
NBK is the diamond sponsor for Kuwait Sustainable Energy Week conference
NBK' sponsorship of this event reflects its commitment to boosting sustainable development in line with Kuwait Vision 2035.
The bank is keen on supporting the country's strategic agenda for lowering carbon emissions and relying on renewable energy.
NBK constantly works hand in hand with its strategic partners to leave a distinct mark in the support for sustainable practices and clean energy transformation.
In continuation of its leading and responsible efforts in the field of sustainability, National Bank of Kuwait was the diamond sponsor for 'Kuwait Sustainable Energy Week' conference, which will be held from 11 to 13 May, in line with Kuwait spearheading the Board of Trustees of the Regional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
Through this sponsorship, NBK confirms its commitment to supporting initiatives of sustainability and efforts of clean energy transformation in Kuwait and the region. Several government institutions and leading private sector companies participated in this conference, further echoing the national cooperation towards achieving a more sustainable future.
NBK's sustainability team participated in a discussion panel titled 'Acclereating Sustainability through Green Projects and Businesses' to highlight the bank's leadership in green projects and its continuous efforts to fully integrate sustainable practices within its operations and institutional culture, further contributing to achieving sustainable development as per international practices.
The conference aimed to strengthen regional cooperation in essential fields such as research and development, advanced technologies in renewable energy sectors, energy efficiency, sustainable energy applications, in addition to the latest environmental technology tools. Moreover, it aimed to shed light on the most recent national innovations and initiatives in the fields of energy, water, and the environment, and enhance fruitful cooperation with international organizations, prestigious scientific research centers, and leading energy companies.
The conference included in-depth workshops and discussions about the latest international developments in energy policies and the effective ways of contributing to developing strategies that further support clean energy transformation and sustainability goals in the region.
It should be noted that this conference is a great platform for interactive exchange of ideas and innovative insights on clean energy transformation, which further enhances effective collaboration between the public and private sectors. As for the community, the conference raised awareness and encouraged innovation about using renewable and sustainable sources of energy and highlight its positive effect upon economic growth, such as attracting local and international renewable energy investments.
Many topics were explored in the conference, the most significant of which were policies that support investments in sustainable energy projects, ways of building a sustainable future for coming generations, the exchange of knowledge among participants, the latest international trends in clean energy transformation, and awareness and innovation in this field.
NBK's participation in this event reflects its commitment to boosting sustainable development and supporting a low-carbon economy in alignment with Kuwait Vision 2035 and international sustainable development goals, as it believes in the importance of the collaborative efforts of all sectors to achieve a safe and sustainable future for all.
The bank has come a long way in our sustainability and clean-energy transformation efforts, as it made remarkable progress in the four pillars of the bank's environmental, social and institutional governance strategy which include Governance for Resilience, Responsible Banking, Capitalizing on Capabilities, and Investing in Communities. All these have contributed to enhancing NBK's leading role in building a better and more sustainable future.
Moreover, NBK is keen on cooperating with strategic partners to constantly support sustainable practices and promote Kuwait's agenda for lowering carbon emissions and relying on renewable energy.
NBK emphasizes its commitment to long-term sustainable practices and low operational effects by implementing low-carbon and energy efficiency initiatives, as this has helped the bank move in the right direction towards achieving low operational emissions and ultimately carbon neutrality by 2060.
It is noteworthy that NBK received several prestigious classifications from international institutions, which highlights its commitment to sustainability and governance, confirms its progress in integrating ESG standards in its core strategy, and enhances its leading role in implementing the best international practices.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water, Renewable Energy honored NBK in appreciation of its sponsorship of the 'Kuwait Sustainable Energy Week' Conference, as well as its efforts in supporting sustainability initiatives, enhancing the future for upcoming generations, and effective contributions towards clean energy transformation locally and regionally.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Where is Saudi Arabia on its plan to power itself on sun and wind rather than oil?
"Saudi Arabia's renewables plans are overhyped and falling short!" "No, they're not, they're transformational and decisive for the future of the world oil market!" Between competing narratives, what is the truth of the kingdom's ambitious plans to power itself on sun and wind rather than oil? This debate arises from three key trends: Saudi power demand is growing steeply, the country burns huge quantities of oil for electricity and it has one of the world's most ambitious plans to build renewable generation. If it succeeds in phasing out petroleum in power generation by 2030, that could upset the global oil market – at least in theory. Let us break down these components. Saudi electricity consumption is powered by the push for diversification and industrialisation, and more recently by data centre construction. Power demand jumped 10 per cent in the first half of this year and peak needs exceeded 75 gigawatts for the first time. This is despite promotion of energy efficiency, and the effect of increases in prices of electricity and water in 2016, 2018 and (via a value added tax rate hike) in 2020. Tariffs were raised again this May. The country is both one of the world's biggest oil producers and consumers. While most utilities worldwide have phased out the use of costly oil for power generation, Saudi Arabia burns on average 1.1 million barrels daily to make electricity and desalinated water. In the summer, this rises to more than 1.4 million bpd of crude and fuel oil for power, driven by air conditioning needs. This consumption eats into Saudi oil exports and the seasonality limits its flexibility with Opec policy. By 2030, the government wants to eliminate this oil consumption. Instead, 130 gigawatts of renewable capacity is hoped to produce at least half its electricity, the rest coming from gas. The Saudi renewable programme has had several false starts, beginning with the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, which in 2013 set a target of 58.7 gigawatts by 2030. Little progress was made, leading to scepticism from project developers. But over the last two years, progress has accelerated enormously. Today, the country has 10.2 gigawatts of operational renewable energy, mostly solar photovoltaic. By the end of 2028, the installed capacity should exceed 40 gigawatts. So hitting the 2030 target would require an average of 45 gigawatts built in both 2029 and 2030. With planned awards at 20 gigawatts annually, Riyadh looks behind schedule, but it could reach its goal by 2032 or 2033, still an impressive achievement. This is purely a question of organisation; national champion Acwa Power and the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, plus numerous international renewable developers, are keen to deliver and finance has been readily available. Saudi Arabia's ambition would be less than 3 per cent of the total global solar installation this year forecast by BloombergNEF. This again looks highly achievable given its large land area, excellent solar conditions and other advantages. The very low costs achieved for large-scale renewables in its sunny, windy deserts are equivalent to oil priced at around $6 per barrel, below even its very low production costs, and far lower than world market prices. It also has a hefty investment programme to boost gas output, extend its gas pipeline network to the west coast and convert oil-fired power plants to gas. On Thursday, it signed an $11 billion deal with a consortium led by asset manager BlackRock, to finance processing facilities for Jafurah, its giant development of unconventional gas. By 2030, Jafurah should be producing 2 billion cubic feet of gas daily. This is a big chunk of raising overall gas output from 10.8 bcf per day last year to about 16 bcf daily by 2030. What will the effect of all this be? The answer is: it depends on demand. Going by the breakneck pace of this year, with almost 10 per cent annual rises in electricity demand by 2030, the kingdom will do well even to keep oil consumption flat, let alone eliminate it. At a more restrained but still strong pace of 4-5 per cent, seen over the last three years, oil burn could indeed be stopped entirely around 2031. To achieve its goals, Riyadh needs to work hard on energy efficiency. The recent subsidy reforms may continue to control consumption. Air conditioning, the main driver of summer electricity use, can be made more efficient, and supplemented by better building design, insulation and natural cooling systems. And, as the data centre sector booms, it would be helpful to allow them to source renewable energy directly, rather than drawing on the grid for power from oil or gas. If the country does indeed succeed in cutting most of its oil consumption for power around 2030, does that mean a further glut in the world crude market? On the face of it, eliminating 1.1 million bpd of demand would wipe out the equivalent of a whole year's global demand growth. But this is purely an arithmetic exercise. The impact on the world outside Saudi borders depends on whether it chooses to export the saved oil, or to cut back production correspondingly. Saudi Aramco was told in early 2024 to pause plans to expand production capacity, a possible acknowledgement of the expectation of lower domestic needs. There will be impact on specific parts of the petroleum business. For instance, the reduced burning of heavy fuel oil, a low-value product of refining, will saturate that market. The additional hydrocarbon liquids from Jafurah, which are not counted as crude oil, will mean Saudi exports and petrochemical feedstocks will grow regardless of Opec policy. But Riyadh, in co-ordination with its colleagues in the Opec+ alliance, will decide on overall oil output levels. Less domestic consumption will give it greater flexibility, especially in summer. It will have more spare capacity, a buffer against disruption elsewhere. Saudi Arabia's power shift will transform its domestic energy system – but do not foreshadow a practical peak in world oil demand.


Tahawul Tech
11 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
SANS Institute returns with fourth edition of SANS Cyber Leaders Forum to Riyadh
The fifth edition of SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders delivers intensive training for cybersecurity managers and SOC leaders. The SANS Institute is set to return to the Kingdom's capital with the fourth edition of its Cyber Leaders Forum from August 24 to 28, 2025. Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, the event will offer five days of high-impact leadership and technical training, tailored for security managers and SOC leaders facing today's complex cyber threats. This year's forum builds on Saudi Arabia's rising status as a global cybersecurity frontrunner. In 2025, the Kingdom secured the top position in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook's cybersecurity indicator, a milestone achieved through concerted national efforts led by the National Cybersecurity Authority and the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE). Their strategic initiatives have not only boosted local cyber resilience but have also reinforced international partnerships and technology localisation. 'Saudi Arabia's position as a global cybersecurity leader is no coincidence, it's the result of strategic vision and long-term commitment,' said Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at SANS Institute. 'At SANS, we're proud to support this progress by bringing world-class training to Riyadh through our Cyber Leaders event, helping to develop the next generation of cybersecurity leadership in the Kingdom.' Leadership-focused courses for strategic security professionals The Riyadh training event will feature specialised courses aligned with the needs of InfoSec leaders. These include: LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers , aimed at helping professionals strengthen strategic planning and leadership abilities. LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership™ , offering tools for building comprehensive cybersecurity plans and policies. LDR551: Building and Leading Security Operations Centers™ , focused on SOC development and aligning operations to enterprise risk profiles. Each course incorporates 17 hands-on labs and Cyber42 leadership simulations, ensuring participants gain both conceptual knowledge and practical skills. Attendees can join either in person or via live online sessions. Community Night Talk: Focus on crypto mining threats The Cyber Leaders Community Night Talk will take place on August 25 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Delivered by expert instructor Jan D'Herdt, the session will explore the detection of unauthorised cryptocurrency mining in corporate environments—an emerging risk with serious implications for enterprise networks. This open-access session offers a practical platform for cybersecurity professionals in Saudi Arabia and beyond to enhance their threat detection capabilities. Online attendance is also available through SANS Accounts.


Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Airport's new AI corridor allows passengers to clear immigration without stops: Alkhaleej
Dubai Airport (DXB) is now home to an AI-powered corridor, allowing multiple travellers to pass through immigration controls within seconds. The new service allows up to 10 people to pass through at the same time, without having to stop or present identification documents, according to local newspaper Alkhaleej. The airport systems now recognise passenger data even before they arrive at border crossings, said Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai. The new AI-powered corridor also speeds up process es and doubles the capacity of airports, as multiple passengers can be processed at once. In addition, AI also helps in detecting violations as it refers any suspicious passport directly to forgery experts, Al Marri added. The new service is the first of its kind worldwide and comes as part of an integrated system that puts the experience of "boundless travel" within travelers' reach, Al Marri stated. DXB maintained its position as the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic for 2024, according to a report by Airports Council International (ACI) World. Travellers' impressions Many passengers who walked through the corridor expressed their admiration for the quick clearing service. 'I travelled with my family and the experience was smooth and exceptional. The procedures have become much faster thanks to this corridor, as travel can now be completed in record time without the need to stop at passport control counters,' said Mohammed Amer from Syria. Another traveller called Mahmoud Balou from Canada praised Dubai's efforts to adopt the latest technologies that help cut waiting time and prevent congestion, making the travel experience more enjoyable and seamless, according to the Alkhaleej report.