The Ministry of Industry and Electricity is primarily concerned with the comprehensive industrial development of Saudi Arabia and the proper geographical location of industries in all provinces in a way that give due consideration to environmental aspects.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations

No information is available

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans

Within the framework of a national strategy, plants are gradually stopping the use of certain ozone-depleting chemicals such as the chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs) and are shifting to the use of substitute materials in application of the frame of action of the Montreal Protocol and the requirements of Agenda 21.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects

No information is available

Status

Jubail and Yanbu, which accommodate the basic Saudi industries, were successfully nominated and won the Sasakawa Environmental Prize, which is annually granted by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the most prestigious international prize honouring environmental achievement. The sustainable approach to development taken in these cities was done under the responsibility of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu and under the direct supervision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

The most outstanding industrial cities are Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Makkah, Qassim and Hassa in addition to Jubail and Yanbu. These cities have been established to the highest standards worldwide. Instances of sophistication achieved could be seen in the construction of industrial waste water treatment plants, tree-planting and landscaping.

The establishment of the industrial cities is geared to the objective of integrating local industries and the benefit of recycling certain wastes, and, thus, reducing environmental impacts of the industrial processes together with utilizing treated waste water for cooling, industrial uses and for irrigation of green areas.

Challenges

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

No information is available

Information

No information is available

Research and Technologies

New plants with potential impact on the environment are obligated to conduct studies on environmental impact assessment in adherence with Agenda 21. Certain plants have adopted the principle of clean production, for example, the companies of SABIC (Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation) and those of other basic industries. Plans are in place to achieve this objective. Plants dispose of hazardous waste through environmentally-qualified companies, into specialized waste disposal dumps. One such company, approved by the Administration (MEPA), is establishing an incinerator for hazardous waste for the disposal of factory-produced hazardous waste that cannot be disposed of in the hazardous waste dump. This incinerator is still at the experimental stage.

Financing

No information is available

Cooperation

No information is available

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This information was provided by the Government of Saudi Arabia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.

For information on Industrial Cities, click here.
For information on the economy and industry, click here.

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TRANSPORT

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies

Coordination for transport in Saudi Arabia is with various Ministries which include:

Air Transport:

Ministry of Defense (Civil Aviation), Saudia Airlines.

Intercity (between cities) Road and Ring Road Systems:

The Ministry of Communications (MOC).

Traffic Safety:

The Ministries of: Interior (General Directorate of Traffic Police); Communications; Interior; and Municipality and Rural affairs (MOMRA).

Traffic Management:

The Ministry of Interior

Intracity (within city zone) Road System and Urban planning:

The Ministry of Municipality and Rural affairs (MOMRA)

Railway Planning:

The Ministry of Communications (MOC)

Railway Operation and management:

Saudi Railway Organization (SRO)

Maritime Planning:

The Ministry of Communications (MOC)

Maritime Operation and Management:

Saudi Seaports Organization

A government agency propose a certain legislation or policy in the transport sector;
Coordination with other concerned public and private agencies is achieved through joint committees or by writing;
Charged committees review the legislation and include all comments and concerns;
Proposed policy is send to Board of Ministers for approval;
Board of Minister may form other committees to review proposed policy; and
Policy will be modified or approved.

Ministries and Central Gov. agencies undertake decision-making and planning on the National level. Certain decisions are delegated to local authorities according to the task and role of this authority.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations

Road and Seaports laws are issued by Royal Decrees;
The Ministry of Communications MOC issues various Land and Maritime Transport Licenses laws; and
The Traffic law (1971) issued be a royal decree, and implemented by the Ministry of Interior. This law is currently under review.

One of the roles for the Ministry of Commutations MOC is to maintain road standards.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans

Saudi Arabia (The Ministry of Planning) has developed two transportation national plans 1981 and 1996; and
The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs MOMRA develop urban Planning strategies.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

The Private Sector participates through circulation of proposed laws to key players in the public and the private sectors. Through public-private joint committees private sector participates in discussing issues and study recommendations.

Population groups that have the greatest needs for improved transport system include:

Expansion of expressway system to connect major population regions;
Public transport within city zones;
School transportation; and
Expansion of railway network to mining resources.

Programmes and Projects

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is the research institute that undertakes transport and traffic issues; and
Research centers in Universities undertake transport and traffic topics.

Status

Air transport system is well developed and airports cover all major population centers;
Maritime system is well developed and seaports cover major coastlines;
Paved roads system is well developed;
Agriculture roads system is well developed;
Expressway system needs expansion to cover the whole country;
Public transportation needs improvements; and
School transport need to be developed.

The use of unleaded gasoline has been implemented starting from the beginning of 2001.

Challenges

The most immediate attention in improving transport efficiency and reducing damages to ecosystems in Saudi Arabia should focus on:

Public transportation;
School transportation;
Maritime transportation; and
Urban transportation.

Major challenges include:

Financial;
Various Gov. agencies and conflict in tasks; and
Lack of major laws and regulations and enforcement.

The economic or social sector which is most vulnerable in terms of the harmful consequences of ill-managed transport and traffic systems are:

Long delays in urban transport in major cities and
High rate of accidents and injuries.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

Saudi Arabia promotes public awareness of the impact of transport on the environment through Conferences and Media coverage. The following measures are used to educate the public on traffic safety.

The National Traffic Safety Committee ( NTSC );
School Educational programs;
Ministry of Interior educational programs;
Media coverage.

Each Gov. agency has its own training and human resource programs, which include on-the-job training, local and international training, and higher degrees and educational programs.

Information

Each Gov. agency has its own database and Information available through studies and reports.

The Saudi Government (MOC) is undertaking major studies concerning the expansion of the Saudi railway network, and developing the national highway system.

Research and Technologies

Some of the ITS technologies are being considered.

Financing

Building infrastructure; ==> Gov. Sources.
Supply of fuel; ==> Private.
Research and development of alternative fuels and transport efficiency; ==> joint sources.
Enforcement of regulations and standards. ==> Gov. agencies.

Measures or mechanisms introduced in Saudi Arabia to increase the volume of investment in transport sector include:

The Saudi Gov. efforts for the accession to the WTO;
Studies to privatize major transport systems (Airline, Railway, Road expansion, Seaports services).

Cooperation

Various bilateral agreements with neighboring and other countries in Air, Land and maritime transport;
Regional agreements through the Arab League Organization; and
The Kingdom is part of many International agreements.

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Saudi Arabia to the 9th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: May 2001.

For information on transportation and communication in Saudi Arabia, click here.

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

No information is available.

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