Arab Region Progress in Sustainable Energy Challenges and Opportunities
1. Arab Region Progress in Sustainable Energy
Challenges and Opportunities
Ms. Radia Sedaoui
Chief Energy Section
Sustainable Development Policies Division
Kuwait, 6-7 May 2018
3. Page 3
Near-universal access to modern energy but very slow progress in
energy efficiency and a marginal role of renewable energy
SDG 7.1.1: Electrification
Access to electricity, 2014,
Arab region
Access to electricity, 2030,
IEA estimates, globally
2030 Target: Ensure
universal access to
electricity
90.4%
0
Objective
100%
91%
SDG 7.3 : Energy Efficiency
Objective
Change in energy intensity,
2010–2014, Arab region
Compound annual growth rate
of primary energy intensity,
2012-2030, current trends,
globally 2030
2030 Target: Double the global
rate of improvement in energy
efficiency, expressed as
compound annual growth rate
of primary energy intensity
0
-2.6%
-2.1%
1.6%
SDG 7.1.2: Clean Fuels and
Technologies for Cooking
Access to CFTs, 2014,
Arab region
Access to CFTs, 2030, IEA
estimates, globally
2030 Target: Ensure
universal access to CFTs
0
88%
72%
Objective
100%
SDG7.2: Renewable Energy
Objective
Renewable energy share of
TFEC, 2014, Arab region
Renewable energy share, 2030
- IEA estimates, globally
2030 Target: Double the share
of renewable energy in the
global energy mix
36%
0
3.6%
21%
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Many countries in the region are not able to provide adequate energy
services for a significant portion of their population
Sudan, 21.7Yemen, Rep.,
7.3
Morocco, 2.8
Mauritania, 2.4
Syrian Arab
Republic, 0.8
Iraq, 0.4
Egypt, Arab
Rep., 0.2
Libya, 0.1
Arab LDCs remain the only sub-region in the Arab region with significant access deficits, in particular in
non-urban areas
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Renewable energy Energy efficiency
Cost barriers
(i): Cost of technology: Modern RE technologies such as
wind and solar were long not cost-competitive
(ii): Pricing and subsidies: Prices for electricity and
competing fossil fuels are so low that utilities have no
incentive to use RE, nor do final consumers
Technological challenges. Intermittency, viability of
decentralized feed-in generation.
Market design. Lack of utility market liberalization
means utilities have no incentive to experiment
with new technologies to drive down costs.
Consumers have no choice over the source of their
electricity supply.
Political will and policy priority. Enhanced policies
and market frameworks would have the potential to
be 30% higher in the MENA region by 2021 (IEA).
Missing other incentives. Lacking “fit” of energy
security argument in fossil fuel exporters, low
profile of environmental policy in energy market
design.
Limited motivation to invest in EE
improvement: Very low, subsidized prices for
energy, electricity and water for End Users,
industries, utilities,..
Infrastructure: Lag in availability and
inadequacy of public transport systems, aging
fleets, increasing mobility
Structure of local economies (energy-intensive
industrialization)
Market design in key energy-consuming sectors
(utilities, industry): state companies versus
competitive markets
Lack of policy priority and capacity: regulation
deficits, market incentives
Deficiency of financial products suited to the
needs
Information deficits: missing data and
consumer information
Renewable energy and Energy efficiency: key issues and Barriers
7. Page 7
Recent reductions in energy subsidies show that reforming
pricing frameworks is possible
* The OPEC basket spot price is taken from the OPEC Monthly Market Oil report. National Government websites, and various national media.
Source: Data compiled by UN ESCWA and adapted from Chatham House 2016 report (“Food, fuel and utilities price reforms in the GCC”, p.3).
9. Page 9
Arab region includes some of the most water scarce
countries in the world
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Reserves Abundance in the Arab Region
Source: OAPEC, BP statistical Review, 2017
Countries in the Arab region exhibit different energy consumption levels,
but they share their reliance on fossil fuels for energy sufficiency.
Arab
Region
42%
Rest of the
World
58%
Oil Proved Reserves, 2016
1706.6
Billion BBL
Arab
Region
29%
Rest of the
World
71%
Gas Proved Reserves, 2016
187
11. Page 11
The Arab countries are well endowed with potential for
developing renewable energy resources, if adequately used
source: www.altestore.com/howto/Solar-Electric-Power/Reference-Materials/Solar-Insolation-Map-World/a43
source: MAKE, MENA Wind Power Outlook, 2 April 2015, Joffery Dupuy, P. 8
Wind speed suitable for the production of
electricity in various locations of many countries
High Solar Irradiance
Vast desert lands, semi-flat, and mostly
uninhabited
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Inclusive national development: pursuing policies that
embrace the principles of universality and inclusivity
Without rapid progress in the area of secure, affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), it will be impossible
to deliver on other SDGs by 2030 within the Arab region
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➪ Develop, implement and enforce suitable, integrated and proactive policies and
institutional frameworks
➪ Build institutional capacity, transparency and accountability, monitoring and data collection
systems
➪ Strengthen local governance and communication
➪ Increase and expand Research and Innovation
➪ Enhance interregional Arab cooperation and trade
➪ Increase private sector involvement
➪ Reinforce the role of civil society. Gender equality and stakeholder engagement
➪ Exploit the economic potential of energy alternatives, particularly RE.
➪ Develop local manufacturing of clean energy technologies components.
➪ Rationalize use of natural resources and boost productivity
PRIORITY ACTIONS
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1. Promote investments in clean technologies / financial market &
local market enablement
2. Develop/reinforce technology dissemination & transfer
3. Initiate/ reinforce capacity building programs
4. Develop/reinforce energy data, indicators and analysis systems
Means of Implementation