Major boost as Saudi Arabia joins IRENA
The International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA, received a major boost at the Preparatory Commission with Saudi
Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, officially communicating its decision to join the agency.
The decision of Saudi Arabia to join IRENA was disclosed by Helene Pelosse, the Interim Director General of the
Agency and Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the CEO of Masdar who chaired the plenary session.
Saudi Arabia will soon become a full-fledged member of the agency after it officially signs IRENA Treaty. Three more
countries including South Africa and Kazakhstan joined IRENA by signing the Treaty at the meeting.
The meeting, which was the third session of IRENA after the two earlier meetings in Germany and Egypt, involved
adopting a budget of $ 13.7 mm for this year for the agency for 2010. Representatives from all the 139 countries who
are signatories to the Treaty had attended the meeting. Some countries like China had attended the session as
observers.
Dr Al Jaber saidSaudi Arabia's decision to join IRENA was indicative of the increasing support to the cause of
renewable energy. Ms Pelosse said this was further evidence of the narrowing differences between the oil producers
and consuming countries in the pursuit of renewable energy.
Dr Al Jaber strongly defended the UAE decision to pursue nuclear energy along with the renewables. The UAE is looking
for a balanced energy mix in which the hydrocarbon, renewables and nuclear will have contributions to make. Ms
Pelosse said the IRENA was not mandated to pursue nuclear energy.
