In The Spotlight
On Monday 6 May, Veolia Water Technologies held a roundtable session to discuss better ways to preserve and reuse water. The theme of the session centred around how wastewater can be reused multiple times, which can help in preserving existing water resources.
Technical Review Middle East caught up with the panellists to talk about this in further detail.
One of the main topics of discussion was regulation, and how better laws could help develop a better ecosystem.
Thierry Dezenclos, CEO of Veolia UAE, said that a standardisation of laws across all emirates in the UAE would help transport wastewater faster and lead to increased volumes of treated water.
“I would say one of the major issues that we face in the UAE in terms of regulation is not to have the same regulation between the different states [emirates]. That makes it difficult to organise different things.
The second thing is that we are not authorised to move waste from one emirate to another. That forces us to build many different small units in each emirate, when we could have one big facility, which is less costly.”
Restricted and unrestricted use
Dr. Titia de Mes, sustainability manager at Sustainable Water Solutions Company in Abu Dhabi, explained that stricter guidelines, which can define how water can be used, will prove to be important.
“Our business in Abu Dhabi is regulated by the Department of Energy, which means that we have to comply with their guidelines.
They [the DOE] have two schemes, giving a separate licence for each. So with this licence, we treat the water to a certain quality. If we comply, there is one quality that says restricted use and unrestricted use.
For restricted use, you can use the water when it's not exposed to the public and the unrestricted one is for use when it's for things like parks etc.
In Abu Dhabi, there's not really any specific guidelines which explain what you can use for agriculture. So for now, it will fall into unrestricted use, but I think there should be some more guidance on the regulation for the use for agriculture.”
From left to right: Theirry Froment, Dr. Titia de Mes, Thierry Dezenclos, Nadine Zidani, founder and CEO of Mena Impact, and Pascal Grante, CEO, Veolia Near & Middle East. (Image source: Veolia)
Using new technology
Theirry Froment, CEO of Veolia Water Technologies Middle East, added that one of the main reasons why they have a carbon neutral sewage treatment plant in Europe is because of the cost of energy.
“The cost of energy is such that you need to do something about it to make the treatment acceptable. Here we struggle to use biogas that is produced by some sewage treatment plants because we cannot have any payback on the cogeneration for this energy.
“But at the same time, the quantity of water that is reused in the region is much more than the best in Europe, which is Spain [standing at 12%].
“We [in the UAE] are already at 71%. I think Qatar is a bit higher than that at 95%.”
He also added that waste-to-energy plants are succeeding in the region and that they will pioneer green energy and ultimately reduce carbon emissions.
MENA HSE Review caught up with Justin Endres, chief revenue officer of Seclore, to discuss why cybersecurity is important for the manufacturing industry in the MENA region
Trezi, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, is revolutionising the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector in real-time
-
Middle East Clean Energy Full
-
-
Rockwell Automation - Key Areas of Focus on Your Digitalization Journey
-
Middle East Energy 2024
-
Rockwell Automation interview with Andrew Weatherhead
Infinity Power, an African renewable energy developer, together with Hassan Allam Utilities, an investment platform, and Masdar have signed a Land Access Agreement with the Egyptian Government for the consortium’s 10GW capacity onshore wind farm in Egypt
This wind farm is poised to be one of the largest in the world, with a project value exceeding US$10bn.
The agreement grants the consortium access to a 3,025 sq km area of land located in West Suhag. It enables the consortium to conduct essential development studies to advance the project, including resource measurement campaigns, geotechnical and topographic surveys, and environmental studies to ensure minimal environmental impact.
Clean energy
This wind project is projected to generate 47,790 GWh of clean energy annually and reduce around 9% of Egypt’s yearly carbon emissions by displacing 23.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the wind farm will aid Egypt in achieving its strategic goal of sourcing 42% of its energy from renewables by 2030. It is estimated that the 10 GW wind farm will save the country approximately US$5bn in natural gas costs per year.
Masdar’s CEO, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, said, “Masdar, its joint venture Infinity Power, and our partner Hassan Allam Utilities, is supporting Egypt to deliver its ambitious renewable energy targets. I congratulate Egypt’s leadership on this major milestone for the country, with what is set to be one of the largest wind farms on the planet. At 10GW, this landmark project is pushing the limits of innovation and scale as we work to help unlock Africa’s clean energy potential, and further advance its energy transition.”
Amr Allam, co-CEO of Hassan Allam Holding, said, "In a significant move towards a more sustainable future for Egypt, the signing of the Land Access Agreement for the 10GW wind farm project alongside our esteemed partners, Infinity Power and Masdar, marks a pivotal moment. This initiative underscores our commitment to clean energy and environmental responsibility, and we are proud to be part of this transformative project that will have a positive impact on our nation's energy landscape and beyond."
Mohamed Ismail Mansour, chairman, Infinity Power said, "We are excited to be moving to the next step of the development of our 10GW wind farm in Egypt and cannot wait to see it progress. Not only will this project deliver substantial benefits during construction and operation, creating jobs for local people and investing in their local communities, the impact of the energy uplift will be amazing to see. This source of clean, affordable energy will save Egypt money, reduce emissions and power industry across the country.”
Nayer Fouad, CEO, Infinity Power added, "This wind farm is an ambitious and important project, set to be one of the largest in the world, and we’re delighted to be taking this step forward. It’s a hugely important project for Egypt and the wider region, and also highlights Infinity Power as a leading investment platform in renewable energy, able to deliver renewable projects on the largest scale. This project will also show that, by setting bold targets, countries can embrace and adopt renewable energy and transform their energy mix."
Bluewater Bio’s remarkable year-on-year growth is bolstered by yet another significant contract win, securing an upgrade of the North Sitra wastewater treatment works, valued at US$42mn (£33mn). This follows previous substantial upgrades that are now processing over 50% of the wastewater generated in the Kingdom of Bahrain
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has reported that 45% of the works for the first contract of Phase 4 in the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project have been completed
Metso, a provider of end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries, has announced an expansion to its solvent extraction offering and has introduced the VSF X solvent extraction plant with extended scope
Immensa, which is a digital manufacturer, is partnering with Intaj Suhar for Advanced Manufacturing (ISAM) in Oman to boost in-country manufacturing
In accordance with Immensa’s business model, which focuses on constructing digital warehouses catering to the energy sector to facilitate on-demand spare parts, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will initiate collaboration to localise the manufacturing process in Oman. Immensa's expertise in digital inventory solutions and additive manufacturing, combined with ISAM’s local capabilities, will offer a comprehensive solution for Omani companies to procure locally manufactured parts.
Immensa operates within the global energy spare parts market, valued at US$91bn, with the Middle East accounting for 35% of this sector. It stands as the sole company to possess full control over the digital supply chain. Immensa collaborates closely with end users, disrupting the sector by offering digital warehouse solutions and establishing more agile supply chains. This is crucial as traditional structures often struggle to meet customer demands promptly and cost-effectively.
Growth in Oman
A digitised spare parts supply chain offers numerous tangible benefits for energy companies. These include financial advantages like cash release and reduced inventory ownership costs, as well as operational benefits such as localised production. Furthermore, it brings environmental benefits by minimising wastage and lowering the carbon footprint. Annually, energy companies collectively face unnecessary losses estimated at US$30bn.
For Immensa, Oman represents a significant milestone in its organic growth plans. The strategic partnership with ISAM will further accelerate the Company’s expanding regional presence.
Sary Diab, COO of Immensa, said, “We are delighted to sign this MOU with an esteemed manufacturer such as ISAM and extend our solution in Oman. It is an attractive market for Immensa and in line with our organic regional growth strategy. We also look forward to strengthening Oman's manufacturing sector and accelerating its adoption of cutting-edge technologies – in line with the country’s Manufacturing for Wellbeing and In Country Value strategies. We are committed to bettering the energy supply chain, benefitting local businesses operating in the wider sector, and boosting the Omani economy.”
Majid Al Hinai, General Manager of Intaj Suhar, said, “ISAM is excited to enter this collaboration with Immensa, which will greatly enrich ISAM's additive manufacturing capabilities AM. The partnership with Immensa, an esteemed AM manufacturer, aligns perfectly with ISAM's growth strategy and presents a tremendous opportunity to expand our solutions in the attractive market of Oman.
“This collaboration also aligns with ISAM's commitment to strengthen Oman's manufacturing sector and contribute to the country's Manufacturing and In Country Value strategies. By accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, we aim to enhance the energy supply chain by AM technology adoption and contribute to the growth of the Omani economy.
“This partnership will drive innovation, foster growth, and make significant contributions to the manufacturing industry in Oman and beyond, positively impacting local and regional economies.”
Qatari logistics group GWC showcases its solutions, which use advanced technology and better transportation