East Asian environment ministers visit Ha Long city

Oman

Awareness campaign

The Directorate-General of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources here has launched a three-day awareness campaign to familiarise people with the wastewater project in the Wilayat of Al Buraimi. The campaign includes visits to houses to familiarise the people with the importance of the project and how it protects ground water against pollution.

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The International Conference on Harnessing Technology (ICHT 2008) began here yesterday with a distinguished panel of speakers affirming the importance of renewable energy in securing the country’s future energy needs sustainably and in an environmentally sound way. Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, said the development of alternative energy resources was vital to the country’s continued economic development in the face of rising oil and gas prices and limited resources. In opening remarks, he said: “It is encouraging to note that Oman is blessed with abundant sources of solar and wind among others.

Recent studies have confirmed the existence of a high level of the sun’s intensity all the year round. Wind with the adequate speeds is also proved to be available in the Arabian Sea and hence a viable alternative. With the potential in the development of renewable energy, and in harmony with the country’s established standards and traditions related to the conservation of the environment, Oman is presently working towards setting the necessary mechanisms for executing some pilot project for renewable energy. Support is also given to future implementation of large scale projects,” the minister added.

Organised by the Caledonian College of Engineering, the ICHT 2008 opening attracted a distinguished gathering of ministers, under-secretaries, diplomats, industry representatives, and others. Dr P Mohamed Ali, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Caledonian College, said the two-day forum was designed to bring together academia, researchers, industry and other stakeholders on a common platform to identify future needs, expand on current innovations and bring forward target-effective, goal-orientated solutions to key issues in energy, environment and natural resources relevant to the region.

The opening session was followed by keynote speeches by Malcolm Brinded, Executive Director of Exploration and Production, Royal Dutch Shell, who focused on ‘Producing Difficult Hydrocarbons: New Technologies and Enhanced Capabilities’, and Professor (Dr) Nasir el Bassam, Director of the International Research Centre for Renewable Energy in Germany (IFEED), who spoke on ‘Concentrated Solar Thermal and Micro Algae Technologies for Energy, Water and Food Supply in Desert Regions.’

Keynote speakers
ICHT 2008 continued throughout the day with papers delivered by other keynote speakers followed by a panel discussion. Professor Bikash Sinha, Director of the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, India, spoke on ‘Nuclear and Solar Power for Sustainable Energy Resource — A New Paradigm for Conserving the Ecological Balance.’ John Cunneen, Executive Director of the Authority for Electricity Regulation — Oman, presented a regulatory perspective on the implementation of renewable energy projects in Oman.

The line-up of keynote speakers also included Dr Hilal Ali al Hinai, Secretary-General of The Research Council of Oman. The conference continues today with addresses from invited speakers and technical sessions, and ends with a plenary session chaired by Professor Frank McIntosh, Principal and Dean of the Caledonian College of Engineering.

In collaboration with the diving clubs in the Sultanate and tourism companies in the governorate, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs yesterday conducted a coral cleaning campaign. More than 100 volunteers participated in the campaign. During the campaign in the Wilayat of Khasab, a comprehensive survey of the coasts will be conducted to identify nettings and wastes at reef sites for their proper and final removal. A similar campaign is expected to start in the Wilayat of Diba next week.

The campaign also includes lectures for school students on the importance of coral reefs for marine environment and the proper techniques of their cleaning. The survey will identify the damage caused to the coral reefs and suitable solutions. It has also initiated an artificial coral reef project at Al Fahal Island in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman.

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HSBC sponsors coral reef study

HSBC announced here yesterday its sponsorship of a coral reef study to support Biosphere Expeditions with their ongoing marine conservation work in Oman. Biosphere Expeditions is a nonprofit-making organisation offering hands-on wildlife conservation expeditions for everyone. Its coral reef studies will track reef health and human impacts on the Musandam peninsula, and the results will be made available to the government in support of sustainable eco-tourism and conservation policies.

The Musandam coral reef study started earlier this month with a reconnaissance expedition which brought together experts from Sultan Qaboos University, Oxford and California, as well as organisations such as Biosphere Expeditions and Reef Check, and volunteers from HSBC — with the aim of assessing what the status of the reefs around Musandam was. The team surveyed a range of coral reefs, many that are being scientifically surveyed for the first time. It carried out manta tows and reconnaissance dives at over 40 sites throughout the peninsula.

Commenting on the expedition Dr Matthias Hammer, Biosphere Expeditions’ Founder and Managing Director said, “The reefs of the peninsula are in excellent condition with percentage coral cover reaching the highest levels seen in the world (80-90 per cent) with over 200 species present. Human impacts on the reefs are relatively low, but include gill net and trap fishing, periodic exposure to oil from spills, storm wave damage and predation by crown-of-thorns sea stars.” “I am absolutely delighted that we now have the opportunity to extend our work in Oman to coral reefs. Assembling this very strong team of experts and bringing them out on a live-aboard to the Musandam has only been possible through HSBC’s support.

“This has provided the impetus for us to push ahead with this project and suggest ways in which Oman can protect and develop its amazing reef ecosystems sustainably. We will now come back to the Musandam each year to conduct our surveys, work with stakeholders and develop suggestions for its sustainable use and protection for future generations,” added Dr Hammer. Speaking on HSBC’s involvement, Ewan Stirling, CEO of HSBC Oman, said, “HSBC’s support comes as part of our climate partnership programme where we support various organisations to reduce the impact of climate change around the world.

We believe in long-term investment, sustainability and preservation of the environment wherever we operate and because coral reefs are especially susceptible to climate change, this project is a good example of our commitment towards achieving this goal.” “The unique thing about the studies commencing next year is that we invite recreational divers from Oman and the region, who are not scientists, but would like to make a positive contribution to coral reef conservation, to join us each year.

All they need is a dive qualification, a week’s time and the willingness to help out. This has worked very well with the HSBC volunteer we had on the reconnaissance expedition this year and HSBC plan to send more volunteers over the years to come. It would be excellent if other recreational divers from Oman and the region could join the HSBC volunteers and provide a helping hand. This kind of participatory research work bringing together scientists and the general public is also a model for genuinely sustainable eco-tourism” added Dr Hammer.

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