Abdullah Al Rushud

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia participated in an informative seminar on automobile energy to present advanced Japanese technologies and share the Japanese experience in a way that can reduce energy consumption in the transportation sector.

The Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute in Jeddah hosted this seminar, which was organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry-Japan in cooperation with the Association of Automobile Manufacturers in Japan – JAMA, Energy Conservation Centre in Japan- ECCJ, the Saudi Energy Efficiency Centre and KSN Corporation, in the framework of mutual cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Japan and work together in this fields to increase energy efficiency.

The seminar reviews the automobile energy efficiency in the Kingdom, which is in line with the general policy in Saudi Arabia to benefit from the precious hydrocarbon resources, and to address climate change that could harm the country and its ecosystem.

This symposium which aims to enhance the role of young people in the Kingdom as future experts in the field of energy efficiency, is at a time when the we witnessed developments in the company’s fuel efficiency standards, fuel economy standards and the in the labeling system, and also at the same time, the role of consumers has become increasingly important in line with the decision to allow women to drive, because learning economic driving methods is critical to energy efficiency and conservation.

The Director of the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute Salim H. Alasmarei confirmed that the Saudi standard for fuel economy was implemented in January 2016. Energy efficiency in the second largest fuel consuming sector in the Kingdom and it is one of the relevant topics to be discussed, this idea led the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to hold this Seminar in one of the world’s largest oil-producing countries.

Al-Asmari added that the Kingdom has witnessed rapid economic growth over the past years, which has led to a rise in energy consumption. Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC) was established by considering the importance of this issue of energy efficiency, whose council is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, He also pointed out that the center began to apply standards for energy efficiency mainly to the transportation and automotive technology sectors.

He also pointed out that the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry proposed organizing this event at the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute in recognition of its important role in transferring Japanese automobile maintenance and technology to Saudi youth over a period of 20 years who are contributing with their high skills competency in the economic growth of the Kingdom in support of the Saudization of jobs program.