KUWAIT CITY, Nov 28, (Agencies): Under the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Eighth International Conference on Energy Development Research was launched in Kuwait. Representing His Highness, the opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Jassim Al-Astad, the Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, and the Acting Minister of Public Works.

In his opening speech, Dr. Al-Astad emphasized Kuwait's commitment to supporting research institutions, particularly those focused on energy. He highlighted the nation's humanitarian approach, aiming to provide equitable access to safe energy for people globally.

Dr. Al-Astad outlined Kuwait's dedication to providing grants, projects, and humanitarian aid to brotherly and friendly countries, emphasizing the importance of supporting research institutions. He stressed the critical role of research in developing new scientific tools to ensure the availability of energy for diverse populations.

The Minister expressed pride in representing the conference sponsor, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, underscoring His Highness's keen interest in the vital and strategic energy file. Dr. Al-Astad also acknowledged the significant role of Kuwait University in contributing to community development through various research and development studies, including hosting the conference.

Acting Director of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Dr. Mishaan Al-Otaibi, highlighted the conference's focus on addressing critical energy issues, facilitating knowledge exchange, and deriving applied solutions for societal well-being. He emphasized the growing importance of renewable energy as an environmentally friendly and competitively priced source, especially considering the anticipated demand of 4,000 megawatts by 2030.

Dr. Al-Otaibi urged optimal exploitation of energy sources, particularly crude oil, and its derivatives, while emphasizing the importance of research in developing production and refining techniques for lasting impact. He outlined the institute's attention to energy research and development, with a primary focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy in its strategic plan.

Acting Director of Kuwait University, Dr. Mishari Al-Harbi, affirmed the significance of holding the international conference in Kuwait for the eighth time, emphasizing its role in encouraging scientific research and studies related to energy sciences. He highlighted the importance of such conferences in providing opportunities for local engineers and researchers to stay abreast of developments in energy use and conservation.

President of the Kuwaiti Society of Engineers, Engineer Faisal Al-Attal, mentioned the association's efforts in energy-related initiatives, including specialized committees for energy and renewable energy. He stressed the Society's commitment to qualifying and training Kuwaiti engineering cadres, developing professional accreditation requirements, and ensuring their ability to keep pace with technological progress in all engineering specializations.

The President highlighted the association's initiative to implement smart systems for electricity and water conservation in mosques, achieving a notable 60 percent reduction in consumption. The conference was preceded by two days of training workshops in collaboration with the American Society of Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Engineers (ASHRI).