The United Arab Emirates remains on schedule to boost crude oil production capacity to 3.5 million b/d by 2017 from 2.7 million b/d at present, according to the federation’s energy minister.
In response to questions from reporters at the POWER-GEN Middle East conference in Abu Dhabi, Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui said investments in production capacity growth continue without delay despite the slump in crude prices.
Mazroui also said the UAE is investing $35 billion in nuclear, wind, and solar projects to lower its reliance on natural gas.
Although production is high—totaling about 1.9 tcf of dry gas in 2013, according to the US Energy Information Administration—the UAE became a net importer of gas in 2008 because of heavy usage for oil field injection and power generation.
