EILAT: Israeli environmentalists are warning that a UAE-Israeli oil pipeline deal threatens unique Red Sea coral reefs and could lead to “the next ecological disaster.”
The agreement to bring Emirati crude oil by tanker to a pipeline in the Red Sea port of Eilat was signed after Israel normalized ties with the Gulf Arab nation late last year and should come into force within months.
With experts warning of possible leaks and spills at the aging Eilat port, and the Israeli environmental protection ministry demanding “urgent” talks on the deal, activists mobilized last week.
They held a protest in a parking lot overlooking Eilat’s oil jetty against what they see as a disaster waiting to happen, chanting that profits will be made “at the expense of corals.”
“The coral reefs are 200 meters (yards) from where the oil will be unloaded,” said Shmulik Taggar, an Eilat resident and founding member of the Society for Conservation of the Red Sea Environment.
“They say the tankers are modern and there won’t be any problem,” he said, warning however that “there’s no way there won’t be a malfunction.”
He predicted that with the projected arrival of two to three tankers a week, traffic will be “back-to-back.”
This, he said, would also impact the aesthetic of a city promoting ecological tourism.
“You can’t sell green tourism when you have oil tankers by the dock,” he said.
The Jewish state and the UAE established ties last year as part of the US-brokered “Abraham Accords.”
One of the deals that followed was a Memorandum of Understanding between Israel’s state-owned Europe-Asia Pipeline Company (EAPC) and a new entity called MED-RED Land Bridge Ltd. — a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s National Holding company and several Israeli firms.
In October, EAPC announced a “binding MoU” with MED-RED to bring crude from UAE to Eilat and then transport it by pipeline to Israel’s Mediterranean city of Ashkelon for onward export to Europe.
Taggar argued that deals benefitting the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the environment are “not in the spirit of our times.”
“It might have been appropriate in the 1960s and 1970s, before we were a developed state,” he said.
Activists argue the deal evaded tough regulatory scrutiny because of EAPC’s status as a state-owned firm working in the sensitive energy sector.
While coral populations around the world are under threat from bleaching caused by climate change, the reefs in Eilat have remained stable due to their unique heat resistance.
Eilat’s coral beach reserve extends some 1.2 kilometers (almost a mile) off the city’s coast, protecting reefs that are home to a rich variety of marine life.
But their proximity to the EAPC port puts them at grave risk, Nadav Shashar, professor of marine biology at Beersheba’s Ben Gurion University, told AFP.
The infrastructure is not set up to prevent accidents and only designed “to treat pollution once it’s already in the water,” said Shashar, who is also head of marine biology and biotechnology at Eilat’s Interuniversity Institute for Marine Science.
Shashar, one of 230 experts who petitioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the deal, argued that with the increase of shipments, “the result will be a constant leak of oil pollution.”
After the agreement was struck in October, EAPC said it could increase oil flow through Eilat by “tens of millions of tons per year.”
Contacted by AFP, the company declined to discuss the deal’s specifics but stressed that its equipment was “state of the art” and up to international standards.
The environmental protection ministry said it had fulfilled its oversight role but also called for an “urgent discussion of all relevant governmental bodies” to review the deal.
The talks, a statement said, “would examine all angles — including the environmental ones — of increasing the volume of crude oil being transported.”
Shashar said the goal was not to close down EAPC but to “limit the extent of its use to something that can be handled.”
Some activists have voiced more militant views, including Michael Raphael of the international Extinction Rebellion movement.
Raphael, who came to the recent rally armed with a bullhorn, said he was aiming to set up an Extinction Rebellion chapter in Eilat to resist the UAE deal.
“If the problem isn’t solved, we’ll have to get in the way of things,” he said. “We don’t just demonstrate ... we disrupt the work of those who pollute.”
Red Sea coral reefs ‘under threat’ from Israel-UAE oil deal
https://arab.news/vwm6v
Red Sea coral reefs ‘under threat’ from Israel-UAE oil deal
- Activists held a protest in a parking lot overlooking Eilat’s oil jetty against what they see as a disaster waiting to happen
- Eilat’s coral beach reserve extends some 1.2 kilometers (almost a mile) off the city’s coast, protecting reefs home to rich marine life
Emirates’ retrofitted Boeing 777s rolling out to six US cities
- Boeing 777 with enhanced cabins will be introduced to Chicago, Boston, Dallas Fort Worth, Seattle and linked routes Miami/Bogota and Newark/Athens
- Flights to and from ten of the 12 gateways in Emirates’ US network will feature Premium Economy by February 2025
DUBAI: Emirates will be introducing its refurbished Boeing 777s on six routes in the US, providing customers with an elevated experience across all cabins, including the debut of its latest Business Class seats and highly-popular Premium Economy.
The retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft are scheduled to operate on direct flights to Chicago, Boston, Dallas Fort Worth, and Seattle. In addition, flights to Miami linked to Bogota and to Newark via Athens will also be served with the refreshed aircraft featuring Emirates’ four cabin classes and signature product touches. The refurbished Boeing 777s will debut for the first time in the US starting from next month and until early 2025 with the following schedule:
Chicago — Emirates will introduce its retrofitted Boeing 777 three times weekly on EK 235 and EK 236 starting from 1 November 2024 and will increase to daily from 22 November 2024.
Boston — From 10 December 2024 Emirates’ newly-retrofitted Boeing 777 will serve the route three times weekly as EK 237 and EK 238, increasing to daily from 18 December.
Dallas Fort Worth — Emirates’ enhanced Boeing 777 aircraft will be deployed three times weekly on EK 221 and EK 222 from 9 January 2025, with daily flights starting from 15 January 2025.
Seattle — The newly-configured aircraft featuring four cabin classes, including Premium Economy, will be rolled out on EK 229 and EK 230 from 24 January 2025.
Newark/Athens — From 10 February 2025, Emirates’ retrofitted Boeing 777 with refreshed interiors and new cabins will operate daily on EK 209 and EK 210
Miami/Bogota — Emirates’ latest B777 experience will be introduced on EK 213 and EK 214, the service to and from Dubai and linking Miami with the Colombian capital, on four weekly flights from 19 February 2025, expanding to daily from 1 March 2025.
With the deployment of its newly retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft, flights to and from ten of the 12 gateways in Emirates’ US network will feature Premium Economy by February 2025. The understated luxury products will also be available to two cities in Latin America, with Bogota joining Sao Paulo. Emirates’ signature Premium Economy seats will now be available on a mix of Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft, operating to 12 gateways in Emirates’ 19-point network in the Americas. The refreshed aircraft also feature the new Emirates 777 Business Class with seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement, more privacy, fully reclined flat bed in addition to a personal mini-bar among other amenities.
On the introduction of Premium Economy to additional US routes, Adnan Kazim, Deputy President, and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates said: “With the success and popularity of Premium Economy on routes like New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston served by our refurbished A380, we look forward to bringing a new level of comfort and privacy to more cities with refreshed cabins on our Boeing 777s. The introduction of our refreshed product and ensuring consistent experiences in the sky on more routes is part of our long-standing commitment to the US and adding more premium options in a span of just a few months ensures we offer a competitive, value for money proposition for our customers.”
The roll out of Emirates’ refreshed aircraft featuring a four-class configuration will bring the number of routes offering the distinctive Premium Economy product to 27 cities globally including Dubai by the end of 2024, utilising 48 Boeing 777, A380 and A350 aircraft. Besides the US and Latin American points where the retrofitted aircraft will be deployed, customers are already enjoying choice and comfort with refurbished Boeing 777s flying to Geneva, Tokyo Haneda and Brussels, and Zurich along with Riyadh are scheduled from next month.
The continued roll out of Premium Economy across Emirates’ network allows its US customers to enjoy the luxury, comforts and affordability of Premium Economy to final destinations beyond Dubai including Mumbai, Bangalore and Singapore, to name a few.
Furthermore, Emirates’ customers traveling to United’s hubs in Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, can fly in Premium Economy before connecting to its services to hundreds of US domestic points and cities in Canada and Latin America.
Seats on flights can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents.
The four-class Boeing 777 features six or eight First Class suites, 38 or 40 Business class seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement, 24 seats in Premium Economy, and 256 Economy class seats.
In addition to the introduction of Premium Economy on the retrofitted aircraft, customers across all cabins can enjoy the refreshed interiors which sport a blend of beautiful designs and new color palettes, in the carpeting, wall panels, and wood finishings, to name a few of the aesthetic enhancements.
Experts explore pathways for faster electric vehicle integration
RIYADH: Experts discussed the progress of electrification in the private vehicle market, noting that while advancements are being made, mass adoption has not yet been achieved.
Jonathan Spear, policy and strategy adviser at Atkins Realis, shared these insights during a keynote panel titled “How Electric Vehicles Can See Faster Commercial Adoption” at the EV Auto Show on Wednesday.
Key challenges facing the sector include high purchase prices driven by battery costs and the necessity for robust charging infrastructure. Spear pointed out that leading nations in electric vehicle adoption include China, Europe, and the US, while emerging economies are lagging due to the logistical difficulties of electrifying their vehicle fleets.
He emphasized that national regulations and city-level policies play a critical role in promoting the adoption of zero-emission fleets, particularly through public procurement strategies for cleaner vehicles and infrastructure.
Tony Mazzone, managing director at Electromin, highlighted the importance of government support in accelerating the development of EV charging infrastructure. He noted that the cost of electric vehicles remains significantly higher than that of diesel vehicles, largely due to the high expenses associated with technology and batteries.
Mazzone also mentioned that the electrification of larger trucks is progressing more slowly due to technological challenges. For instance, he explained that electrifying a 40-ton truck involves substantial battery weight, making the establishment of charging infrastructure along key routes equally demanding.
Looking ahead, Mazzone expressed optimism that advancements in technology, such as solid-state batteries, could address these challenges by 2030.
Vincent Jia, managing director at Yutong Trucks, discussed the company’s focus on three primary markets in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. He observed that Saudi Arabia’s electric truck market is slower to adopt compared to its neighbors, attributing this to the kingdom’s lower fuel prices.
Spear reiterated the importance of implementing the right policies, legislation, and national regulations to foster EV adoption in Saudi Arabia. He also stressed the need for openness to innovation and technological trials that suit the region’s climatic conditions.
In conclusion, Spear suggested that effective practices should consider the entire lifecycle of electric vehicles, including their construction and supply chain, to ensure a comprehensive approach to reducing carbon emissions.
Electromin to install 16 EV charging stations at Roshn Waterfront by end of 2024
RIYADH: The installation of 16 electric vehicle chargers at the Roshn Waterfront in Jeddah Corniche is expected to be completed by the end of this year, according to Tony Mazzone, managing director of Electromin.
In an interview with Arab News during the EV Auto Show in Riyadh on Sept. 17, Mazzone announced that the company has signed two partnership agreements aimed at enhancing the sector’s infrastructure. The first agreement involves collaboration with Roshn Waterfront to develop EV charging facilities, ensuring that visitors can conveniently charge their vehicles while enjoying the corniche.
“Across the 4-km strip on the corniche, we’re looking to deploy 16 chargers in eight different locations. The intention is to support those that already visit the corniche and obviously more and more transition to EV, but they’ve got a place to charge while they enjoy the experiences there. The intention is not to go there to charge, the intention to go enjoy what you do, but while you’re there, you can charge at the same time,” Mazzone told Arab News.
He added that the installations are expected to be completed by the end of this year, at which point they will be accessible to the public and featured on the Electromin mobile application.
The second partnership involves an agreement with Solutions Valley, the commercial arm of Saudi Electricity Co., aimed at supporting the development of EV infrastructure.
The app
“All of our public chargers are all on (an) application. So, the application allows you to plan your routes. You can see those chargers. It’s all live. The key thing is to get over the anxiety of people that have an electric car to say, I have a car, where do I charge?” he said.
“We have over 110 chargers now, live locations. We have 26 in Jeddah. We have around 30 in Riyadh, specifically in the two main cities. And we’ll be adding to that by the end of Q4 of this year,” he added.
Expansion
As a private entity, Electromin’s expansion strategy is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicle infrastructure. Mazzone noted that deploying chargers and establishing the necessary infrastructure requires substantial capital investment, making the commercial aspect a primary focus.
“In terms of the deployment plan, we need to align it with demand. We understand that EV adoption is currently progressing slowly, but there will be a ramp-up. It’s essential to deploy infrastructure as demand dictates,” he explained.
Additionally, the company is entering the rapid transit sector by installing and operating a fully electric bus system in Makkah, set to launch in the first quarter of next year.
Mass adoption
Mazzone stressed the necessity of accelerating EV adoption in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the vital role of government support.
“I think what’s critical to Saudi Arabia right now is to accelerate the adoption. We need support from the government, incentives to subsidize some of the costs to support the consumer in the purchase of electric vehicles. And we know in other countries or other regions around the world, the mass adoption has happened on the back and the strength of those incentives and legislation changes,” he explained.
He identified two primary barriers to widespread EV adoption in the region: price and convenience. “For potential EV drivers, there are two hurdles to overcome: the cost and the convenience of charging,” Mazzone stated.
Addressing current challenges, he highlighted that electric vehicles are generally more expensive than traditional cars and that insufficient charging infrastructure poses significant obstacles. “Right now, if you buy an electric car, it will cost you more than a traditional vehicle, and the lack of charging stations makes it more complicated,” he said.
“For the mass adoption to occur, you need to get price parity and you need to make sure that when people transition, they can do it seamlessly. So, our idea, our ideals, make sure that when people drive, like a traditional petrol car, they don’t think about where they fuel, they drive without any anxiety. And I think the infrastructure needs to be in place to support that adoption. It needs to happen in that order,” he added.
EV Auto Show 2024: Saudi car rental and B2B sectors to drive EV adoption by 2026, says executive
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s car rental and business-to-business sectors are expected to drive electric vehicle adoption in the coming two years, according to an industry leader.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the EV Auto Show in Riyadh, Hashim Al-Fatayerji, regional executive director at Sixt, forecast a rise in EV dealerships across the Kingdom.
“In 2025 and 2026, we will see more adoption of EVs across the rental car and B2B sectors,” he said.
Saudi Arabia aims to convert 30 percent of Riyadh’s vehicles to electric by 2030, part of a broader strategy to cut emissions in the capital by 50 percent and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Al-Fatayerji anticipates the opening of additional dealerships – including American and European brands – and increased local production of EVs by the end of 2026.
“This will be a game changer for the industry because it will change the dynamics of purchasing power in the market and where we are buying cars from,” he added.
Al-Fatayerji also noted that Sixt is working closely with partners and suppliers to ensure operational efficiency and profitability.
Nicolas Verneuil, managing director at Petromin Stellantis, emphasized the need for further progress in the EV sector.
“More needs to be done, of course, and until we reach the right level of capillarity, people will wonder, ‘Can I get quite the same driving experience with an EV as I do with my combustion engine?’” he said.
Verneuil also highlighted the efforts of the government, the Public Investment Fund, and private companies in accelerating infrastructure development.
Lisa Brigmann, president and CEO of AdvantEdge Engineering Group, discussed the role of automotive companies and rental businesses in EV adoption.
“I think that it would be really helpful for big automotive companies and even car rental companies to start helping customers envision how they can accept EVs into their daily lives,” she said.
Brigmann also pointed out that while material costs for EVs remain high, the benefits of lower CO2 emissions are a significant driver. “When they rent or own a car, they are actually part of the solution to reducing emissions,” she added.
In a separate panel, James Luxbacher, managing director at Sixt, addressed the pricing challenges of EVs.
Luxbacher noted that the rapid decline in vehicle pricing makes it challenging for owners who plan to resell their vehicles after a certain period. “We need some more stability, and I think most of us are learning right now. It will get more stable in the future,” he said.
The Sixt managing director also commented on the reliability of EVs, saying: “But again, it takes the infrastructure too if you want to go on longer trips with the truck. Particularly in last-mile delivery, we’ll see a big uptick in it.”
The EV Auto Show, held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, underscoring its commitment to EVs and sustainable technology.
The event brings together automotive manufacturers, charging solution providers, policymakers, and consumers to explore the future of mobility. Attendees can engage with a range of EVs, charging solutions, and green technologies through interactive seminars and panel discussions.
Italian business body of 7,000 firms eyes investments in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: An Italian business federation representing 7,000 companies has announced plans to increase Italian investments in Saudi Arabia, focusing on opportunities aligned with Vision 2030.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the federation includes major Italian firms across key economic sectors. This announcement was made during the Saudi-Italian Business Forum, held at the Saudi Chambers Federation. The event featured the newly appointed Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Carlo Baldocchi, along with representatives from over 140 companies and officials from both nations.
Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy Regional Government, emphasized that Lombardy, which has a gross domestic product exceeding $444 billion, is a crucial part of the Italian economy and offers significant opportunities for international investors. He noted that the visit aims to enhance the role of Italian expertise in Saudi investments, scientific collaboration, and cultural exchange, while committing to provide incentives for Saudi investors.
Kamel Al-Majid, chairman of the Saudi-Italian Business Council, highlighted the growth in bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Italy, which is now approaching SR38 billion ($10.1 billion). Lombardy has made substantial contributions through key exports such as machinery, chemicals, and automotive products.
He also pointed out that cooperation in logistics, infrastructure development, and digital technologies could create significant opportunities for Italian investors, while Italian expertise in construction can support major projects in Saudi Arabia.
Lombardy, a financial and industrial powerhouse, hosts the Italian stock exchange and attracts global investments in sectors like automotive, aerospace, life sciences, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies.
Saudi Arabia is actively enhancing its efforts to attract foreign investments across various sectors. The recent update to its investment law aligns with international best practices to create a more favorable business environment.
Announced in August, the new legislation replaces the Foreign Investment Law of 2000, aiming to ensure equal treatment for domestic and foreign investors. At the launch of the new law, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih stated that the legislation “reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s commitment to creating a welcoming and secure environment for investors.”
In January, Hassan Al-Huwaizi, president of the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, announced that the number of Saudi foreign business councils had reached 70, including those with major global economic players such as China, the US, Japan, and the UK, as well as Italy, France, and the UAE.
The recent reestablishment of the business council with Canada in July is the latest step in a plan led by the federation to strengthen the Kingdom’s international trade relationships as part of the Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
