Latest news with #MinistryofEnergyandInfrastructure
2 days ago
- General
Greenpeace warns of potential environmental disaster as oil tankers collide near Strait of Hormuz
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A collision between two oil tankers just east of the world's most critical oil choke point, the Strait of Hormuz, could bring about a potential environmental disaster, Greenpeace said on Thursday. The two giant tankers, ADALYNN and Front Eagle, crashed Tuesday in the Gulf of Oman and caught fire before the Emirati national guard intervened to evacuate crew members. No injuries were reported, according to Emirati authorities. Satellite data from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System showed heat signatures in the area early Tuesday morning. Greenpeace said it had reviewed satellite imagery that showed a plume of oil stretching up to about 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) from the crash site. The 23-year-old tanker ADALYNN belonged to a so-called Russian 'shadow fleet' – known to operate older ships below basic security standards – and may have been carrying around 70,000 tons of crude oil, the group said. 'This is just one of many dangerous incidents to take place in the past years,' said Farah Al Hattab of Greenpeace's Middle East and North Africa division, adding that such oil spills "endanger marine life.' The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure did not respond to a request for comment. It was not immediately clear what caused Tuesday's incident. British maritime security firm Ambrey said it was unrelated to fighting between Israel and nearby Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, near where the collision took place, is the strategic maritime entryway to the Persian Gulf and sees about a fifth of the world's oil pass through it, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2024, an average of 20 million barrels of oil traveled through it daily. After Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on June 13, oil prices surged as worry mounted over whether the Islamic Republic might block the waterway. Maritime ship experts say shipowners are increasingly wary of using the waterway, with some ships having tightened security and others canceling routes there. As the Israel-Iran conflict intensified over the weekend, hundreds of ships in the strait saw spotty navigation signals and had to rely more on radar. The Financial Times reported on June 13 that the world's largest publicly listed oil tanker company, Frontline – which owns the Front Eagle oil tanker involved in Tuesday's crash – said it would turn down new contracts to sail into the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
Euronews
2 days ago
- General
- Euronews
Greenpeace warns of disaster after tanker crash near Strait of Hormuz
A collision between two oil tankers just east of the world's most critical oil choke point, the Strait of Hormuz, could bring about a potential environmental disaster, Greenpeace said on Thursday. The two giant tankers, ADALYNN and Front Eagle, crashed on Tuesday, 17 June, in the Gulf of Oman and caught fire before the Emirati national guard intervened to evacuate crew members. No injuries were reported, according to Emirati authorities. Satellite data from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System showed heat signatures in the area early Tuesday morning. Greenpeace said it had reviewed satellite imagery that showed a plume of oil stretching up to about 1,500 hectares from the crash site. The 23-year-old tanker ADALYNN belonged to a so-called Russian 'shadow fleet' – known to operate older ships below basic security standards – and may have been carrying around 70,000 tonnes of crude oil, the group said. 'This is just one of many dangerous incidents to take place in the past years,' said Farah Al Hattab of Greenpeace's Middle East and North Africa division, adding that such oil spills "endanger marine life.' The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure did not respond to a request for comment. It was not immediately clear what caused Tuesday's incident. British maritime security firm Ambrey said it was unrelated to the fighting between Israel and nearby Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, near where the collision took place, is the strategic maritime entryway to the Persian Gulf and sees about a fifth of the world's oil pass through it, according to the US Energy Information Administration. In 2024, an average of 20 million barrels of oil travelled through it daily. After Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on 13 June, oil prices surged as worry mounted over whether the Islamic Republic might block the waterway. Maritime ship experts say shipowners are increasingly wary of using the waterway, with some ships having tightened security and others cancelling routes there. As the Israel-Iran conflict intensified over the weekend, hundreds of ships in the strait saw spotty navigation signals and had to rely more on radar. The Financial Times reported on 13 June that the world's largest publicly listed oil tanker company, Frontline, which owns the Front Eagle oil tanker involved in Tuesday's crash, said it would turn down new contracts to sail into the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Converting abandoned or soon-to-close coal mines into solar farms could provide enough power to meet the demands of a country the size of Germany, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis. Researchers from Global Energy Monitor (GEM) have identified 312 surface coal mines that have been shut since 2020, sprawling over 2,089 square kilometres (km²). Its Global Coal Mine Tracker (GCMT) finds that a further 3,731 km² of mine land is set to be abandoned by operators before the end of 2030 as reserves are run down. In total, that means an estimated 446 coal mines and 5,820 km² of abandoned land that could be repurposed for solar projects and generate nearly 300 GW of renewable energy. That's a huge amount - equivalent to around 15 per cent of globally installed solar capacity today. 'The legacy of coal is written into the land, but that legacy does not have to define the future,' says Cheng Cheng Wu, project manager for the Energy Transition Tracker at GEM. 'The coal mine to solar transition is underway, and this potential is ready to be unlocked in major coal producers like Australia, the US, Indonesia and India,' Wu adds. China is currently leading the pack on coal-to-solar projects. It has 90 such conversions up and running, with a capacity of 14 GW, and 46 more projects in the pipeline. The next four major coal producers above hold nearly three-quarters of the global potential for coal-to-solar transitions, the analysts found. In Europe, the report singles out Greece - which is 'exceptionally well-suited' for turning old coal mines into solar plants. An average solar potential of 4.45 kilowatts per square meter (kW/m²), a fast-approaching coal phaseout goal of 2026, and a supportive financing environment as an EU member state all make Greece ripe for this transition. In Western Macedonia in northern Greece, companies have already set to work creating solar parks in the boundaries of the former Amynteo opencast lignite mine. And the country's EU-funded national recovery plan Greece 2.0 has set aside €175 million to support more solar projects in Central Macedonia. Given the global goal of tripling renewables capacity by 2030, derelict coal mines present a sizable opportunity for the clean energy transition. But the benefits don't stop there. 'Acquiring land for global renewable energy targets has been rife with conflicts among stakeholders and decision-makers,' acknowledges Hailey Deres, researcher at GEM. Developers are busy exploring overlooked sites for panels - from roadsides to reservoirs and railway tracks - and old coal mines are a particularly fitting location. 'So repurposing degraded lands could provide salient new benefits to former coal communities across the planet,' she continues. 'Repurposing mines for solar development offers a rare chance to bring together land restoration, local job creation, and clean energy deployment in a single strategy,' adds Wu. 'With the right choices, the same ground that powered the industrial era can help power the climate solutions we now urgently need.' In total, the analysts estimate that 259,700 permanent jobs could be created at coal-to-solar transition sites, and another 317,500 temporary and construction jobs. That's more than the number of workers the coal industry is expected to shed globally by 2035. Old coal mines are often just left as a scar on the landscape, but this approach also provides an economic incentive for reclamation and cleaning up the mess left after mining. 'We've seen what happens in coal communities when companies go bankrupt, axe the workers, and leave a mess behind,' says Ryan Driskell Tate, associate director at GEM. 'But mined-out coalfields harbour huge potential for powering a clean energy future. It's already happening. We just need the right mix of incentives to put people to work building the next generation of solar in coal country.'
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE chairs Global Energy Efficiency Alliance
19 June 2025 15:25 DUBAI (WAM)The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), announced that it is chairing the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA) for the coming years, following the formation of GEEA's General UAE announced its intention to establish GEEA during the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, in support of the UAE Consensus and the global goal of doubling the energy efficiency improvement rate, from the historical average of two percent to over four percent annually by reaffirms the UAE's commitment to placing energy efficiency at the forefront of the international energy and climate effort comes at a critical moment, as the world is currently off track, the global energy efficiency improvement rate remains below 1.5 percent annually, and at this pace, the world will fall short of achieving its decarbonisation and net-zero complements other high-level initiatives such as the Mission Efficiency partnership, the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group, and regional clean energy platforms. Together, these combined efforts must be mutually reinforcing, not fragmented—ensuring that knowledge, finance, and best practices flow across borders and chairing this ambitious alliance, the UAE underscores its commitment to spearheading international efforts to enhance energy efficiency across various UAE aims to strengthen collaboration among governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and research and innovation centers, thereby accelerating the transition toward more efficient and sustainable energy this context, Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, emphasised that the UAE's chairing of GEEA reflects the international community's confidence in the country's ability to lead and coordinate noted that GEEA will play a pivotal role in policy development, knowledge, and expertise exchange, enhancing access to finance and innovation, and enabling member states to achieve their national and international energy efficiency Olama said, 'This alliance serves as a practical and inclusive platform to accelerate the achievement of the global target to double the rate of energy efficiency by 2030, in line with the historic UAE Consensus. We welcome all partners from around the world to join and collaborate for a more efficient and sustainable future. GEEA aims to drive transformative improvements in energy consumption efficiency across key sectors, including buildings, transportation, and industry.' Last February, the UAE hosted a high-level roundtable during the World Government Summit in Dubai, where the general framework of the alliance was discussed with several countries, international organisations, private sector entities, and financial institutions.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- General
- Gulf Today
Ship collision off UAE coast due to navigational misjudgment, says Ministry of Energy
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) announced that preliminary information regarding the accidental collision between two ships in the Sea of Oman, approximately 24 nautical miles off the coast of the UAE, indicates that the incident was caused by a navigational misjudgment by one of the vessels. In a statement, the ministry said that at exactly 1:30 am on Tuesday, the concerned authorities received a report regarding the collision between the two ships-one being an oil tanker named ADALYNN, flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, and the other a cargo vessel named Front Eagle, flying the flag of the Republic of Liberia. The ministry added that the incident resulted in minor surface damage to the outer hulls of both ships, a small oil spill, and a fire that broke out in the fuel tank of one of the ships. Relevant authorities swiftly intervened and extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported among the crew members of either vessel. The ministry confirmed that a technical investigation is underway in coordination with relevant international bodies, in line with transparency and in accordance with the highest international maritime standards. The ministry also praised the rapid response and high efficiency of the rescue teams in managing the situation. A safe evacuation operation was carried out for the crew of the oil tanker ADALYNN, totalling 24 individuals, who were transported safely to Khor Fakkan Port by search and rescue boats operated by the Coast Guard of the National Guard and other competent maritime authorities. The ministry reaffirmed it continues monitoring and assessment of the situation to ensure navigational safety and marine environmental protection, commending the institutional coordination and constant readiness to handle emergencies with professionalism and efficiency.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ship collision and fire Off UAE coast caused by navigational error, officials say
In the early hours of Tuesday, June 17, two large vessels, oil tanker ADALYNN and cargo ship Front Eagle, collided approximately 24 nautical miles off the UAE's eastern coast in the Gulf of Oman. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The incident, which occurred at around 1:30 a.m., resulted in minor hull damage to both ships, a small oil spill, and a fire that broke out in the fuel tank of one of the vessels, according to the UAE's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI). According to , the Front Eagle was moving southbound at 13.1 knots when it executed a starboard (right) turn, colliding with the aft port side of the Adalynn , which was moving southeast at 4.8 knots. The MoEI confirmed on Wednesday, June 18, that the accident was due to 'navigational misjudgment by one of the vessels.' The fire was extinguished following prompt intervention by emergency teams, and no injuries were reported among the crew members of either ship. The two vessels involved are: ADALYNN, a Suezmax-class oil tanker owned by India-based Global Shipping Holding Ltd, flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. It was sailing without cargo toward the Suez Canal in Egypt. Front Eagle, a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel owned by the Oslo-listed company Frontline. It was carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil bound for Zhoushan, China. Evacuation and Response The UAE National Guard confirmed that 24 crew members aboard the ADALYNN were evacuated by search and rescue boats and taken to the Port of Khor Fakkan. Personnel aboard the Front Eagle were confirmed safe, and no pollution was reported on that vessel despite the fire on its deck. According to Frontline , the fire on the Front Eagle was under control, and the incident is now under investigation, although the company emphasized that there was 'no suggestion of outside interference.' A technical investigation is underway in cooperation with international maritime authorities. The MoEI assured that it would be conducted transparently and in accordance with the highest global maritime standards. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Geopolitical Context: Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz The collision took place near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow and strategic waterway that links the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. This area is critical, as about 20% of the world's seaborne oi, between 17.8 and 20.8 million barrels per day, according to Vortexa, flows through this route. This maritime zone has recently experienced electronic interference, amid escalating military tensions between Iran and Israel. Since Friday, both countries have exchanged missile fire, and according to maritime security firm Ambrey , 'the incident was not security-related.' Still, concerns remain. The Combined Maritime Force's JMIC information centre noted electronic signal interference in the region, particularly near Iran's Bandar Abbas port. Although Tehran has not issued any comment on the collision or the reported electronic disruptions, its history of threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to Western pressure has made the area increasingly volatile. As a result: Dozens of tankers were seen anchored in ports near Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, and Sharjah. Some shipping companies have paused operations or awaited charter decisions amid rising uncertainty. War risk insurance for ships heading to Israeli ports has increased, though rates for Gulf passages have remained stable, for now. 'Rates, for the time being, remain stable with no noticeable increases since the latest hostilities between Israel and Iran,' said David Smith , head of marine at insurance broker McGill and Partners . 'This position could change dramatically depending on any further escalation or general conflagration in the area.' UAE's Emergency Preparedness and Past Rescues The recent rescue underscores the UAE's strong maritime emergency response. Just weeks earlier: On June 4, the National Guard airlifted an injured crew member in his fifties from a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in UAE waters, flying him to a local hospital for urgent treatment. On May 18, 13 people were rescued from a sinking picnic boat, in an operation involving both citizens and residents. These coordinated efforts signal a robust and well-prepared emergency response capability from UAE authorities, especially as regional tensions continue to rise.
