Sunday 20 / October / 2024
Muscat: A forum for supporting the use of clean energy in the aviation sector kicked off at the premises of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today.
More than 150 specialists are attending the two-day forum titled 'Forum of Innovation Support in Sustainable and Low-Carbon Aviation Fuel and Clean Energy in the Aviation Sector'.
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals.
The forum seeks to enhance public understanding of sustainable low-carbon aviation fuel and its contribution to addressing the impacts on the environment from activities of the civil aviation industry.
It also aims to identity the current status and future potential related to the production of sustainable and low-carbon aviation fuels in the Sultanate of Oman, besides exploring investment opportunities for the establishment of dedicated refineries and plants to produce green aviation fuels.
Eng. Nayef Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said that the aviation sector saw a surge in air traffic and that the sector is expected to grow further soon.
The CAA is exerting efforts to reduce impacts on the environment from international civil aviation activities, said Eng. Nayef Al Abri who affirmed that environmental sustainability constitutes a basic pillar of the national civil aviation strategy.
For her part, Jane Hupe, Deputy Director of the Environment Programme at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), stressed that “innovation, notably in sustainable aviation fuel, low-carbon aviation fuel and other clean energy sources, is a key enabler for the sector in its pursuit of the long-term global goal.”
More than 20 working papers were reviewed during the forum’s first three sessions. The first session explored international experiences in the field of producing sustainable, low-carbon aviation fuel, in addition to future plans, opportunities and challenges associated with the sector.
The second session elaborated on local experiences and how raw materials can be used more optimally in the production of sustainable, low-carbon aviation fuel. It also looked into relevant future policies and plans.
The third session focused on means of supporting and implementing envisaged policies, financing, research and capacity building. It explained the extent to which such approaches can contribute to bolstering the dissemination and development of sustainable low-carbon aviation fuel at the local level.
The gathering covered the main themes of the forum, notably by identifying sustainable low-carbon fuels and clean energies, their importance and their future. It also sought ways to consolidate youth participation in issues related to protecting the civil aviation environment, with emphasis on the production of sustainable, low-carbon fuels and clean energies.
As part of the forum, an exhibition featuring inputs from participating institutions was held. The participating institutions included Oman Energy Association (OPAL), Woqod Company, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), the German University of Technology (GUtech), Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) and Invest Oman Lounge, as well as the Directorates of Air Navigation and Meteorology, represented by the CAA.
A youth gathering was held on the sidelines of the discussion sessions. It was aimed at engaging young people and listening to their views and proposals in the field of protecting the civil aviation environment.
