Day: January 17, 2023

ABU DHABI, Masdar, one of the world’s leading clean energy companies, has signed joint development agreements with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), for onshore wind and solar projects, and integrated offshore wind and green hydrogen projects, with a total combined capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW).

The agreements were signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the global platform for accelerating sustainable development hosted by Masdar. Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President-Designate, and Chairman of Masdar, and Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy for Azerbaijan, witnessed the signing.

Dr. Al Jaber said, “These agreements will serve to strengthen the already powerful relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and are a testament to our shared commitment to diversifying our energy mix and developing low- and zero-carbon solutions. As global leaders gather here in the UAE for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, we are demonstrating the power of partnership and cooperation in advancing the inclusive energy transition and I look forward to seeing more announcements being made at ADSW.”

Al Ramahi said, “Masdar sees Azerbaijan as a key strategic partner, one we are proud to support in its clean energy journey. This signing marks a milestone on the development and delivery of a significant collaboration that will advance Azerbaijan’s renewable energy goals and support its ongoing sustainable economic development.”

In June last year, Masdar signed implementation agreements with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy to develop a renewable energy program on a bilateral basis, with a total capacity of 10 GW across multiple technologies, one of the largest such signings in Azerbaijan’s history. The joint development agreements set out the collaboration and partnership principles between the parties for the development of the first phase of the program, with a total capacity of 4 GW.

SOCAR is an integrated national oil and gas company supporting the energy security of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is pursuing a national target of producing 30 percent of its domestic power needs from renewable energy sources by 2030, as the Central Asian nation looks to diversify its economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Masdar is also developing the 230-megawatt Garadagh Solar PV Plant in Azerbaijan. The plant will help to generate half a billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the needs of more than 110,000 homes and will reduce emissions by more than 200,000 tonnes a year, while also creating valuable jobs.

Masdar recently announced a new shareholding structure and additional focus on green hydrogen, making it one of the largest clean energy companies of its kind. With a goal of achieving 100 GW renewable energy capacity and green hydrogen production of 1 million tonnes per annum annually by 2030, the new Masdar is a clean energy powerhouse that will spearhead the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and drive the global energy transition.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and Schneider Electric today announced the findings of a nationwide assessment of industrial companies that is designed to help enhance energy efficiency in the industrial sector ahead of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) later this year.

Announced during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the assessment is the result of a partnership between MoIAT, MoEI and Schneider Electric, which is a member of the Champions 4.0 Network – a core pillar of UAE Industry 4.0 designed to accelerate the integration of 4IR solutions in industry.

The initiative surveyed 46 manufacturing facilities in the UAE operating across sectors such as energy, metals, food and beverage, chemicals, paper and wood, and other segments. Its findings indicated the manufacturing facilities included in the survey are ahead of the average in the smart utilization, monitoring and management of energy.

Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, commented, “Energy efficiency is a key component in the UAE’s approach to enhance the sustainability of our industrial sector. Achieving greater energy efficiency through the adoption of technology helps to reduce emissions, improve the operational performance of our industrial facilities, and promote environmentally friendly practices. Under the umbrella of Make it in the Emirates initiative, we seek to empower industrial companies to adopt 4IR technologies that help them boost sustainability and productivity, and ultimately increase their regional and global competitiveness.”

He added, “We are delighted by the findings of this joint assessment, which provides the manufacturers with a roadmap for transformation towards sustainability and net zero. It demonstrates the positive impact the national industrial strategy, Operation 300bn, is having on the digitalization and efficiency of national industries. As part of this strategy, the Make it in the Emirates initiative helps supercharge industrial priority sectors and attract investments. We continue to build successful partnerships with international players who are eager to capitalize on the significant benefits and potential of establishing an industrial presence in the UAE.”

Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, commented, “The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure plays a big role in shaping the future of the energy sector for the next fifty years and it has led the country’s effort in achieving resources sustainability through the formulation of the Energy Strategy 2050. Among the supporting programs that have been developed to support the Energy Strategy 2050 is the National Energy and Water Demand Side Management Program 2050, Which includes initiatives to reduce energy consumption for the largest energy-consuming sectors in the country, including the industrial sector. This program aims to reduce energy demand by 40% which will support cost reduction, investment, and sustainability.”

He added, “The results of this sustainability joint assessment will contribute to achieving the objectives of one of the main initiatives in the industry sector within the National Energy and Water Demand Side Management Program 2050 which is the Top 50 Program, that targets improving the efficiency of the top 50 energy-consuming industries in the UAE. This public-private partnership will encourage energy efficiency of the largest industrial consumers in the UAE, and encourage adoption of energy management practices which will build on the country’s efforts toward reducing GHG emissions.”

Ahmed Khashan, Gulf Cluster President at Schneider Electric, said, “Sustainability is a main driver of growth and a competitive advantage for the country’s industrial sector. Technological innovation is the key to driving sustainability. We are delighted to be able to deliver on the commitment we made to the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology along with Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to play a pivotal role in supporting the country’s manufacturing sector in its journey to become greener, more energy efficient, and ultimately net zero.”

Increasing competitiveness through sustainability

The assessment, which commenced shortly after Schneider Electric joined the Champions 4.0 Network in January 2022, was divided into two models. The first assessment model measured the maturity of facilities and categorized them into: Basic, Aware, In-Control, and Advanced. The second assessment model measured the readiness of facilities and their prioritization of energy transformations and sustainability.

The assessment’s findings indicate that there is a significant opportunity for companies to adopt more practices around waste management, such as recycling and re-using, in line with national efforts to create a circular economy.

The report laid out a set of recommendations for policymakers and manufactures to help increase energy efficiency. These included advocating stronger rules on the metering and billing of thermal energy by giving commercial consumers more access to frequent and useful information on their energy consumption.

Several recommendations were developed for manufactures and end-users around sustainable management of assets, waste and product life cycle. It recommended creating sustainability roadmaps and setting hard targets to reduce carbon emissions across the entire value chain. It also stressed the importance of upskilling, education, awareness, and community engagement.

Public-private partnerships for a sustainable future

The partnership between MoIAT and Schneider Electric builds on the nation’s net-zero commitments to become a world leader in areas related to sustainability. It is also part of MoIAT’s Industry 4.0 Program that aims to increase industrial productivity by 30 percent and add AED 25 billion to the national economy by 2031. This also will help in achieving the targets of the National Energy and Water Demand Side Management Program 2050 by reducing energy demand by 40 percent. Schneider Electric is a founding member of the Champions 4.0 Network, which brings together leading local and international companies to share best practices in the deployment of 4IR technologies.

Announced in October 2021, Industry 4.0 aims to increase productivity and the development of innovative products as part of a broader strategy to add value to the national economy, expand and grow specific industrial sectors, and raise productivity. The program is implemented by MoIAT to encourage the adoption of advanced technologies such as IoT, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to transform the UAE into a global hub for smart manufacturing and innovation. Building on Industry 4.0 is the Technology Transformation Program, which launched last year marking a new phase of national competitiveness. So far, 13 projects have been announced under the program, which include major national and international companies.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure launched in March 2021 the UAE National Demand Side Management Program with the detailed plan set to achieve the national demand reduction targe and to manage the demand for energy and water through plans and 21 programs that have a direct impact in the short, medium and long term that will ensure security of supply in the energy and water sectors

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The UAE and the Republic of Kazakhstan have issued a joint statement, in which they affirmed the importance of boosting their fruitful economic partnerships, and their keenness on further enhancing their economic cooperation in line with their national interests.

Issued on the occasion of the official visit of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to the UAE, the statement also underscored the importance of efforts aimed at strengthening the role of the United Nations in supporting international security and promoting sustainable development.

Following is the full text of the joint statement.

1. Upon the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, paid an official visit to the UAE from 16th to 18th January, 2023.

2. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance political, diplomatic, commercial, economic and cultural cooperation, and exchanged views on a number of issues at regional and international levels. The two sides also praised the close cooperation between the UAE and Kazakhstan in various fields which benefits the people of both countries.

3. Both sides stressed the importance of the fruitful economic partnership between the two countries, and expressed their desire to further enhance economic cooperation in line with national interests. They also discussed promising areas such as renewable energy, food security, agriculture, mining, transportation, logistics, construction, development, and cooperation between international financial centres.

4. The two sides praised the completion of ratification procedures for the Agreement on Promotion and Protection of Investment signed between the two countries, which will contribute to deepening cooperation in various bilateral economic and investment fields.

5. The two sides agreed to deepen cultural exchange besides expanding cooperation in the fields of tourism, sports, education, science and health sectors, considering the importance of these fields in bringing peoples together, consolidating mutual understanding, enriching both cultures, and developing bilateral relations.

6. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, underscored the importance of strengthening the role of the United Nations in supporting international security and promoting sustainable development. For his part, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, expressed his appreciation for the active role of the UAE as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2022-2023.

7. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed his gratitude for the active participation of the representatives of the UAE in the 7th Conference of Leaders of World and Traditional Religious Leaders, which was held from September 14 to 15, 2022 in Astana. The two sides agreed to continue to support all initiatives of the conference as well as the efforts of religious leaders to promote dialogue among religions, cultures and civilisations.

8. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Republic of Kazakhstan for its support for the UAE’s bid to host the 13th Ministerial Conference of World Trade Organisation, which will be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. His Highness also expressed his gratitude for Kazakhstan’s support for the UAE’s request to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a dialogue partner, and His Highness affirmed his confidence in the further development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

9. The two presidents expressed their keenness and support for transforming the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building measures in Asia into an international organisation and jointly developing its influence and standing. Moreover, they highlighted that the international initiatives proposed by the both countries at international and regional levels are effectively promoting peace and sustainable development.

10. In this regard, the two sides emphasised the need to create and maintain trust and mutual understanding at regional and international levels for peaceful solutions to international issues through diplomatic means.

11. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, expressed his welcoming of the initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to establish an international Agency for Biological Safety.

12. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for the kind welcome and generous hospitality, and invited His Highness to pay an official visit to Kazakhstan.

Source: Emirates News Agency