VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #0100 0341408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031408Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4528
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/IEC/EPC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EPET SENV KU
SUBJECT: KFAS FORUM BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY 
 
¶1. (U) Econoff attended the Kuwait Foundation for the 
Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) Perspectives on Energy and 
Climate Forum from January 18-20, an event cosponsored by the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  The forum 
assessed the domestic energy question from both the supply 
and demand side, and concluded that the GoK needs to up its 
investment in renewables and pursue new technologies to 
promote carbon capture.  Factors considered included current 
market demands for cleaner oil and the need to extend the 
life of Kuwait's oil and gas reserves. 
 
¶2.  (U) According to Salem Al-Hajraf, a research scientist 
with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the 
GoK intends to supply 10% of its domestic energy demand from 
renewable resources by the year 2020 in an attempt to 
diversify Kuwait's economy and energy supply.  Also raised at 
the conference were: 
 
     -- The short and long term economic advantages of 
renewable energy and potential applications for renewable 
energy in the oil sector; 
 
     -- the demand and supply sides of energy consumption in 
Kuwait; 
 
     --the potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, 
sequestration and conservation; and, 
 
     --the potential for Kuwait to develop peaceful nuclear 
energy. 
 
¶3. (U) Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) executives presented 
three feasibility studies conducted by KISR addressing the 
use of mini-wind farms to fuel telecommunication stations, 
how KPC can utilize hybrid wind/solar stations to generate 
hydrogen to produce water for power stations and oil 
reservoir injections, and the presently under-construction 
reverse osmosis (RO) treatment plant to desalinate ground 
water.  Mohammed Husain, the Deputy Chairman of KOC, focused 
on the possibility of using CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery 
(EOR) as a long-term method for improving hydrocarbon 
recovery and minimizing Kuwait's excess CO2.  KPC is in the 
initial phase of evaluating carbon capture technology and 
reinjection as a commercially viable reservoir management 
tool. 
 
¶4. (U) Comment:  Discussions of renewable energy sources and 
ways to improve energy efficiency are increasing in Kuwait, 
driven in part by concerns about the economic bottom-line, 
and in part by growing recognition of the consequences of 
global warming.  While major concrete steps to move forward 
have yet to be taken, the fact that KPC is investing in 
feasibility studies and that KISR continues to conduct 
research in this area suggests that forums such as this one 
represent more than "kalaam faudy" (empty words).  End 
Comment. 
 
********************************************* ********* 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: 
 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it 
********************************************* ********* 
JONES