"The number of ministers of energy targeted is 70, the number of attendees of the congress is 15,000 […] We are expecting over 120 countries […] Twelve heads of state have been invited to the congress and [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin is one of them. Today he has not yet confirmed his attendance and we do not expect that to be confirmed until later", Al Shamsi said.
Al Shamsi added that 18 ministers had already confirmed they would attend the event.
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"Plus to that, we have the [International Energy Forum's] IEF’s side event — the Asian Ministerial meeting — and that is expected to attract 40-45 Asian ministers of energy. So in total, through various events, we will definitely have 60-70 ministers of energy minimum from around the world," the official pointed out.
"In UAE, our power sector since 1990s, we were almost 100 percent depending on natural gas. Then we started adding cleaner sources, such as solar and nuclear that is coming. We are not like other countries that are moving from coal to natural gas to reduce emissions. Our energy strategy has already specified 44 percent by 2050 for renewables. But still, we will have 38 percent of gas, which will improve reduction of emissions — it will be 70 percent compared to our business as usual. We are expecting a 70 percent reduction of emissions", Al Shamsi said.
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The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 was unveiled in early 2017. The plan seeks to step up the use of clean energy sources and cut the country's dependence on natural gas.
"We are in discussion with Russia to develop the Russian participation at the exhibition. Also in the program, His Excellency Minister Novak will speak at the event", Al Shamsi said. "Therefore the Russian Ministry of Energy is considering participation that will involve several companies from the Russian energy sector. In addition to that, two Russian energy companies have confirmed individual participation at the exhibition, Gazprom and Rosatom, so we expect a very big presence of Russian companies at the congress", Al Shamsi pointed out.
The official recalled that Russia would host the congress in St. Petersburg in 2022.
Abu Dhabi will host the 24th edition of the World Energy Congress on 9-12 September 2019.
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