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International Experts Workshops on Carbon Management and its Implications:
1st Global Methane Initiative (GMI) for Oil and Gas Sector Workshop and Exhibition
in the Middle East and The International Experts Workshop on the Adverse Social and
Economic Impacts of Mitigation Measures

27-30 April 2015 | Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia


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Daily ENB+ CoverageAbout | 27 April | 28 April | 29 April | 30 April | Summary

View of the room during a presentation on vulnerabilities of energy based economies.

Thursday, 30 May 2015

On Thursday morning, moderator Awwad Al Harthi, Saudi Arabia, opened the session on energy. Rashed Al-Shaali, UAE University, discussed energy and economic diversification in the context of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Participants heard perspectives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Singapore. During discussions, participations noted that, inter alia, countries have a variety of possibilities for transitioning to renewable energy according to geography and national circumstances.

The session on agriculture was moderated by Amb. Mahmoud Samy, Egypt. George Nasr, the Lebanese University, presented studies on environmental regulation impacts on food security. Participants then discussed the challenge of measuring agricultural vulnerabilities and the nature of the agriculture sector, noting complex linkages with other sectors. Participants considered the impacts of agricultural subsidies and food labeling, highlighting issues of international competitiveness and restricted market access.

In the afternoon, Chair Khalid Abuleif opened the last session on the way forward to address gaps in assessing the impacts of response measures. The UNFCCC Secretariat discussed reporting of response measures and their impacts. Andrei Marcu, Centre for European Policy Studies, presented on how to make response measures a global issue. Eduardo Calvo, San Marcos University, Peru, discussed negotiation challenges and opportunities. During the discussion, some participants noted the need for a mechanism or platform to address response measures. Several participants advocated feeding the workshop discussions into the UNFCCC process, emphasizing the importance of addressing response measure impacts in the pre-2020 and post-2020 period. Chair Abuleif called for further cooperation to move forward in the climate change negotiations. He then thanked the participants and closed the workshop at 6:02 pm.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Thursday, 30 May 2015

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary report from the International Experts Workshops on Carbon Management and its Implications: 1st Global Methane Initiative (GMI) for Oil and Gas Sector Workshop and Exhibition in the Middle East and The International Experts Workshop on the Adverse Social and Economic Impacts of Mitigation Measures, in HTML and PDF formats.

Presentations and Discussions

Awwad Al Harthi, Saudi Arabia

Rashed Al-Shaali, UAE University


Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Peter Govindasamy, Singapore



L-R: Rashed Al-Shaali, UAE University: Awwad Al Harthi, Saudi Arabia; Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia; and Chair Khalid Abuleif, Saudi Arabia


Amb. Mahmoud Ahmed Samir Samy, Egypt

George Nasr, The Lebanese University


0Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia

0Ama Essel, Ghana


Rachid Hakka
, Algeria


L-R: Eduardo Calvo, San Marcos University, Peru; William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat; Chair Khalid Abuleif, Saudi Arabia; Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia; and Andrei Marcu, Centre for European Policy Studies



Wednesday, 29 May 2015

The International Experts Workshop on the Adverse Social and Economic Impacts of Mitigation Measures was opened on Wednesday morning by Chair Khalid Abuleif, Saudi Arabia. Macharia Kamau, Co-Facilitator of the Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations, moderated the first session which framed the issue within the context of sustainable development. He highlighted that the objective of the workshop is to discuss efforts towards advancing sustainable development and tackling climate change.

The UNFCCC Secretariat presented the status of response measures under the UNFCCC process, recalling relevant decisions adopted by parties over 23 years. Various perspectives were then presented.

In the afternoon, participants addressed climate change and literature in a session moderated by Eduardo Calvo, San Marcos University, Peru. An overview of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) was presented. Participants highlighted the need to consider the intended and unintended consequences of mitigation policies while also recognizing that mitigation cannot be delayed. Chinese, African and Bahraini perspectives were provided, and participants noted the challenge of including more literature and research from developing countries in IPCC reports.

The session on tourism was moderated by Amjad Abdullah, the Maldives. Participants highlighted the importance of tourism for developing countries in the context of economic development and diversification. The Bahamas presented a case study regarding the impact of response measures on tourism, highlighting the country's vulnerability to sea level rise. UNDP discussed interrelationships between climate change and tourism. The Maldives gave a presentation on the potential impacts of mitigation measures on tourism, highlighting the strong link between GDP growth and tourism within the Maldives and the current reliance on fossil fuels.

Summary of the meeting in English (in HTML and in PDF format)

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Wednesday, 29 May 2015


Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia

Chair Khalid Abuleif, Saudi Arabia


Participants heard a presentation on sustainable development.


Macharia Kamau, Co-Facilitator of the Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations


George Manful, UNEP

William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat

Mariama Williams, South Centre


Tuesday, 28 May 2015

On Tuesday morning, participants considered methane emissions reduction project evaluation and implementation. A variety of practices for reducing emissions and their related economics were outlined, including mitigation options for: pneumatic controllers, fugitives, reciprocating and centrifugal compressors, glycol dehydrators, storage tanks, casinghead gas, well venting during completions, and liquids unloading.

Saudi Aramco and international partners shared experiences and case studies. Saudi Aramco discussed volatile organic compound (VOC) emission control at bulk plants. Saudi Aramco’s commitment to environmental protection by minimizing VOCs and other hydrocarbon emissions was emphasized, and the process of installing vapor recovery units at major bulk plants highlighted. Methane mitigation initiatives and steps taken to minimize exposure to benzene in India were considered. The Kuwait Oil Company’s air emissions management strategy aimed at reducing gas flaring was presented. It was noted that flaring reductions have been achieved by: prioritizing flare reduction; investing in state-of-the-art facilities and operations; and cooperating with the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership. Case studies were presented by two oil and gas partners. Existing and proposed emission reduction practices, including flare gas recovery and engine starting system retrofit from Indonesia, were highlighted. Saudi Aramco provided an overview of the company’s Leak Detection and Repair Programme (LDAR).

Closing the meeting, Khalid Abuleif, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Recourses, Saudi Arabia, thanked the organizers, presenters, and participants for their efforts. He underscored that technology provides solutions to global environmental challenges, noting that this technical workshop is conducive to further mitigation of methane emissions. He then closed the workshop at 10:58am.

After lunch, participants went on a field trip to the Saudi Aramco Engineering Solutions Center in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Summary of the meeting in English (in HTML and in PDF format)

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Tuesday, 28 May 2015


L-R: Scott Bartos, US Environmental Protection Agency and Saeed Al Alloush, Saudi Arabia, provided a brief overview of Monday's proceedings.


Larry Richards, HY-BON Engineering, presented the use of thermal infrared imaging cameras in detecting methane emissions.

Larry Richards, HY-BON Engineering


Ahmed Al-Bassam, Saudi Aramco, presented a case study on volatile organic compounds (VOC) controls.


Harikrushna Patnaik, Cairn India

Ibrahim Al-Sayed Ibrahim, Kuwait Oil Company


Syifail Ramadhana, Star Energy, presented Star Energy's involvement in the Global Methane Initiative.


Monday, 27 May 2015

The International Experts Workshops on Carbon Management and its Implications: Global Methane Initiative Workshop and Exhibition opened on Monday, 27 April at Le Meridien Hotel, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

Welcoming participants during the opening session, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Vice Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, noted that his country is committed to building capacity to overcome global environmental challenges, underscoring technology and adaptation to address climate change. Khalid Al-Falih, President and CEO, Saudi Aramco, emphasized that Saudi Aramco recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship alongside managing energy demands. Joseph Westphal, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, lauded Saudi Arabia’s strong leadership in responsible sustainable development and welcomed Saudi Arabia’s actions on methane mitigation. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC Secretariat noted the important challenge of decoupling global gross domestic product from global greenhouse gases. She highlighted two key issues from the Gulf perspective: cleaner production and transportation of natural gas; and economic diversification.

During presentations, Saudi Aramco’s environmental protection policy aimed at achieving local environmental objectives while contributing to global environmental benefits was highlighted. The US EPA discussed the cost effective nature of methane reduction strategies, mentioning several co-benefits such as improved air quality, industrial safety and energy security. The CCAC provided an overview of the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) aimed at enabling partner companies to fully understand and flexibly manage their emissions over time. Saudi Aramco presented its flaring minimization programme. Other presentations focused on: the OGMP reporting mechanism; methane emissions and mitigation opportunities; and methane emissions detection and measurement techniques, equipment and costs.

Summary of the meeting in English (in HTML and in PDF format)

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Monday, 27 May 2015



L-R: Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC Secretariat; Khalid Al-Falih, President and CEO, Saudi Aramco; and HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Vice Minister, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia


HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Vice Minister, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia

Khalid Al-Falih, President and CEO, Saudi Aramco


Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC Secretariat

Joseph Westphal, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia


Philip Swanson, UNEP, presented the CCAC’s partner reporting mechanism.


L-R: Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC Secretariat; Khalid Al-Falih, President and CEO, Saudi Aramco; Adel Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Aramco; HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Vice Minister, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia; and Joseph Westphal, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia


L-R: Sarah Baashan, Saudia Arabia; Christiana Figueres, Executive Seceretary, UNFCCC Secretariat; Nora Al Amer, Bahrain; and Noor Al Dahamm, Saudi Arabia

L-R: Asad Alsowayeh; Nader Alzayer; and
Mahir Al Mumen, Saudi Aramco


Workshop exhibition area


Snapshots

Traditional Arabic tent






Workshop organizing committee



L-R: ENB+ team Gillian Nelson; Asheline Appleton; Yixian Sun; and Franz Dejon


Funding for coverage of the 1st Global Methane Initiative (GMI) for Oil and Gas Sector Workshop and Exhibition
in the Middle East has been provided by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia,
and Saudi Aramco; and funding for coverage of the International Experts Workshop on the Adverse Social
and Economic Impacts of Mitigation Measures has been provided by
the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Aramco
Daily ENB+ CoverageAbout | 27 April | 28 April | 29 April | 30 April | Summary