WEF launches digital platform focused on clean energy investment in emerging markets

Playbook of Solutions aims to guide governments, finance institutions & energy companies regarding their approach toward energy transition project financing in emerging markets. (AFP)
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Updated 09 October 2024
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WEF launches digital platform focused on clean energy investment in emerging markets

  • Playbook of Solutions outlines 100 policy, finance and de-risking solutions from 47 countries

DUBAI: The World Economic Forum last week launched a digital platform outlining 100 policy measures, finance mechanisms and de-risking solutions in 47 emerging and developing economies.

Known as the Playbook of Solutions, it was assembled by the Network to Mobilize Investment for Clean Energy in the Global South, which was launched at the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos in January.

Emerging markets and developing economies will represent 90 percent of the growth in global energy demand by 2035, according to a report by the International Energy Agency and International Finance Corp.

Yet these countries, which are home to a majority of the world’s population, account for less than a fifth of global clean energy investments, the report said.

In order to speed up the transition to clean energy and triple renewables by 2030, the annual average investment in renewable energy will need to reach at least $1.7 trillion by 2030, it said.

With this in mind, the Playbook of Solutions aims to guide governments, finance institutions and energy companies regarding their approach toward energy transition project financing in emerging markets.

It also highlights the need for a multipronged approach of policy action, de-risking tools and innovative financing mechanisms to unlock the $1.7 trillion needed in the Global South.

“The MENA region has shown remarkable advancements in its energy transition over the past decade,” Roberto Bocca, head of the WEF’s Center for Energy and Materials, told Arab News.

He said that according to the WEF’s latest Energy Transition Index, the region’s energy transition scores had increased by 7 percent overall, “with a substantial 22 percent rise in transition readiness.”

This progress “reflects the importance and efficacy of implementing a comprehensive blend of policies and strategies to unlock clean energy investment” and the new playbook “showcases various tools and measures for achieving this,” he said.

The playbook also highlights the success stories of four countries: Egypt, India, Chile and Brazil and how they raised billions in clean energy capital through a combination of strategies including policy measures and finance platforms.

“Country-led commitment reforms and platforms are critical to align sustainable development efforts in a way that prioritizes national objectives and accelerates progress toward a just, green transition,” said Rania Al-Mashat, minister of planning, economic development and international cooperation of Egypt and co-chair of the Network to Mobilize Investment for Clean Energy in the Global South.

The playbook “provides an effective way to exchange best practices and lessons learned between peer countries, thus unlocking just financing solutions that accelerate progress toward a just energy transition,” she said.


Saudi Arabia offers 11 mining sites in Eastern Province to boost investment 

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Saudi Arabia offers 11 mining sites in Eastern Province to boost investment 

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has opened 11 mining sites at the Eastern Province’s Al-Summan Crushers Complex for competitive bidding, boosting investment, governance, and local community development. 

The sites are designated for the extraction of aggregates and crusher materials, covering 9 sq. km, according to a statement by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. 

The initiative forms part of the Kingdom’s drive to establish mining as the third pillar of its industrial economy, alongside oil and petrochemicals, leveraging mineral wealth now estimated at SR9.37 trillion ($2.5 trillion), a 90 percent increase from 2016 estimates of SR5 trillion. 

The increase follows comprehensive surveys of the Arabian Shield, which revealed new deposits beyond traditional mineralized belts. 

Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, the ministry’s official spokesperson, said applications for the mining sites will be accepted from Feb. 15 to March 5, via the Ta’adeen digital platform, which handles registration, qualification, bidding and the announcement of winning companies. 

“The Ministry aims to allocate mining complexes to encourage investment in the mining sector, strengthen governance, protect sites from illegal exploitation, and support development in neighboring areas,” the statement said. 

Saudi Arabia’s mining sector has demonstrated sustained growth, with the number of mining licenses rising from 1,985 in 2016 to 2,401 by the end of 2024, representing cumulative growth of 21 percent, according to the 2024 Mineral Wealth Statistics from the General Authority for Statistics. 

Building material quarries accounted for the largest share of permits, rising from 1,267 in 2021 to 1,481 by 2024. 

Exploration licenses also showed consistent growth, supporting the Kingdom’s broader strategy to develop its mineral resources and strengthen the mining sector as a key pillar of its industrial economy. 

Reforms in the sector have attracted $32 billion in investments for projects in iron, phosphate, aluminum, and copper. 

Recent surveys and discoveries, including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and copper, as well as zinc and gold, highlight the Kingdom’s potential to expand into strategic industries such as electric vehicles, advanced technologies, and renewable energy. 

Strategic investments and international partnerships, including projects like the Jabal Sayid rare earths site and collaborations with companies such as MP Materials, position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for critical minerals and reinforce the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 industrial ambitions.