By: Oil & gas middle east

Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, has concluded high-level working visits to Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea aimed at enhancing collaboration in energy, sustainability, and water management.

During his stop in Hong Kong, Eng. Al Olama visited Hong Kong International Airport to examine key sustainability initiatives, including large-scale battery energy storage systems, expanded rooftop solar installations, and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). He held talks with Ms. Vivian Kar Fai Cheung, CEO of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, on potential cooperation in SAF production and supply chain development. The Undersecretary also met with representatives from Tellus Power to explore opportunities for deploying ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the UAE.

Following his engagements in Hong Kong, Eng. Al Olama traveled to Busan, South Korea, where he participated in the Clean Energy Ministerial. There, he underscored the UAE’s leading role in advancing low-carbon energy and energy efficiency. On the sidelines of the conference, he met with Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission, and encouraged EU member states to join the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA).

In Seoul, Eng. Al Olama co-chaired the 8th UAE–Korea Joint Committee Meeting on Water Resource Cooperation. He highlighted the UAE’s strategic priorities in areas such as desalination technology, integration of renewable energy into water systems, and wastewater reuse. Additionally, he met with officials from Fuel Cell Innovations and the Korea Electric Power Corporation to discuss cooperation in hydrogen energy development, grid modernization, and EV charging platforms.

The visits underscore the UAE’s proactive approach to fostering international partnerships and promoting innovative solutions to support global energy transition and water security goals.