Japan to Collaborate in Organizing Energy Courses and Seminars

EghtesadOnline: Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East will collaborate with Iran to hold training courses and seminars in the field of energy next year, the energy minister’s advisor for international affairs said.

News ID: ۷۴۹۱۳۳

08 December 2019

Mohammad Ali Farahnakian met the Managing Director of Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East Seiji Hirota on Thursday in Tehran on the sidelines of a meeting of the board of governors of the Regional Centre for Urban Water Management in Tehran, ILNA reported.

The two sides discussed ways to develop cooperation in educational fields. “Based on the negotiations, five training courses and six special seminars on water and electricity will be held in 2020 in both countries,” Financial Tribune quoted Farahnakian as saying.

He expressed concern about the disturbing trends in global warming and called for sharing Japan's experience in this regard.

Farahnakian said both sides agreed on the construction of a building without using fossil fuels for air conditioning systems in one of the Iranian academic centers.

The move is to benefit from Japan’s experience in using renewables for cooling and heating in buildings.

Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East was founded in 1973 during the first oil crisis by the joint efforts of Tokyo government and the private sector as a non-profit incorporated foundation.

Active Assistance

Since inception, JCCME has engaged in a broad range of activities with the wholehearted support and active cooperation of supporting member companies and organizations.

JCCME promotes direct investment from Japan to the Middle East and North Africa by providing information on the investment environment, and facilitating corporate missions to research local conditions critical to business, feasibility studies and the establishment of joint ventures.

The Energy Ministry in 2017 signed a memorandum of understanding with JCCME on sharing know-how to improve electricity and water infrastructure, as well as finding solutions to cut water consumption.

Drastic changes are worsening global climate change and the best way not to be taken by surprise (due to torrential rains or drought) is to learn from and draw on developed countries' knowledge and experience.

Close to $100 million has been allocated from the National Development Fund of Iran to help alleviate the chronic water problems, mainly in the deprived regions.

Located in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions, Iran is among the top 20 countries with unsustainable water consumption.

Desertification, several thousand illegal water wells scattered across the country, inefficient farming and water-intensive industries are making a bad situation worse as the water deficit grows in tandem with prohibitive consumption in all sectors, mainly agriculture.

Japan’s Water Shortage

Though occurrence of water shortages has become rare in recent years in Japan, the shortage in 1994 covered almost all Japan, when approximately 16 million people were affected at least once by suspended or reduced water supply, and agriculture suffered production losses of 140 billion yen.

Even today, Japan is taking steps to prevent another water shortage during the Olympics next year.

According to Kyodo News, plans are in place to increase water levels in reservoirs serving Tokyo and surrounding areas in a bid to meet demand during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

With more than 10 million people are expected to arrive for the games, the central government and seven prefectures including Tokyo are checking if increasing water reserves at seven reservoirs in the eastern regions   will be enough to avoid shortages in hotels, restaurants and sports venues without cutting supplies to industries and residents.

Tokyo and surrounding areas suffered an “Olympic drought” prior to the 1964 Games as low rainfall led to prolonged water supply restrictions.

Although the amount of reservoir water has grown nearly six fold since then, the country wants to prepare for a worst-case scenario.

According to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, the amount of usable water in Tokyo can be increased by 20% if all measures are taken.