At this year's World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, several of the world's biggest international oil companies put on a brave green show of solidarity with the global clean-energy movement.
This year, ExxonMobil, the world's biggest private-sector oil company, had two stands at the capital's annual showcase of the latest trends and gadgets in the world of renewable and low-carbon energy.
In addition to the company's main stand, featuring information on its joint venture to develop biofuel from algae, it hosted an "energy outlook" forum area featuring presentations on such popular topics as energy efficiency and innovation, as well as advances in carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS).
The French energy group Total was also much in evidence, promoting solar ventures, hydrogen systems and biomass projects, among others.
Royal Dutch Shell was there with a demonstration "marathon car", fashioned from lightweight plastic and resembling a futuristic aircraft fuselage on wheels.
In some ways it was a flashback to the "bubble cars" briefly popular in the 1960s.
Occidental Petroleum, the oil and chemicals group based in Los Angeles, was also prominent at the show.
"We are very big in carbon capture and storage," said the Occidental representative manning the stand yesterday, just a day after news had broken that the firm had won an important contract to develop Abu Dhabi's Shah gasfield, strengthening its growing relationship with the emirate's energy sector.
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, also known as Taqa, and Norway's Statoil were among other oil companies at the show keen to talk up CCS.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, on the other hand, highlighted the compressed natural-gas pumps now found at a number of its filling stations, and high-voltage cables incorporating advanced plastics, designed to be buried instead of strung overhead.
The new cables have a lower carbon footprint because they do not need large steel pylons to support them.
Two "Big Oil" companies, however, were notable for their absence from the show. BP, despite being among the main industry sponsors of the summit, did not have an exhibition stand in Abu Dhabi this year. The company is keeping a low profile after its disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill last year.
Also absent was ConocoPhillips, the US oil company that quit the Shah gas project last year.
tcarlisle@thenational.ae
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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Manchester United: Rashford (78')
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Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
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Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
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“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
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Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
