The Saudi government is working on a wide range of activities to help boost the country's energy efficiency under its new 'green economy' programme, said a report, citing a top official.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and chairman of the executive committee of Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency, said the programme is timely as the building sectors, ground transportation and industry account for 90 per cent of the total energy consumption in the kingdom, reported state news agnecy SPA.

The Prince was speaking at the 11th Saudi Forum for Water and Electricity which kicked off in Riyadh yesterday (January 27).

"The domestic energy consumption constitutes 38 per cent of the kingdom's total production of petroleum and gas. This has been mainly due to the rapid economic and population growth over the last 20 years," remarked Prince Abdulaziz.

Experts have cautioned that the consumption rate could grow two-fold by 2030, unless some strict measures are implemented to rationalise and boost the production efficiency, he added.