Nezamuddin, Nora

  • Primary Program Transport and Urban Infrastructure
  • Research Interests Energy Economics, Policy Analysis, Sustainable Transport, Energy Transitions, Energy in Transport and Freight Transport

Biography

Nora is a senior fellow at KAPSARC specializing in transport economics research and energy consumption in the transport sector. Her areas of interest include energy and transport economics, policy analysis, energy transitions, and sustainable transport. She holds an M.Sc. in Maritime and Air Transport Management, focusing on maritime transport economics research, from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and a B.S.B.A. in Business Administration and International Relations from The American University in Washington D.C.

Publications

See all Nora’s publications
  • Discussion papers
  • Methodology paper
  • Data Insights
  • Instant Insights
  • Commentaries
  • KAPSARC journal articles
  • External journal article
  • Think20 (T20)
A Maritime Sector in Transition – Learning from Other Sectoral Energy Transitions

A Maritime Sector in Transition – Learning from Other Sectoral Energy Transitions

The maritime sector currently contributes approximately 2.3% of global CO₂ emissions, with projections suggesting that this share could rise to 10%-13% by 2050, highlighting an urgent need for decarbonization. In response to the potentially catastrophic impacts of climate change, there is increasing support for transitioning the maritime sector to cleaner fuels such as hydrogen and its derivatives to achieve net-zero emissions in the sector. This study explores how lessons from other sectoral energy transitions can accelerate and enhance the maritime sector’s decarbonization process.

9th December 2024
Assessment of the Potential of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines in the Red Sea

Assessment of the Potential of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines in the Red Sea

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) have recently gained traction and are being installed in several regions of Europe and Asia. These turbines use the same technology as typical offshore wind turbines but are not directly anchored to the seabed. Instead, they are tethered with mooring lines and can float in the water within a predefined range of movement. This feature could enable development opportunities in areas with a water depth greater than 60 meters (i.e., the limit of current seabed-anchored offshore wind turbines). One of the main obstacles in developing offshore wind turbines in the Red Sea is the water depth, which is greater than 60 meters. Hence, FOWTs are a viable option.

5th May 2024
Designing Transport Policy for Sustainable Freight Movement in Saudi Arabia

Designing Transport Policy for Sustainable Freight Movement in Saudi Arabia

Logistics and infrastructure policy will play key roles in Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and reform efforts. This study provides a quantitative assessment of specific measures related to freight transport, taking into consideration the heterogeneity of urban, regional and inter-regional localities in Saudi Arabia. This paper, mirroring the global approach developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, analyzes the potential impact of logistics policy. It sheds light on how transport regulations can help rationalize fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants in the Kingdom.  

27th April 2020
The Renewable Energy Policy Paradox

The Renewable Energy Policy Paradox

One major avenue for policymakers to meet climate targets is by decarbonizing the power sector, one component of which is raising the share of renewable energy sources (renewables) in electricity generation. However, promoting renewables in liberalized power markets creates a paradox.

8th September 2016
Comparing Renewables Support Policies: Quantifying the Trade-Offs

Comparing Renewables Support Policies: Quantifying the Trade-Offs

Policies to support wind energy development are most effective when they deliver power at the lowest cost per unit of added capacity and per unit of delivered electricity. Our analysis uses real Spanish onshore wind project data to identify which approaches deliver the lowest cost to society.

24th December 2015
Changing Competitive Landscape: Transition Policy’s Blind Spots

Changing Competitive Landscape: Transition Policy’s Blind Spots

For the past two to three decades, and particularly in the wake of the Great Recession, clean energy transitions have been sold as a three-for-the-price-ofone policy: creating “green collar” jobs to get the unemployed back to work, using domestic resources to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and all while reducing carbon emissions. The first of two implicit goals of this “three-fer” was the development of local, high tech industries supported by policy-driven domestic demand for wind and solar equipment. These high tech industries would, in turn, deliver the second goal of driving down the costs of clean energy technologies to the point where they would no longer require policy support.

6th October 2014
Estimating Freight Transport Activity Using Nighttime Lights Satellite Data in China, India and Saudi Arabia

Estimating Freight Transport Activity Using Nighttime Lights Satellite Data in China, India and Saudi Arabia

This paper focuses on the methodology for estimating total freight transport activity (FTA) for three countries  — China, India and Saudi Arabia  — with the objective of building on current state-of-the-art transportation modeling in three key areas: Studying the relationship between nighttime lights (NTL) and FTA allows for an estimation of full transportation datasets for countries where only a few observation points exist or where data is unavailable. Establishing the foundation for future work on how to use this approach in transport flow estimation (origin-destination matrices). Determining whether this approach can be used globally, given the coverage of the satellite data used. The paper uses the KAPSARC Transport Analysis Framework (KTAF), which estimates transport activity from freely available global data sources, satellite images and NTL. It is a tool for estimating freight transport activity that can be used in models to measure the impact of an accelerated transport policy planning approach. The methodology offers a solution to inadequate data access and allows for scenario building in policy planning for transportation. This approach allows for quick estimation of the effects of policy measures and economic changes on transportation activities at a global level. The paper also includes a detailed guide on how to replicate the methodology used in this analysis.

9th May 2019
Current and Future Trends in Saudi Arabia’s Container Throughput

Current and Future Trends in Saudi Arabia’s Container Throughput

The maritime sector is a key pillar for the diversification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s economy, and it has been prioritised by the Saudi government due to its strategic importance. Saudi Vision 2030 has set a target for making KSA a global logistics hub. Correspondingly, the Kingdom has been investing heavily in its seaports to modernize their infrastructure and increase their capacity. For instance, several projects are now underway to boost the maritime transport sector, costing around 6 billion Saudi Arabian riyals (SAR) (USD $1.6 billion).

25th May 2022
Flight and Passenger Flows in Saudi Arabia

Flight and Passenger Flows in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has four major international airports. They are King Khalid International Airport (RUH), King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), King Fahd International Airport (DMM) and Prince Muhammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they were growing steadily, with average annual growth rates of 9.46% and 7.17% for annual passenger volume and flights, respectively. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), terminals at both JED and RUH were experiencing congestion owing to infrastructure limitations.  

28th September 2021
Saudi Arabia Imports by Major Customs Ports (2014 – 2018)

Saudi Arabia Imports by Major Customs Ports (2014 – 2018)

Saudi Arabia’s top three import destinations are the Jeddah Islamic Port, the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and the King Khalid International Airport with 29%, 20% and 12% of the total value of imports in 2018, respectively. The total value of imports in these destinations is US$84 billion.

7th April 2020
Revisiting the Impact of COVID-19 on the Demand for Transport and Gasoline

Revisiting the Impact of COVID-19 on the Demand for Transport and Gasoline

The global outbreak of COVID-19 began in March 2020. As of April 2021, the global caseload has reached over 150 million. Governments globally have introduced various measures in an attempt to contain the virus’s spread. These measures have varied in type and stringency in different parts of the world. Some nations have applied extensive containment measures, whereas others have implemented basic guidelines. Governments have also introduced various vaccines to combat the pandemic; around 1.4 billion vaccine doses had been administered as of May 2021.

24th June 2021
The Impact of the Coronavirus Lockdown on the Electricity Sectors in Saudi Arabia and India

The Impact of the Coronavirus Lockdown on the Electricity Sectors in Saudi Arabia and India

Currently, an estimated third of the global population is under some form of government-imposed lockdown measure aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. These lockdown measures have had various negative economic effects and could decrease electricity demand (Business Insider 2020). This insight compares the effects of Saudi Arabia’s and India’s COVID-19 lockdowns on their respective electricity sectors.

5th July 2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on Transport and Gasoline Demand

The Impact of COVID-19 on Transport and Gasoline Demand

In the last few months, the world has experienced the negative effects of COVID-19. The outbreak, which started as an epidemic concentrated in China, quickly spread to become a global pandemic. As of May 12, 2020, there have been over four million COVID-19 cases globally, and this number continues to increase.

21st May 2020
A Maritime Sector in Transition – The Role of Saudi Arabia

A Maritime Sector in Transition – The Role of Saudi Arabia

The maritime sector currently accounts for approximately 2.3% of global CO₂ emissions, with forecasts suggesting that this figure could rise to 10%-13% by 2050. This significant increase emphasizes the pressing need for decarbonization to mitigate environmental risks.

12th January 2025
Fueling the Transition in the Maritime Sector: What Are the Current Status and Path Ahead?

Fueling the Transition in the Maritime Sector: What Are the Current Status and Path Ahead?

The continued demand for global seaborne trade is estimated to have accounted for 85.9% of world trade in 2023, with demand reaching 12 billion tons. As with the growth in demand, the continued growth in CO₂ emissions from global shipping, which currently contributes an estimated 2.19%, equivalent to 837.7 million tons (mt) of the total CO₂ emission output and an estimated 3% of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, has led to a push toward increased measures to limit emissions since the sector is projected to contribute approximately 10%-13% of global GHG emissions in the future if no action is taken to decarbonize the sector.

10th March 2024
IMO GHG Emission Reduction Strategy: Insight into the Alignment of Saudi Arabia’s Efforts at Maritime Decarbonization

IMO GHG Emission Reduction Strategy: Insight into the Alignment of Saudi Arabia’s Efforts at Maritime Decarbonization

On July 7, 2023, member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) met in London, UK, at the 80th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80), where they adopted a revised strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping (KSA IMO 2023c). The initial GHG emission strategy was adopted in 2018 during the MEPC 72, and since then, the decision to adopt a revised strategy to reduce GHG emissions from shipping has been a work in progress. During the MEPC 77 in 2021, this decision appeared very important, and IMO member states agreed to a revision of the initially proposed IMO GHG Strategy as part of an effort to accelerate the uptake of climate targets highlighted at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow in 2021.

22nd January 2024
The Race to Offset Emissions from Airlines— How Is It Developing?

The Race to Offset Emissions from Airlines— How Is It Developing?

As a sector, aviation accounts for an estimated 2% of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicating that the growth in aviation in the last decade has been faster than that of roads, rail, or shipping. The pandemic has provided a unique situation in which the airline industry was brought to a halt due to pandemic measures restricting mobility.

3rd September 2023
Future Fuel Demand From the Saudi Shipping Sector: A Business-as-Usual Estimation

Future Fuel Demand From the Saudi Shipping Sector: A Business-as-Usual Estimation

The purpose of this commentary is to suggest a rough estimation of future exports and corresponding fuel consumption of the Saudi shipping sector up to 2040. For estimation purposes, we use two assumptions: A global average energy intensity of 0.078 megajoules per tonne-kilometers (MJ/tonne-km). An average export distance of 5,441 nautical miles (nm) between Saudi Arabia and export trading partner countries.

21st August 2023
Regional Energy Cooperation: Opportunities to Enhance the Saudi-India Relationship

Regional Energy Cooperation: Opportunities to Enhance the Saudi-India Relationship

Saudi Arabia and India, two of the fastest growing economies globally, play important roles in South Asia and the Middle East, respectively. Saudi-India relations have started to acquire a strategic dimension owing to the countries’ growing business opportunities, rising investment and close cooperation on security. In particular, India sees Saudi Arabia as a valued partner for its energy security and investment requirements, while Saudi Arabia sees India’s constantly growing energy market as an investment opportunity. Therefore, the energy collaboration between Saudi Arabia and India, both G20 member countries, is expected to prosper in the future.

9th April 2023
Saudi Arabia’s Potential to Further Hydrogen Use in the Maritime Sector

Saudi Arabia’s Potential to Further Hydrogen Use in the Maritime Sector

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow focussed on advancing low-carbon fuels to reach emissions abatement targets. The conference also reaffirmed the goals of the Paris Agreement: to secure global net-zero emissions by mid-century and limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.  

21st March 2023

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