Dubai - Dubai Municipality has awarded Besix the contract to build and operate the Al Qusais Landfill Gas-to-Energy project. Besix will build and operate for 16.5 years renewable energy production facilities at Al Qusais, Dubai.
The project consists of capturing the gas from the Al Qusais landfill and treating it to produce electricity. This recovery of methane, which is produced by the decomposition of organic fractions, is all the more sustainable as it prevents this environmentally harmful gas from escaping into the atmosphere, said a statement.
Once completed, the facilities will comprise a network of 22 to 24 km of pipes and will treat up to 9,000 cu m of landfill gas per hour. The facilities will have a production capacity of 12 MW. The project is part of the Dubai Municipality Strategic Plan for an integrated waste management and its ambitious environmental objectives. It is also in line with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regarding solid waste management.
The project strengthens Besix's leading position in the waste-to-energy market in the UAE and confirms its expertise in the sustainable recovery of both organic and non-organic solid waste, it said.
Benoit Vadani, Vice President Business Development, Besix, said: "Besix is particularly honoured by Dubai Municipality’s renewed confidence in our group’s environmental expertise. This project strengthens Besix's leading position in the waste-to-energy market in the UAE. Our group now operates energy recovery facilities for both organic and non-organic solid waste, two complementary and sustainable activities."
In recent years, Besix has become a leading player in the wastewater treatment and waste-to-resource sectors in the Gulf region. In addition to design and construction, the group offers financing, operations and maintenance services through public-private partnerships.
In the waste-to-energy sector, its current activities include the Dubai Municipality's Thermal Waste Recycling Plant, the world’s largest waste-to-energy plant. The project is in the final stages of financing and an early mobilization on site is foreseen in early 2020. The facility will be operated by Besix and Hitachi Zosen Inova.
Other projects include the development of a Refuse Derived Fuel facility by Emirates RDF (Besix - Tech Group Eco Single Owner Holding - Griffin Refineries) in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, whose production will partially replace the use of fossil fuels in cement plants.
Besix is a leading Belgian group, based in Brussels and operating on five continents, primarily in the construction, real estate development and concessions sectors.
Source: Trade Arabia
Sharjah - The Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority - SEWA - recycled more than 360,000 litres of transformer oils at 33 kV stations and reused the oil after treatment according to the best international specifications during 2019.
The recycling process saved more than AED20 million after one of the ideas presented by employees was applied as part of the "I am Creative" initiative, SEWA said. Dr. Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of SEWA, emphasized that the strategy of the Authority depends on the ideas and contributions of its employees, which are implemented to develop the system, and these constructive ideas have contributed to a qualitative shift in performance.
He stressed SEWA’s keenness to encourage employees to participate in the processes of development and continuous improvement of performance and services, and to create an appropriate environment for creativity to achieve excellence, and encourage a culture of continuous development through the real participation of employees to achieve the vision and directives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the Authority’s message and its strategic goals.
The recycling project is considered one of the innovative projects that falls within the Authority’s efforts to achieve a sustainable environment for the emirate, he added.
Saif Al Obaidly, from SEWA, pointed out that the ideas presented by the employees were studied in cooperation with the major international companies and specialized centers before they were applied so that they are compatible with all international and local requirements and specifications.
Source: Zawya
Dubai - Splash, one of the largest high-street fashion retailers in the Middle East region, has reinforced the need for sustainability and preservation of the planet with the unveiling of its award-winning annual 2020 calendar.
Shot creatively through the lens of photographer Dragomir Spassov and styled by Adriana Gerassimova, the calendar aims to educate and raise awareness about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species, the causes and devastating ecological consequences.
Each month features a striking photograph highlighting the key causes for the destruction of the ecosystem and the positive actions Splash has taken to reduce their environmental impact and preserve the planet for generations to come, said the statement from the top retailer.
The calendar conveys a strong message that humans are not simply the offenders, but also the ultimate victims of global warming. It urges customers to come together for this significant cause and act to save imperilled species and protect Earth.
Landmark Group Director and Splash CEO Raza Beig said: "Sustainability is significant for fashion, because the textiles and fashion industry is among the leading industries that affect the environment negatively. Our new 2020 Splash calendar underlines our commitment to promoting animal welfare and environmentally sustainable practices in the fashion and retail industry."
"Each month focuses on creating awareness of global environmental concerns and highlight the initiatives and sustainable practices adopted by Splash for a greener future," he explained.
According to official data, over one million species, such as sharks, elephants, and honey bees, are threatened with extinction by 2050. For this, the major drivers are deforestation, overfishing, poaching, overuse of plastic and climate change.
As a socially and environmentally responsible fashion retailer in the Middle East region, Splash uses recycled polyester, produced from discarded plastic bottles, that further leads to less plastic ending up in the ocean.
"Splash also makes clothes with eco-friendly fabrics such as Tencel, 100% Organic Cotton and Lenzing Viscose, across several of its fashion lines which is now 70% sustainable," remarked Beig.
"The brand is further advancing its sustainability initiatives for 2020 and plans to produce 80% of its products using sustainable and ethically sourced materials," he added.
Source: Trade Arabia
Dubai - With the rising popularity of vegan meals amongst its customers, Emirates is celebrating Veganuary on board by including an additional plant-based option on its menus for the month of January.
While vegan meals can be pre-booked on all flights and classes, this is the first time Emirates is including a readily available vegan option on its menus. The plant-based meal is available as a fourth main course option in First and Business Class menus on flights from Dubai to US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Addis Ababa.
Due to popular demand, Emirates is also offering a vegan option in Economy on flights to Addis Ababa this month. Veganuary is a worldwide movement, to encourage veganism especially in January. Last year, Emirates served 345,000 special plant-based meals to customers on board.
The airline has over 170 vegan recipes in its kitchen and for January will be serving some new dishes such as: Tofu Jalfrezi – a spiced tofu and vegetable stir fry served with steamed wild rice and tandoori broccolini; Shitake Ravioli served with coriander pesto and edamame and Ancho three bean chilli – a spiced vegan stew of peppers and beans served with corn cakes, chimichurri and tofu aioli.
On all other routes and across all classes, customers can continue to request vegan meals, along with other special meals, 24 hours before departure. Emirates' vegan meals are created by its team of chefs and nutritionists and come complete with vegan desserts. A special vegan cheese was also introduced in Economy Class and the airline has a vegan option as part of its gourmet chocolate programme in premium classes.
For customers who are less inclined towards a plant-based diet, Emirates' regular menus are also whipped up by award-winning chefs. The airline serves over 110 million meals on board each year, with the same attention to detail given to creating delightful dishes in Economy, Business or First Class.
Catering for more than 55 million dine-in guests a year travelling to and from over 140 cities across six continents, Emirates serves destination-inspired cuisine on board the world's largest flying restaurant.
Source: Trade Arabia
Sharjah - Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, chairperson of Nama Women Advancement Establishment has launched ‘Elevate’, a platform to support women in the low- and medium-income countries in Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.
In a bid to accelerate progress and mobilise the global community to expand women’s economic opportunities in these countries, Elevate will draw upon the active contributions of the private sector, government entities, and non-profit organisations to achieve scalable and sustainable impact, in line with the directives of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, reported Emirates news agency Wam.
"Achieving gender equity and women’s economic empowerment are at the heart of Elevate’s core pillars," said Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi. "At Nama, we believe that economic empowerment is a uniquely potent way to enable women to be dynamic actors in the real economy and is also key to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth."
"Elevate will carry forward its mission of providing technical, professional and knowledge-based support to female workers, women entrepreneurs, institutions and organisations by integrating its work with the established regional and international institutions in the field of women’s empowerment, and addressing any gaps by working in close cooperation with them," she said.
Elevate is founded on six core pillars namely, promote the implementation of effective laws and policies to promote gender equity; promote greater inclusion of women in leadership and supply chains; enhance women’s access to finance and other productive assets; promote initiatives that enable education, training and capacity building for women; ensure regular measurement and public reporting on progress and challenges; and create inclusive societies.
"Launching Elevate reaffirms our belief in the skills and abilities of women and recognises the social and economic imperative of boosting their capacities to deliver better outcomes," added Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi.
"Women and men are equal partners and contributors in the nation-building process; bridging the gender gap will enable them to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts. Achieving gender equity is therefore an economic necessity as it will boost productivity and growth while also supporting economic resilience."
Nama will now take forward the overarching vision of WEEGS through the newly launched Elevate to advance women’s economic agenda by their full inclusion in economic activity. To ensure that the transformative vision enshrined within the core pillars of Elevate directly impacts the lives of women and helps in the building of stronger, more inclusive economies, the platform will bring together its strategic partners, chapter leaders and chapter members to take concerted action in realising its key goals.
The advisory role of Elevate’s strategic partners will lay the foundation for its regional and global strategies on women’s empowerment. Chapter leaders, comprising of a network of policy makers, public and private sector entities, non-profit organisations, academia and civil society, will draw on the most robust evidence to create a positive impact in their respective communities through several integrated programmes.
Chapter leaders will induct chapter members and facilitate their capacity building initiatives, while also exchanging learnings and practices, mapping progress and developing strategies to increase the impact of Elevate.
Elevate’s head office led by Nama will hold annual meetings with members and partners to discuss the successes and challenges in promoting the platform’s core pillars and goals. To meet these goals, Elevate will impart technical assistance to chapter leaders to enable them to provide education support to female employees, entrepreneurs, and women-led SMEs in the targeted countries with the support of chapter members.
The platform will also help create networking opportunities amongst target entities and international organisations with global industry leaders and policymakers. "The pledge taken by His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah, to enable women achieve their aspirations will now be transformed into reality through Elevate as it works by unifying the concerted efforts of international organisations and engaging with them to usher in an economy rooted in the principles of gender equity and equal opportunities," concluded Sheikha Jawaher.
Source: Trade Arabia
Damman - The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) - a multilateral development financial institution -announced today that it signed two agreements with Yellow Door Energy (YDE), a sustainable energy solutions provider in the Middle East, to install solar panels at APICORP’s headquarters in Dammam and retrofit the building with energy-efficient technologies.
The agreements mark YDE’s first project in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating the company’s exponential growth in the region. Expected to be completed by end of 2020, the new fittings will cut APICORP’s carbon emissions by 2,000 tonnes and generate up to 718 MWh of clean energy, as well as significantly reduce energy consumption by 35%.
YDE’s energy efficiency solutions at APICORP headquarters include retrofitting and optimising the air conditioning and chiller systems, as well as installing over 3,500 LED light bulbs with smart control. YDE will also install a rooftop solar plant that spans 4,300 square metres, fitted with a customised mounting structure to accommodate the roof’s unique wave design.
Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Ahmed Ali Attiga, CEO of APICORP, said: “We are delighted to work with Yellow Door Energy, one of our investee companies, on this important initiative that demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of APICORP’s operations. By investing in green initiatives, we hope to lead by example and contribute in a tangible and impactful way to making this planet a better place to live for future generations.”
Jeremy Crane, CEO and Co-Founder of Yellow Door Energy, added: “Yellow Door Energy is honoured to contribute to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy target as part of Vision 2030. Our solar lease and shared energy savings contracts with APICORP are our company’s first of hopefully many projects in the Kingdom. We congratulate APICORP on this forward-thinking initiative and sustainability leadership.”
In 2019, APICORP and a consortium of international and regional banks invested USD65 million in Yellow Door Energy to scale up investments in solar energy and efficiency solutions in emerging markets. YDE currently has over 100 megawatts of solar assets in development in the UAE, Jordan, Pakistan and Egypt.
As per Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, the country is pursuing an ambitious renewable power strategy that includes plans to add 60 gigawatts of clean energy capacity to the national grid by 2030. Of this, 40GW will come from solar photovoltaic plants, 16GW from wind turbines and 2.7GW from concentrated solar power.
Source: Utilities Me
Cairo - Two UAE-based companies, Bee’ah and Seramic Materials Ltd., announced their signing of a MoU during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2020.
Bee’ah is a long established integrated environmental, recycling and waste management company. Seramic Materials is a startup with its own patented waste integration technology for recycling industrial solid waste into sustainable and affordable value-added ceramic products.
The strategic partnership between the two firms is meant to utilise ashes from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWI) produced at Bee’ah’s waste-to-energy plant. This ash will be recycled by Seramic Materials into sustainable, affordable, and durable construction materials. This is part of the UAE’s circular economy strategy, meant to fulfil its zero-waste-to-landfills target.
Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Bee’ah, was quoted as saying that: “Bee’ah believes that collaboration and co-creation with partners can help solve some of the region’s greatest environmental challenges – in this case, that is closing the loop for waste management. By adopting a holistic approach to sustainability, we are leading the charge in the UAE towards a truly zero-waste solution and a circular economy, in which we reinvent and innovate new products made by waste.”
For his the CEO of Seramic Materials Dr. Nicolas Calvet explained further that: “Once the two UAE incinerators are operational, MSWI ash will rapidly become a major mineral waste in the UAE by quantity produced with about 800,000 tons per year, ranking MSWI ash as third just after demolition concrete and alumina red mud.
By collaborating with Bee’ah now, we are anticipating and providing viable solutions for this foreseeable waste management issue. As soon as the waste-to-energy plant begins to generate ash, Seramic Materials will be ready to transform it into valuable products. This partnership demonstrates visionary leadership of the UAE and the Group CEO of Bee’ah. The solution developed for EWTE is applicable all over the world.”
EWTE is the Emirates Waste to Energy company. EWTE’s first project is the Sharjah, Waste to Energy plant, a facility belonging to the Emirates Waste to Energy Company, a joint venture between Bee’ah and Masdar. Seramic Materials, while a new business force in the UAE, has worked with
The Catalyst, a Masdar-BP initiative, to build a laboratory at The Tech Park in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. This is first laboratory of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) dedicated to transforming and up-cycling locally produced industrial solid waste into value-added products.
EWTE’s new plant in Sharjah is meant to rescue 300,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste from landfill sites, annually, part of Sharjah’s own efforts to become a zero-waste city by the target date of 2021. The waste itself is also being used to produce electricity by heating a turbine that generates up to 30MW of electricity used by up to 28,000 homes. The waste material, once burned, leaves behind a combustion residue consisting of bottom ash at 25% and fly ash at roughly 2.5%. These two forms of ash will then be used by Seramic Materials to manufacture a new line of ceramic products.
Dr. Nicolas Calvet is also co-founder of Seramic Materials and an assistant professor at the Masdar Institute, Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi.
ABU DHABI - In line with its mission to promote sustainability, innovation and new technologies, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, ADNEC, has invested in autonomous cleaning robots, AvidBot, demonstrating an innovative approach to the ADNEC’s continuous commitment to moving forward in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner.
Using less water to clean floors, the robots can discreetly and efficiently ensure the high standard of cleanliness that the ADNEC consistently provides. Additionally, due to the high profile and professional standards of the events that the company hosts, the exhibition center can remain clean without visitors being aware of the maintenance taking place. The company is the first in the region to use the AvidBot version 1.7, which is smarter and faster with a 3D camera.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC, said, "We are very proud to introduce the effective use of the AvidBot at the ADNEC. At SIAL Middle East 2019, the robot allowed visitors to enjoy the clean space throughout the day. The ADNEC is committed to sustainable initiatives and the AvidBot is another way in which we have continued to demonstrate this."
One of the key sustainable drivers within the ADNEC, Ahmed Al Obaidli, Chief Operating Officer said, "We are extremely happy to introduce our new AvidBot as it is an important part of our journey as a sustainable venue. As we are considered one of the leading exhibition centers in the region to get involved in environmental practices and as a green venue, we are always looking toward to the future in terms of introducing new sustainable initiatives. By introducing the robots, we are setting a new trend in saving both energy and water."
The ADNEC has promoted sustainability as an important part of internal corporate life daily and has a dedicated team implementing new innovative and appropriate initiatives.
Source: Zawya
