Saudi Arabia plans to generate 50% of its energy from renewables, King Salman tells G20

Media persons gathered at the International Media Centre in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on November 21, 2020 watch on a projected screen as King Salman gives an address opening the G20 summit, held virtually due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (AFP)
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Updated 22 November 2020
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Saudi Arabia plans to generate 50% of its energy from renewables, King Salman tells G20

  • Saudi Arabia has plans to generate up to 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030
  • King expects the circular carbon economy program to accelerate the country’s push toward sustainability

DUBAI: The preservation of the environment is of the utmost importance to Saudi Arabia, which is planning to generate even half of its energy from renewables, King Salman said on Sunday on the last day of the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Riyadh.

In a virtual address at a side event of the summit, the Saudi king spoke about the kingdom's commitment to safeguarding the planet, which includes an ambitious approach to circular carbon economy (CCE) or the “reduce, reuse, recycle, and remove” concept.

“Together, the 4Rs comprise a holistic, integrated, and pragmatic approach that values all options to managing emissions in all sectors,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia has massive plans for developing renewable energy to generate up to 50 percent of the country’s electricity by 2030.

Saudi Arabia is launching CCE National Program, the king said, which he explained will “accelerate the current momentum toward (the country’s) sustainability.”

He urged other countries to join the kingdom in achieving the goals of the program.

Other G20 leaders agreed a coordinated approach was needed to tackle environmental issues such as coral reef preservation, ocean ecosystems, land degradation and habitat loss.


Ticket to great urban living in the Kingdom’s capital

Updated 55 min 52 sec ago
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Ticket to great urban living in the Kingdom’s capital

  • Quality of Life Program CEO Khalid Al-Baker said that the Riyadh Metro is a significant step toward enhancing quality of life in the Kingdom’s capital
  • Headway between trips on the Riyadh Metro is less than ‘a few minutes,’ says official

RIYADH: Riyadh’s new metro system will offer time-efficient transportation to all segments of society, the CEO of the Saudi Quality of Life Program has said.

The working hours of the Riyadh Metro begin daily from 6 a.m. until midnight, with multiple trips operating around the clock on each of the six metro lines.

The headway between each train at a station does not exceed “a few minutes,” said Salem Al-Omair, manager of the Yellow Line.

“There are several ways to purchase tickets, including ticket vending machines available at the stations, where passengers can choose the appropriate package and obtain a Darb card. Tickets can also be purchased at the information desks located within the stations,” Al-Omair told Arab News.

The capacity of the trains is similar, ranging between 240 and 260 passengers per trip. Riyadh Metro, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, is a crucial step toward reducing traffic congestion in Riyadh, he said.

Quality of Life Program CEO Khalid Al-Baker told Arab News that the Riyadh Metro is a significant step toward enhancing quality of life in the Kingdom’s capital. It diversifies public transportation options and promotes a culture of using mass transit, thereby reducing excessive reliance on private vehicles.

The project also helps ease road congestion and provides a fast, time-efficient transportation solution at prices accessible to various segments of society, he added.

The metro will enhance Riyadh’s appeal and drive urban development in areas surrounding stations. Additionally, it will facilitate access to the capital’s major destinations through comfortable and efficient transportation options, Al-Baker said.

The project, which was inaugurated by King Salman, is providing job opportunities, and is expected to play a larger role in the future in enhancing the appeal of Riyadh and supporting the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 goals, he added.

The first three lines of the Riyadh Metro opened on Dec. 1, forming part of the largest urban railway network in the Middle East.

The first phase of the Riyadh Metro starts with three lines: The Blue Line, connecting Olaya Street to Al Batʼha; the Yellow Line, running along King Khalid International Airport Road; and the Purple Line, covering Abdul Rahman bin Awf Road and Al-Shaikh Hassan Bin Hussain Street.

The Red Line, covering King Abdullah Road, and the Green Line, spanning King Abdulaziz Road, are both scheduled to open on Dec. 15, while the Orange Line, which covers Madinah Road, begins operations on Jan. 5.

The total length of Riyadh Metro’s six lines covers 176 km, including 85 stations, with four primary stations.

The Orange Line is the longest in the Riyadh Metro project, extending about 41 km. It is followed by the Blue Line, the backbone of the whole project as it connects with all other lines over a length of 38 km.

The Green Line along King Abdulaziz Road is about 13 km long, while the Red Line on King Abdullah Road stretches almost 25 km. As for the Purple and Yellow lines, they are about 28 and 29 km long, respectively.

The Riyadh Metro was launched 12 years after the project was announced in April 2012, when the Saudi Cabinet approved the implementation of the public transport project and formed a high-level committee to oversee it.

The contracts for the Riyadh Metro project were awarded in 2013 to three global consortiums, with a total value of about $22.5 billion.

The project features several sustainable characteristics that promote eco-friendly transportation options. The metro system employs energy-efficient trains and stations, as well as technologies like regenerative braking to reduce energy consumption.

Additionally, some stations will be equipped with thousands of solar panels, and each metro station will rely on electricity sourced from renewable energy along the six lines.


Coalition denies allegations of handing over Houthi leader's brother's body

Updated 03 December 2024
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Coalition denies allegations of handing over Houthi leader's brother's body

The official spokesman for the coalition forces, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, refuted on Tuesday claims regarding the handover of the body of a Houthi leader's brother.

In a press statement, Al-Maliki emphasized that the coalition treats the issue of prisoners, detainees, and the recovery of fighters' bodies as a strictly humanitarian matter. He urged all parties to refrain from politicizing such issues.

Al-Maliki described the Houthi leader's allegations, which were circulated by Houthi-affiliated websites, as inaccurate and lacking credibility. He clarified that the process of recovering and handing over bodies occurred in June 2023. During this operation, the coalition recovered the remains of nine Saudi soldiers and 20 Yemeni army personnel, while returning the bodies of 57 Houthi fighters killed along the border.

He further stated that such misleading claims may have been made for internal reasons related to the Houthis. Al-Maliki also noted that the name mentioned in the Houthi statement was not included in negotiations to recover bodies and suggested it is possible the individual in question was killed in regional conflicts unrelated to the coalition.


Kingdom reaffirms disability support on global day

Updated 03 December 2024
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Kingdom reaffirms disability support on global day

RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities on Tuesday reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities — helping them achieve their aspirations, improving their quality of life, removing barriers to their potential and ensuring their full integration into society.

The World Health Organization, along with global partners, marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

To observe this day, the Saudi authority launched a campaign raising awareness about invisible disabilities, such as psychological challenges, sensory difficulties, mild motor impairments and other often overlooked conditions.

The campaign aims to increase societal awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with invisible disabilities, promote a more inclusive society, and highlight the importance of fostering an environment that empowers these individuals to navigate their daily lives with equal opportunities.

Such campaigns are vital in strengthening the role of disabled persons, improving services, raising awareness of their rights and supporting their path to success, the authority said.

This year’s theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” highlights their vital role in creating an inclusive world and stresses their involvement in decisions affecting their lives.


Saudi project clears 618 Houthi mines in Yemen

Updated 03 December 2024
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Saudi project clears 618 Houthi mines in Yemen

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 618 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included one anti-personnel mine, 23 anti-tank mines and 594 unexploded ordnances, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 471,034 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.


AlUla community plants 500,000 trees, shrubs in Sharaan Nature Reserve

Updated 03 December 2024
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AlUla community plants 500,000 trees, shrubs in Sharaan Nature Reserve

RIYADH: Sharaan Nature Reserve in AlUla has undergone a significant transformation with the planting of 500,000 trees and shrubs as part of efforts to restore native ecosystems.

Led by the Royal Commission for AlUla, the project supports the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees nationwide.

The initiative engaged AlUla residents, students and the commission’s employees in November to achieve the milestone, according to a press release.

The reforestation project used seeds sourced locally and cultivated at the commission’s native plant nursery, prioritizing species that enhance soil health, water retention and nutrient availability while creating a sustainable food source for herbivores introduced through the commission’s rewilding program.

To date, the rewilding efforts have released more than 1,000 native animals into four protected reserves in AlUla. The project is also part of a broader ecological rehabilitation pilot in partnership with the Saudi Green Initiative, testing restoration techniques for arid regions.

Stephen Browne, the commission’s vice president for wildlife and natural heritage, said that the commission is restoring nature’s balance to safeguard AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.

“Planting 500,000 trees and shrubs is a significant step toward achieving the Kingdom’s climate goals,” he added.

“The regeneration of AlUla’s natural habitats — its valleys, mountains, oases and its flora and fauna — is one of the main ambitions of the commission, alongside involving, uplifting and upskilling our community,” Browne said.