Latest news with #MEM
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman to launch its first renewable energy storage project
Muscat – Oman will soon announce its first renewable energy storage project as part of ongoing efforts to expand clean energy capacity and reduce dependence on conventional power sources. H E Salem bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, has confirmed that five to six new wind and solar projects are scheduled to begin this year, with particular focus on wind power due to the sultanate's strong potential in this area. These projects are expected to begin generating more than 2,000MW of electricity by the end of 2027. A majority of the wind projects will be located in Al Wusta and Dhofar, where long-term wind measurements have confirmed viable generation capacity. 'Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) is working with Nama Group and the Authority for Public Services Regulation to identify the most suitable solutions for energy storage, whether through conventional or emerging technologies,' H E Aufi said. 'The first storage project will be announced soon.' H E Salem bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals He added that the projects support Oman's energy transition strategy and create opportunities to develop industries powered by clean energy. Oman Vision 2040 targets renewable energy to make up around 30% of the country's total electricity generation by 2030. In line with this, the Manah 1 and Manah 2 solar plants have been launched, with a combined capacity of approximately 1,000MW. MEM is also working in coordination with Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and Petroleum Development Oman to establish a hydrogen corridor. The initiative aims to set up hydrogen production and supply stations in concession areas, enabling the fuelling of trucks operating between these.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Credible energy transition hinges on regulatory agility, MEM official
MUSCAT: The complexity of policy frameworks—not technology or ambition—is the real bottleneck in accelerating renewable energy deployment, said Dr Firas al Abduwani, Director General of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM), during a high-level panel at the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (OPES) on Tuesday. Speaking during the 'Innovation in New Energies to Enable the Transition' session hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Dr Al Abduwani emphasised that policymaking—often criticised as slow or outdated—is far more nuanced than commonly assumed. 'Everyone says, 'Why aren't we doing more renewables?' and the answer is always 'the policy'. But very few understand how deeply layered and technically complex these policies are,' he said. 'It's not just about ambition. It's about designing policies that reflect economic realities, legacy infrastructure, and affordability for consumers and industry.' HIDDEN COSTS, REAL CONSTRAINTS Dr Al Abduwani explained that legacy energy systems—particularly natural gas—are heavily subsidised and socially embedded in Oman's industrial model, which makes sudden shifts toward renewables politically and economically risky. 'Gas in Oman is not treated purely as a commodity—it's socialised,' he said. 'It underpins electricity prices, industrial feedstock, and household consumption. Reforming that structure is like changing the wheels of a moving car.' He estimated that Oman continues to spend over a billion dollars annually in subsidies, underscoring how embedded fossil fuels remain in the nation's economic architecture. A CALL FOR AGILE, ADAPTIVE POLICY To enable a credible energy transition, Dr Al Abduwani called for more agile regulatory systems—where electricity generation, storage, and distribution are interconnected with real-time pricing and dynamic access across the grid. 'A modern energy policy must give generators and consumers the flexibility to interact with the grid dynamically. If you want renewables to compete fairly, you need to unbundle and de-subsidise the system with surgical precision,' he said. He pointed to international examples—such as Germany's multi-decade subsidy transition and market restructuring—as models worth studying, though not necessarily copying outright. 'Oman must chart its own path, but we can learn from how others sequence the shift—Germany, for instance, gave industries 10 years to adapt to new rules.' TRANSITION WITHOUT DISRUPTION Acknowledging that energy transitions risk social backlash if done poorly, Dr Al-Abduwani called for a holistic approach: engaging regulators, consumers, industries, and financiers in synchronised reform. 'You can't expect households and businesses to absorb cost shocks overnight. Transition must be just, data-driven, and inclusive,' he said. 'And that's why policy is hard. It's not just about writing laws—it's about managing trade-offs between security, affordability, and sustainability.' The OPES panel, which attracted government officials, private sector executives, and global energy experts, was part of broader discussions around Oman's clean energy roadmap under Vision 2040, particularly its green hydrogen ambitions and renewable capacity targets. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
17-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Credible energy transition hinges on regulatory agility: MEM official
MUSCAT: The complexity of policy frameworks—not technology or ambition—is the real bottleneck in accelerating renewable energy deployment, said Dr Firas al Abduwani, Director General of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM), during a high-level panel at the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (OPES) on Tuesday. Speaking during the 'Innovation in New Energies to Enable the Transition' session hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Dr Al Abduwani emphasised that policymaking—often criticised as slow or outdated—is far more nuanced than commonly assumed. 'Everyone says, 'Why aren't we doing more renewables?' and the answer is always 'the policy'. But very few understand how deeply layered and technically complex these policies are,' he said. 'It's not just about ambition. It's about designing policies that reflect economic realities, legacy infrastructure, and affordability for consumers and industry.' HIDDEN COSTS, REAL CONSTRAINTS Dr Al Abduwani explained that legacy energy systems—particularly natural gas—are heavily subsidised and socially embedded in Oman's industrial model, which makes sudden shifts toward renewables politically and economically risky. 'Gas in Oman is not treated purely as a commodity—it's socialised,' he said. 'It underpins electricity prices, industrial feedstock, and household consumption. Reforming that structure is like changing the wheels of a moving car.' He estimated that Oman continues to spend over a billion dollars annually in subsidies, underscoring how embedded fossil fuels remain in the nation's economic architecture. A CALL FOR AGILE, ADAPTIVE POLICY To enable a credible energy transition, Dr Al Abduwani called for more agile regulatory systems—where electricity generation, storage, and distribution are interconnected with real-time pricing and dynamic access across the grid. 'A modern energy policy must give generators and consumers the flexibility to interact with the grid dynamically. If you want renewables to compete fairly, you need to unbundle and de-subsidise the system with surgical precision,' he said. He pointed to international examples—such as Germany's multi-decade subsidy transition and market restructuring—as models worth studying, though not necessarily copying outright. 'Oman must chart its own path, but we can learn from how others sequence the shift—Germany, for instance, gave industries 10 years to adapt to new rules.' TRANSITION WITHOUT DISRUPTION Acknowledging that energy transitions risk social backlash if done poorly, Dr Al-Abduwani called for a holistic approach: engaging regulators, consumers, industries, and financiers in synchronised reform. 'You can't expect households and businesses to absorb cost shocks overnight. Transition must be just, data-driven, and inclusive,' he said. 'And that's why policy is hard. It's not just about writing laws—it's about managing trade-offs between security, affordability, and sustainability.' The OPES panel, which attracted government officials, private sector executives, and global energy experts, was part of broader discussions around Oman's clean energy roadmap under Vision 2040, particularly its green hydrogen ambitions and renewable capacity targets.
The Star
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Laos, Switzerland deepen partnership on dam safety
VIENTIANE: The governments of Laos and Switzerland have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing dam safety in Laos through the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project, when a steering committee endorsed the 2025 work plan. This commitment was underlined at the project's second steering committee meeting, which took place in Vientiane on Thursday (May 8). The department's Director General, Bouathep Malaykham, delivered his remarks at the meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by the Director General of the Department of Energy Industry Safety Management (DESM) under the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), Bouathep Malaykham, and Head of the Climate Change & Natural Resource Management Programme at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Mekong region, Bjorn Schranz. Implemented by Helvetas with support from the Swiss Government and in close partnership with DESM/MEM, the National University of Laos, the Lao Association on Dams, and EDL-Gen, the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project aims to strengthen institutional and technical capacities for dam safety across Laos. Swiss experts contribute through technical assistance, knowledge exchange, and support for regulatory development. The steering committee reviewed the key achievements of 2024 and officially endorsed the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance 2025 work plan. This marks a continued commitment to bolstering dam safety standards, institutional effectiveness, and technical resilience in line with national and international best practices. Bouathep acknowledged the crucial role that dam safety technical and institutional assistance plays in building both technical and institutional capabilities within the Ministry of Energy and Mines and partner institutions. He expressed sincere appreciation for Switzerland's ongoing support and acknowledged the tangible progress achieved through this strategic cooperation. Schranz reaffirmed Switzerland's long-standing partnership with Laos, saying that the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project reflects a shared dedication to sustainable infrastructure, improved risk governance, and community safety. He praised the value of Swiss expertise while emphasising the importance of Lao ownership to ensure long-term sustainability. A key highlight of the meeting was the recognition of the launch of Laos' first dam engineering course on Feb 13 this year. Developed in partnership with the National University of Laos and Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), this milestone reflects the growing local capacity and shared investment in home-grown knowledge and resilience. The steering committee adopted several recommendations to enhance project implementation, including strengthening cross-sectoral coordination, expanding capacity-building efforts to provincial and sectoral agencies, and promoting data transparency and information-sharing mechanisms. The meeting also noted the upcoming Mid-Term Review by an independent third party, which will provide valuable insights to refine the project's strategic direction and ensure alignment with Laos' development priorities. At the close of the meeting, Bouathep underscored the importance of continued collaboration, legislative reform, and institutional strengthening to safeguard the communities and ecosystems that depend on hydropower. At the same time, Schranz reiterated Switzerland's commitment to joint action, stressing that shared responsibility and co-creation are essential to maximising the project's impact. The meeting concluded with a strong sense of shared purpose and dedication to building a safer, more resilient dam safety framework in Laos, anchored in mutual respect, technical excellence, and a long-term development vision. The Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project aims to improve dam safety across public institutions and academic sectors in Laos. Financed by the SDC and implemented by Helvetas, the project contributes to the safety and well-being of approximately 1.5 million people by mitigating risks linked to dam failure or poor operational management. - Vientiane Times/ANN
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Playoff Picture 2025: All the wild West scenarios for the final day of the regular season
The final day of the NBA regular season is here. Every team is in action, and with so much to be decided in the Western Conference to determine seeds Nos. 4-7, the NBA is capitalizing on the drama with seven games scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and eight at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves play in the West-centric second window — all with a shot at the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. With so much at stake, here are the landscape, relevant tiebreakers and scenarios for the final slate of the regular season. Click here for the Eastern Conference. 1. Oklahoma City Thunder (67-14) • Clinched No. 1 seed • First-round opponent: No. 8 seed (DEN, LAC, GSW, MIN, MEM, SAC or DAL) 2. Houston Rockets (52-29) • Clinched No. 2 seed• First-round opponent: No. 7 seed (DEN, LAC, GSW, MIN or MEM) 3. Los Angeles Lakers (50-31) • Clinched No. 3 seed• First-round opponent: No. 6 seed (DEN, GSW or MIN) 4. Denver Nuggets (49-32) • Magic number for top-six seed: 1• Remaining schedule: @HOU• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed• Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed• Tiebreakers won: GSW (2-1) What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round; avoiding play-in tournament 5. Los Angeles Clippers (49-32) • Magic number for top-six seed: 1• Remaining schedule: @GSW• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed• Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed• Tiebreakers won: GSW (3-0), MEM (3-0) What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round; avoiding play-in tournament 6. Golden State Warriors (48-33) • Magic number for top-six seed: 1• Remaining schedule: LAC• Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed• Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed• Tiebreakers won: MIN (3-1), MEM (3-1) What's at stake: Avoiding play-in tournament 7. Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33) • Magic number for top-six seed: 1 • Remaining schedule: UTA • Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed • Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed • Tiebreakers won: LAC (3-0), DEN (4-0) What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round; avoiding play-in tournament 8. Memphis Grizzlies (47-34) • Magic number for No. 7 seed: Do not control own destiny• Remaining schedule: DAL• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed • Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed• Tiebreakers won: MIN (2-1) What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game 9. Sacramento Kings (39-42) • Magic number for No. 9 seed: 1• Remaining schedule: PHX• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed• Tiebreakers won: DAL (3-0) What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. DAL 10. Dallas Mavericks (39-42) • Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny• Remaining schedule: @MEM• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. SAC Complete Western Conference Playoff and Play-In scenarios for tomorrow's games -- see how the outcome of each game affects seeding ⬇️ — NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 12, 2025 Nuggets at Rockets (3:30 p.m.)DEN is No. 4 seed with a winDEN is No. 5 seed with a loss + MIN lossDEN is No. 6 seed with a loss + LAC win + MIN winDEN is No. 7 seed with a loss + LAC loss + MIN win Jazz at Timberwolves (3:30 p.m.)MIN is No. 4 seed with a win + DEN loss + LAC lossMIN is No. 5 seed with a win + DEN loss + LAC winMIN is No. 5 seed with a win + DEN win + LAC lossMIN is No. 6 seed with a win + DEN win + LAC winMIN is No. 7 seed with a loss + MEM lossMIN is No. 8 seed with a loss + MEM win Mavericks at Grizzlies (3:30 p.m.)DAL is No. 9 seed with a win + SAC lossDAL is No. 10 seed with a loss or SAC winMEM is No. 7 seed with a win + MIN lossMEM is No. 8 seed with a loss or MIN win Suns at Kings (3:30 p.m.)SAC is No. 9 seed with a win or DAL lossSAC is No. 10 seed with a loss + DAL win Clippers at Warriors (3:30 p.m.)LAC is the No. 4 seed with a win + DEN lossLAC is the No. 4 seed with a loss + DEN loss + MIN lossLAC is the No. 5 seed with a win + DEN win + MIN lossLAC is the No. 5 seed with a loss + DEN loss + MIN winLAC is the No. 7 seed with a loss + DEN win + MIN winGSW is the No. 6 seed with a win or MIN lossGSW is the No. 6 seed with a loss + DEN loss + MIN lossGSW is the No. 7 seed with a loss + MIN win 1. Cleveland Cavaliers (64-17) • Clinched No. 1 seed• First-round opponent: No. 8 seed (ORL, ATL, CHI or MIA) 2. Boston Celtics (60-21) • Clinched No. 2 seed• First-round opponent: No. 7 seed (ORL or ATL) 3. New York Knicks (50-31) • Clinched No. 3 seed• First-round opponent: Pistons 4. Indiana Pacers (49-32) • Clinched No. 4 seed• First-round opponent: Bucks 5. Milwaukee Bucks (47-34) • Clinched No. 5 seed• First-round opponent: Pacers 6. Detroit Pistons (44-37) • Clinched No. 6 seed• First-round opponent: Knicks 7. Orlando Magic (41-40) • Clinched No. 7 seed• Play-in opponent: Hawks 8. Atlanta Hawks (39-42) • Clinched No. 8 seed • Play-in opponent: Magic 9. Chicago Bulls (38-43) • Clinched No. 9 seed • Play-in opponent: Heat 10. Miami Heat (37-44) • Clinched No. 10 seed • Play-in opponent: Bulls
