While China solemnly promises to achieve carbon peaks by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, Arab countries are also actively seeking energy transitions to change the situation of relying on fossil energy. China and Arab countries are facing major issues of ensuring energy security and realizing the energy transition, and the field of low-carbon energy has become the focus of attention of both parties.

From August 19 to 20, 2021, the Fifth China-Arab States Expo China-Arab Energy Cooperation Summit Forum will be held in Yinchuan, Ningxia. The meeting sent a strong signal: not only the Chinese representatives are declaring to the world China's confidence and determination to work together to deepen China-Arab energy cooperation, but the Arab representatives also agreed that the time is right to start a new era of China-Arab energy cooperation in the future. Zhang Jianhua, director of the National Energy Administration of China, said that China has become the largest trading partner of Arab countries. In 2020, under the influence of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, China-Arab trade still achieved a year-on-year growth of 2.2%.

Renewable energy becomes a trend

In 2020, Arab countries’ crude oil exports to China accounted for 51.3% of China’s total crude oil imports, making it China’s most important source of imported crude oil; Chinese energy companies actively participate in the construction of power infrastructure in Arab countries, and China’s State Grid Corporation of China has participated in the Egyptian 500 The transformation project of the kilovolt main power grid; the 950,000 kilowatt photovoltaic + solar thermal hybrid power station in Dubai, which Shanghai Electric participated in the construction, is currently the world's largest photovoltaic + solar thermal hybrid power station; China National Nuclear Corporation has signed a peaceful use with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and other countries Nuclear energy agreement, and reached cooperation intentions in the fields of uranium exploration, nuclear fuel supply, nuclear power plant operation and maintenance...

"In the past 20 years, China has become the largest foreign investor in many Arab and Gulf countries, especially in the energy sector." Lahr said that vigorously developing renewable energy has become a global trend, and this trend creates a good opportunity for deepening energy cooperation between Afghanistan and China.

Nasser Aldosli, Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs to the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia also believes that the global energy transition is advancing rapidly. Saudi Arabia, China and other Arab countries are facing many challenges, but there are also many opportunities. "In recent years, China has vigorously promoted the energy transition and has achieved positive results. We are willing to work with the Arab side to unswervingly follow the path of energy transition, further promote the'oil and gas +'cooperation model, and continue to expand solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, nuclear power, and hydrogen. Cooperation in energy and other fields will continue to improve the level of China-Arab energy cooperation." Zhang Jianhua said.

As of the end of 2020, China's total installed capacity of renewable energy power generation accounts for one-third of the world's total, and the installed capacity of hydropower, wind power, photovoltaic power generation, and biomass power generation ranks first in the world. The focus of cooperation between Chinese and Arab energy companies has also shifted from traditional energy to low-carbon energy. "Our partnership with Chinese companies started in 2008. At the beginning, traditional energy was the focus of development, but now it has gradually expanded to the field of renewable energy." said Mohamed Abnayan, chairman of Saudi International Power and Water Corporation , Our successful cooperation in the field of renewable energy shows that by creating technology, transforming technology, and applying technology, we can create economic value and ensure health and safety.

Currently, Saudi International Power and Water Corporation is cooperating with China State Power Investment Corporation's Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co., Ltd. to promote the Saudi Red Sea integrated smart energy project, providing all-weather green energy supply and storage. Mohammed Abu Nayan attaches great importance to new cooperation with Chinese companies. "The project can not only develop solar energy and renewable energy, but also provide integrated infrastructure for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. We want to prove that this integrated solution of renewable energy and green energy is feasible and can be large-scale application."

Focusing on energy transition and cross-border power interconnection, China and Arab countries have joined hands to tackle the problems of new energy consumption, large-scale energy storage, coordinated interaction between source and grid and load storage, deepen the transition to clean and low-carbon energy, and become the counterparts of Chinese power grid companies and Arab League companies. Common expectations.

"The State Grid Corporation of China successfully invested and operated the State Grid of Oman, completed the first phase of the Egyptian State Grid upgrade and transformation project, participated in the construction of the Saudi smart meter project, and provided all aspects of support to the Arab League partners." said Zhang Zhigang, general manager of the State Grid Corporation of China. Both parties have their own strengths in energy transformation, energy conservation and environmental protection, and the prospects for cooperation are very broad. China National Nuclear Corporation has cooperated with Arab countries in the field of nuclear energy for many years. Xie Jiajie, general manager of China National Nuclear Corporation China Central Plains Engineering Co., Ltd., said that in the future, China National Nuclear Corporation will actively deepen cooperation with Arab League countries and build a diversified cooperation system including nuclear power, new energy and civil engineering.

In the context of actively achieving carbon neutrality in response to climate change, it has become a general consensus to jointly build a green and low-carbon global energy governance pattern. In the future, the energy structure will become more diversified. Zhang Jianhua said that China is willing to deepen cooperation in the entire industry chain between the two sides in the fields of oil and natural gas exploration, extraction, storage and transportation, and refining. At the same time, accelerate the promotion of low-carbon energy transition, develop and utilize the wind and solar resources in the Middle East according to local conditions, and promote the local energy transition and green development.

Keywords: overseas engineering, international engineering construction, foreign engineering construction news

The new generation of clean and low-carbon energy technologies, such as hydrogen energy, energy storage, and smart grid, will become new highlights in future cooperation between the two parties. "The development of zero-carbon and low-carbon energy technologies is of great significance. These technologies are in line with our energy transition goals, making the energy industry more resilient, and helping us to create a sustainable and peaceful future." Avida Murshid · Ali Mursheed Malal said.Editor/XuNing