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Nations that have strategically embraced renewable energy sources are demonstrating superior resilience during the ongoing global energy crisis, according to fresh guidance from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The advisory document, developed for policymakers navigating turbulent international energy markets, outlines both immediate interventions and longer-term strategies designed to shield populations from crisis impacts whilst directing economic recovery towards enhanced energy independence.

Evidence from multiple regions confirms renewables are already diminishing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Countries spanning Europe to Asia, including the Iberian Peninsula, China, India and Pakistan, have successfully leveraged clean energy to buffer against market instability. Global renewable capacity expanded by 692 GW in 2025, maintaining unprecedented growth momentum.

The economic case has become compelling. Over 85% of newly installed renewable capacity now undercuts fossil fuel alternatives on cost. Since 2010, solar costs have plummeted 87%, onshore wind 55%, and battery storage 93%. Hybrid systems combining wind or solar with storage now deliver round-the-clock power more affordably than most conventional generators.

IRENAdirector-general Francesco La Camera characterised renewables as "a national security imperative," urging governments to prioritise accelerated deployment and broader electrification.

Ongoing Middle Eastern tensions underscore the fundamental vulnerability of energy systems dependent on fossil fuels, where oil and gas prices heavily influence electricity costs. Consequences extend beyond energy markets into broader economic disruption, with vulnerable communities worldwide facing the most severe impacts.

The advisory recommends expanding distributed generation through cross-sector collaboration, implementing time-of-use pricing to align consumption with renewable availability, and accelerating electrification across transport and heating. Medium-term priorities include expediting grid projects and expanding storage capacity, whilst long-term success requires clear policy frameworks attracting sustained investment.

Kuwait’s Environment Public Authority (EPA) is strengthening its oversight of water resources through enhanced monitoring systems designed to safeguard public health and ensure environmental sustainability, according to a report by Arab Times.

The authority is deploying advanced tracking mechanisms to assess water quality in line with international benchmarks, aiming to maintain access to safe and clean water supplies amid current conditions.

In a televised statement, Abdullah Al-Yateem, head of the EPA’s Chemical Testing Department, said water quality management is guided by standards derived from Kuwait’s Environmental Protection Law. He noted that a combination of chemical and biological indicators is used to detect contaminants and verify that water remains within safe limits.

Al-Yateem highlighted the critical role of EPA laboratories in analysing both drinking water and seawater samples, ensuring continuous monitoring across the entire water cycle. He explained that inspection teams conduct routine field visits across all governorates, collecting random samples of drinking water for laboratory testing to confirm compliance with regulatory standards.

The monitoring programme also extends to marine environments. Samples are regularly collected from coastal areas across Kuwait, from the northern to southern shores, and analysed to assess seawater quality. This process is supported by coordination with other relevant authorities, which contribute additional testing data to strengthen overall monitoring efficiency.

In addition to water testing, the EPA is carrying out checks on marine life, including fish and other organisms, to ensure they are safe for consumption and free from pollutants. These measures are part of a broader effort to protect ecosystems and maintain public confidence in environmental quality.

Al-Yateem reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to adopting best practices in environmental monitoring and resource management. He also stressed the importance of public awareness, encouraging responsible water use as part of wider sustainability efforts.

The EPA sought to reassure residents that drinking water supplies, as well as marine environments, remain safe, emphasising that ongoing testing has not identified concerning levels of contamination.

The intensified monitoring comes as regional authorities place greater emphasis on environmental protection and resource security, particularly in relation to water, which remains a critical asset in arid climates such as Kuwait.

Musanadah Facilities Management has named Brad Robbins as its new business development director to drive growth and reinforce its leadership in Saudi Arabia's fast-growing integrated facilities management market.

Robbins has over 25 years of experience managing facilities and assets across the GCC and Australia, with a history of improving operations, growing businesses, and introducing new ideas across various building projects. His work has focused on sustainability, efficient asset use, and improved facility management.

He was previously chief operating officer at FMTech, owned by PIF, where he developed facilities management plans that supported industry growth in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, he worked as director of facilities and asset management in the UAE for a large, luxury, mixed-use developer, and as managing director of BGIS Australia, where he oversaw growth and operations for major Australian defence infrastructure projects.

In his new role, Robbins will build key relationships with property owners, developers, and government groups, increasing Musanadah’s presence in the sector and boosting revenue across the Kingdom. He will also grow Musanadah’s total facilities management services by offering a wide range of tailored support for key infrastructure and large-scale projects.

Commenting on the appointment, managing director Nigel Wright highlighted that Musanadah is a key contributor to Vision 2030, supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation through its participation in giga-projects and national infrastructure programs. He said this is a key addition to the team as Musanadah continues to strengthen its market position.

“Brad’s appointment strengthens our ability to communicate Musanadah’s full IFM capability, particularly the strength of our MEP and hard services expertise that underpins everything we do.”

Wright added that Musanadah’s technical capability plays a central role in delivering consistent service across complex portfolios. He said: “Our advanced MEP and hard services capability is the foundation of our multi-award-winning IFM model and a key differentiator for Musanadah, backed by benchmarking to internationally-recognised Institute of Asset Management standards.

“This enables Musanadah to deliver consistent, high-quality service across diverse environments, from major metropolitan developments and critical infrastructure to Vision 2030 projects such as AlUla in remote desert locations, including Kingdom-wide operators such as Najm Insurance, which operates more than 50 sites across the Kingdom.

“This technical and engineering capability, together with our full-service IFM model, are key differentiators for Musanadah, ensuring optimal asset performance, tech-driven resilience and long-term value for our clients.”

Robbins said Musanadah’s established technical depth provides a strong platform for future growth. He said: “Musanadah already delivers world-class facilities management across complex, multi-sector portfolios. Our focus moving forward is to ensure the market clearly recognises the depth of the company’s technical expertise, particularly in MEP and asset lifecycle management.”

Robbins added: “By strengthening strategic partnerships with asset owners and developers, we will continue to expand Musanadah’s role in delivering integrated facilities management solutions that enhance performance, sustainability and operational resilience for high-value, large-scale projects across the Kingdom.

“Our mission is to continue expanding Musanadah’s TFM client base through our industry-leading range of customised support solutions for critical infrastructure, giga-projects and Vision 2030 sites while always ensuring the high standards of client satisfaction and operational excellence for which Musanadah is known.”

Musanadah’s expanding project list includes education (NAVA), logistics, and key infrastructure, such as developments in King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah Ports, DP World facilities, and national broadcasting infrastructure (MBC). More growth is expected in retail, oil and gas, and healthcare through Musanadah’s hospital-level ISSA membership and training standards.

Musanadah’s model combines MEP and hard services, soft services, security, energy, and engineering management. These are supported by ISO certifications and advanced asset management systems.

Musanadah was recently named Best FM Company in Saudi Arabia at the SBIA Awards for the second consecutive year and also received the 2025 MEFMA Award for Community and Social Impact in FM.

In modern mining operations, safety challenges are intensifying as infrastructure becomes larger and more complex

Expanding conveyor networks, extensive underground systems and widely distributed electrical installations require reliable ways to transmit and verify shutdown commands across long distances.

According to Ian Loudon, international sales and marketing at Omniflex, fibre optic technology is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring these critical safety communications remain dependable.

Conveyor systems remain central to the extraction, movement and processing of coal, yet they also present significant operational and safety risks. Over time, mining operations have expanded dramatically. Conveyor belts that once ran only a few hundred metres can now stretch for several kilometres, often traversing difficult terrain or operating deep underground. Maintaining safe operations across these extended distances requires robust emergency signalling, rapid shutdown capability and confirmation that commands have been successfully executed.

In many mines, conveyor belts can run between 20 and 30 km, incorporating multiple drive motors, synchronised programmable logic controllers and various loading or discharge stations along the route. If a fault develops at any point in this system, the potential for operational disruption or safety incidents increases significantly.

Historically, copper cabling was used to transmit safety signals, but this technology was not designed for the extended distances now typical in large mining operations. Over spans of 10 to 30 kilometres, copper wiring can suffer from signal degradation, voltage drops and electromagnetic interference generated by nearby electrical equipment such as motors, drives and switching systems. When repeaters are introduced to maintain signal strength, the overall system becomes more complex and vulnerable to additional points of failure.

These limitations mean copper-based signalling is increasingly unsuitable for modern mining environments, particularly those with long-distance infrastructure or heavy electrical activity. Extended copper runs are highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference and voltage loss, while attempts to extend signal transmission beyond roughly 10 kilometres generally require additional converters or amplification equipment. Underground conditions can further weaken signals, as dense rock formations and heavy electrical installations disrupt communication paths.

Another major drawback of traditional systems is their reliance on one-way signalling. When a shutdown command is issued, operators often only know that the instruction has been sent, not whether it has been received or executed. In situations involving critical equipment such as conveyors, crushers or ventilation systems, this uncertainty can create serious safety risks.

Fibre optic technology strengthens safety systems

To overcome the reliability challenges associated with copper cabling and conventional shutdown circuits, many mining operators are now adopting fibre optic communication for safety-critical applications. Fibre technology offers several important advantages in demanding mining environments. It is immune to electromagnetic interference, does not generate sparks and can reliably transmit contact signals across distances of 20 to 30 kilometres.

These characteristics make fibre particularly suitable for long conveyor systems, deep underground transport routes and electrically intense environments such as substations. By eliminating many of the vulnerabilities associated with traditional wiring systems, fibre optic networks provide a more resilient foundation for safety communications.

A key shift in modern safety strategies is the move from simply issuing a shutdown command to confirming that the action has actually taken place. In mining operations, the difference between a command being sent and a shutdown being verified can be critical. Without confirmation, equipment could continue operating despite problems such as a damaged conveyor belt, a stalled crusher or unsafe gas levels.

Specialised fibre optic devices designed for safety-critical applications support this approach. These include Safety Integrity Level rated bidirectional contact repeaters that replicate contact signals over long distances while simultaneously providing monitoring and feedback. Such systems transmit both the shutdown command and confirmation of the resulting action through the same optical link, allowing operators to verify the response in real time.

This architecture reduces uncertainty, simplifies wiring requirements and helps ensure compliance with mine safety protocols covering emergency shutdowns, isolation procedures and interlock systems.

As mining operations continue to expand and electrical systems become increasingly distributed, fibre optic signalling provides a reliable method of maintaining control across large and complex environments. Instead of relying on assumptions that commands have been executed, operators gain direct confirmation that machinery has stopped and systems have entered a safe state.

This level of verification supports stronger safety practices across the industry, reflecting a broader transition toward systems that confirm safety outcomes rather than simply issuing commands.

With extensive experience in long-distance and safety-critical environments, Omniflex has developed fibre optic modules designed to support bidirectional contact replication, auxiliary confirmation and fail-safe operation. These systems have been implemented in industries such as mining, nuclear power and electrical infrastructure where operational reliability and verified safety are essential.

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has announced plans to acquire an 80% stake in Italian recycling firm Eco Green, marking a further step in its international growth strategy and strengthening its presence in Europe’s secondary aluminium market.

The proposed transaction, subject to regulatory approval, will enhance EGA’s access to aluminium scrap supply chains and expand its recycling footprint across the continent. Eco Green specialises in scrap collection, sorting, casting and dross processing, handling more than 70,000 tonnes of material annually.

The company operates facilities in northeast Italy, including a site in Villafranca di Verona that manages around 23,000 tonnes of scrap each year. Part of this material is transferred to its Nogara di Verona plant, where over 20,000 tonnes of secondary aluminium products are cast annually alongside dross processing activities. An ongoing expansion at the Nogara facility is set to add a further 15,000 tonnes of recycling capacity, with completion expected in the second half of 2026.

Eco Green serves more than 60 customers across Europe, primarily in aluminium processing and semi-fabrication, with end markets spanning automotive, construction and wider industrial sectors. The business has also developed a broad sourcing network of more than 350 suppliers, ensuring a steady flow of raw materials.

Founded in 1993 by the Scappini family, Eco Green remains family-led and employs around 70 people. Its existing management team is expected to remain in place following completion of the deal.

EGA has been steadily building its global recycling capabilities, complementing its primary aluminium production. The company already operates the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling plant at Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabi and has acquired recycling assets in both Germany and the United States in recent years.

Once the Eco Green acquisition is finalised, EGA’s total recycling capacity is expected to exceed 400,000 tonnes per year across its global network, with an additional 200,000 tonnes under development in Europe and the US. The company markets its recycled aluminium under the RevivAL brand.

The move comes amid growing demand for recycled aluminium worldwide. Industry forecasts suggest demand could double by 2040, accounting for a significant share of supply growth over the coming decades. In Europe, recycled aluminium currently meets around 40% of total demand, with consumption projected to rise substantially in the years ahead.

EGA has been particularly active in expanding its European footprint. In 2024, it acquired German specialty foundry Leichtmetall and announced a major capacity expansion project at the site. In the United States, its subsidiary Spectro Alloys has also undergone recent upgrades, increasing production capacity and supporting further growth.

Recycling aluminium requires around 95% less energy than producing primary metal and results in significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, making it a key component of the industry’s decarbonisation efforts.

Savoye has appointed Hakim Ramadan as general manager for the Middle East, tasking him with leading the company’s regional operations and commercial direction as demand for advanced intralogistics solutions continues to rise.

In his new role, Ramadan will focus on expanding Savoye’s footprint across the region, strengthening customer engagement and advancing automation-driven warehouse and supply chain systems. His leadership comes at a time when businesses across the Middle East are accelerating investments in logistics technologies to improve efficiency and resilience.

The regional logistics sector is experiencing steady growth, supported by increasing adoption of automation, rapid expansion of e-commerce and ongoing infrastructure development. These trends are reshaping supply chains and creating opportunities for technology providers specialising in warehouse automation and software integration.

Savoye’s leadership highlighted the strategic importance of the Middle East as a growth market, noting that Ramadan’s industry experience and understanding of regional dynamics will support the company’s ambitions to scale its operations and enhance customer value.

Ramadan will oversee efforts to strengthen operational capabilities while supporting commercial development across key sectors. A key priority will be delivering tailored intralogistics solutions that address increasingly complex supply chain requirements, particularly as organisations seek more agile and data-driven operations.

Commenting on his appointment, Ramadan said the region is witnessing a shift towards more efficient and future-ready logistics systems. He emphasised the importance of working closely with customers and partners to implement practical solutions that deliver measurable improvements in performance.

Since entering the Middle East market in 2021, Savoye has steadily expanded its presence by combining automation technologies, software platforms and packaging systems to deliver integrated intralogistics solutions. The company has been targeting high-growth sectors where efficiency, scalability and operational visibility are critical.

With Ramadan now at the helm of its regional operations, Savoye is aiming to accelerate its growth trajectory, deepen partnerships and further position itself as a key player in the evolution of automated logistics across the Middle East.