The Middle East Energy

Plans to consolidate Turkey’s position as an energy transit bridge appear to have suffered a setback, with a major project to connect the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean put on hold by both the Turkish government and one of the scheme’s key investors, though for different reasons.

Solar energy looks set to play a growing role in Oman’s energy mix as the Sultanate moves to address the two-fold challenge it faces of meeting rising demand for electricity while reducing state support for the power sector.

The Kingdom is moving toward finalising plans to refurbish its only oil refinery, part of a wider programme that will see the Gulf’s first oil producer increase its focus on value-added downstream activities, rather than depending on its ever-decreasing reserves for revenue.

Extensive plans to shift the focus of Oman’s oil export capacity away from the crowded Gulf waterways are gathering pace, led by the establishment of the newly-formed Oman Tank Terminal Company which will build, own and operate a huge storage facility positioned along the Sultanate’s eastern coast.

Ongoing energy concerns continue to plague Jordanian manufacturers despite an overall resilient performance from the sector in 2012. As the country grapples with slow economic growth, subdued international investment and a mounting public budget deficit, industrialists are working to combat a new wave of electricity tariffs that have already contributed to a rise in production costs.

Aiming to reduce both its greenhouse emissions and its use of hydrocarbons to generate power, Qatar is looking to embrace solar technology. This could lead to the development of a local industry with the potential for exports in the longer term.