral Resources Centre at the
University of Jordan and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in
cooperation with the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), the
International Research Centre for Renewable Energy eV (IFEED) in Dedelstorf, the
European Commission academic institutions and private organisations.