UNU Geothermal Training Programme graduation ceremony.
Dear fellows of the United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a real honour for me as the minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, to address you here today on this 31st graduation ceremony of the UNU Geothermal Training Programme.
You are now among 424 fellows from 44 countries who have finished the six months training programme here in Iceland.
It is my hope that you have enjoyed your stay here in Iceland, although the weather here can be described as slightly different from what some of you are used to!
But though our countries do not share the same climate, we all come from countries that are privileged with geothermal recourses.
Dear fellows, you can be proud of yourself.
It takes some courage to go away from home for six months, to an island in the harsh Atlantic Ocean.
I know that you all have family back home which I“m sure you have missed and must look forward to see again.
But you have made this sacrifice to be able to study the art and science of geothermal research and utilisation.
Congratulations to you all.
I also would like to express my gratitude to the staff and teachers of the programme.
As the last 30 years, they have all made a great job this year, and without them, the programme would not have been as successful as it has turned out to be.
We here in Iceland are very proud of the UNU Geothermal training programme, because all the students who come here and get their training, go back home and spread their knowledge.
In our international and globalised world, where the threat of climate change and global warming looms large, new energy technology and new solutions for the production of clean energy are really important.
So when you start harnessing renewable energy resources to power industries and progress in your countries you are also contributing to a more sustainable future for the whole world.
For the last few years the UNU-Geothermal Training programme has expanded its working area outside Iceland.
Short courses have been held in China, Africa and South-America, where the specialists from these regions have been able to gather together and get an intensive training on all aspects on geothermal sciences.
The courses are part of Iceland“s contribution to the United Nations millennium goals.
Geothermal energy is now used directly in at least 72 countries and electricity is produced in geothermal powerplants in 24 countries
But there are at least 140 countries where geothermal energy is to be found in some form or other. So there are still lots of opportunities.
And it is not only your task to increase the number of countries that use geothermal power for energy production, but also to expand the utilisation.
Here in Iceland over 90% of all demand for spaceheating is met with geothermal power and about 25% of the electricity comes from geothermal power plants.
Although we have increased our use of geothermal resources rapidly over the last decades we realise this renewable resource has to be harnessed with caution and respect in order to be sustainable.
The National Energy Authority is leading an international project where the measurements are set for sustainable use of Geothermal resources and report is forthcoming in just a few weeks.
I look forward to reading the report and I’m sure it will be useful for your future work.
Dear fellows
Soon you return home to spread the knowledge of geothermal resources, their utilisation, the environmental advantages of geothermal power production compared to fossil fuel and help build up the geothermal industry in your country.
You are indeed like ambassadors for geothermal, and I know that the geothermal committee will now be richer, gaining from your knowledge in the future. I look forward to hear about your indevours in the future.
I hope that when you look back you think of this time you spent here in Iceland as a pleasant and educational.
I wish you and your families all the best in your future tasks.
Dr. Ingvar Birgir Frišleifsson, Director of the Program, Ms Salima Ouli student from Algeria and Minister of Industry Ms Katrķn Jślķusdóttir.
