1. INTRODUCTION
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries,
whose economies depend on hydrocarbons, are
consuming increasing amounts of the natural
resources domestically. While being important oil and
gas producers, their rapid socio-economic growth,
characterized by increasing population, high rates of
industrialization is transforming them into big energy
consumers too. Indeed the growing population
requires more and more energy for its basic needs
which are electricity, air conditioning and drinking
potable water etc. Such fast growing energy needs are
putting pressure on GCC countries’ hydrocarbon
resources, the looming shortage of which, point to the
fact that over-reliance on oil and gas is not