In The Spotlight
The 45th Big 5 Global officially began at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together government officials, industry pioneers, and decision-makers to spotlight the MEASA region's construction sector, underscored by US$9 trillion worth of ongoing and upcoming projects.
The opening day of Big 5 Global offered a packed agenda of strategic summits, including LiveableCitiesX, Future FM, and GeoWorld, alongside key events like the Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit and the IFMA Global | Middle East Summit.
On the exhibition floor, some prominent companies secured major deals and forged partnerships
The event also celebrated international cooperation through country pavilions such as Turkiye, China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Italy and others.
“The successful opening of the 45th edition of Big 5 Global has been remarkable, as we witnessed an inspiring day of thought-provoking discussions, where leaders from across the industry came together to share insights and ideas for the future of construction. It was also a day of tremendous business activity, with companies signing new partnerships and deals, showcasing the continued growth and importance of Big 5 Global as a hub for collaboration, innovation and opportunity within the urban development and construction sector,” said Josine Heijmans, senior vice president, dmg events.
There has been a mixed response to the outcome of COP29 and the Baku Finance Goal (BFG) that was announced in the final hour
There was plenty of drama in the conclusion of the 29th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Baku, as international stakeholders representing 200 countries vied to hammer out a deal that would continue the energy transition and support developing countries in their battle against climate change.
The conference opened under headlines dominated by Ilham Aliyev, the President of country host Azerbaijan, who described oil and gas as a “gift from God” and criticised misinformation spread by western media, charities and politicians. From this point, persistent protests from climate demonstrators and campaigners set the background clamour for the event as it ran through the agenda, as the spotlight began to focus the eventual deal that would mark its success, or otherwise.
As the debate began in earnest, the temperature began to rise and at one point in the proceedings it appeared as though a deal might not be reached following the breakdown of discussions and dozens of nations walking out.
However, this tumultuous finale, delegates returned to the room and a period of intense diplomacy saw a new deal struck in the dying hours of the conference
Over the line in Baku
The culmination of the debate was announced in the form of the BFG.
This represents a commitment to channel US$1.3 trillion of climate finance to the developing world each year. At its core is a target for developed countries to take the lead on mobilising at least US$300bn per year for developing countries by 2035.
In addition, there was a conclusion for the Article 6 negotiation on high integrity carbon markets under the UN. According to the COP29 announcement, financial flows from complaint carbon markets could reach US$1 trillion per year by 2050 and have the potential to reduce the cost of implementing national climate plans by US$250bn per year.
“We have unlocked one of the most complex and technical challenges in climate diplomacy,” said COP29 lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev. “Article 6 is hard to understand, but its impacts will be clear in our everyday lives. It means coal plants decommissioned, wind farms built and forests planted. It means a new wave of investment in the developing world.”
In addition, the full operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund was unveiled after originally being agreed during COP27 in Egypt. The fund aims to provide financial assistance to countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with the decision to launch operations made agreed during COP28.
COP29 went further by ensuring the fund’s operationalisation, including several important related agreements including the Trustee Agreement and the Secretariat Hosting Agreement. To date, the total pledged financial support for the fund exceeds US$730mn.
The best outcome or an “optical illusion”?
“When the world came to Baku, people doubted that Azerbaijan could deliver. They doubted that everyone could agree. They were wrong on both counts,” remarked COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev. “With this breakthrough, the Baku Finance Goal will turn billions into trillions over the next decade. We have secured a trebling of the core climate finance target for developing countries each year.
“The Baku Finance Goal represents the best possible deal we could reach, and we have pushed the donor countries as far as possible. We have forever changed the global financial architecture and taken a significant step towards delivering the means to deliver a pathway to 1.5°C. The years ahead will not be easy. The science shows that the challenges will only grow. Our ability to work together will be tested. The Baku Breakthrough will help us weather the coming storms.”
This positive judgement is not one universally shared however, with critics suggesting that developed countries were not meeting their responsibilities to raise resources to support developing nations. Indian negotiator, Chandni Raina was one of the leading voices in dissent, labelling it “an optical illusion” that “will not address the enormity of the challenge we all face.”
Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s special envoy for climate change and chair of the African group of negotiators, also expressed his disappointment. “Africa leaves Baku with realism and resignation as COP29 progress falls far short of our hopes,” he stated in a post on X. “When Africa loses, the world loses – its minerals, biodiversity & stability. The US$300bn/year by 2035 is too little, too late for a continent facing climate devastation while contributing leads to emissions.”
While the debate continues for the time being over the effectiveness of the new deal, eyes are already looking ahead to COP30 which will be hosted in Brazil from 10-21 November 2025. Certainly, these proceedings will be heavily coloured by a new leader amongst the developed countries in the form of US President Donald Trump. Having recently nominated a fracking CEO to lead the US Energy Department, there are fears the President will step back from the country’s climate commitments.
Time, then, will tell whether the critics of the BFG are proven correct or whether the agreement will hold together the climate effort in the potentially subdued conferences that could lie ahead.
Moteurs Baudouin, a global leader in advanced power solutions, has announced its role as a Silver Sponsor at Touchdown Middle East, an industry-leading event organised by the Gulf Data Center Association (GDCA).
Held in Bahrain, the event highlights Baudouin's dedication to supporting the Middle East's rapidly growing data centre sector.
"At Moteurs Baudouin, we are driven by a singular vision: to be recognised as a global leader in innovative power solutions," said Enrique Moraga, director of business development for critical applications at Baudouin.
Building on its strong partnership with the Gulf Data Centre Association (GDCA), Baudouin will showcase its expertise in power generation for critical applications during the event.
With over a century of experience in delivering dependable power solutions, Baudouin is well-positioned to support the Middle East's expanding digital infrastructure.
The event also marks the launch of Baudouin’s groundbreaking 20M55 generator set, offering an unprecedented 5250 kVA—the highest power rating currently available for data centre backup solutions.
"Our latest 20M55 generator set, delivering an industry-leading 5250 kVA, redefines reliability and efficiency, meeting the growing demands of modern data centres," director of business development for critical applications at Baudouin.
Touchdown Middle East is set to be a key gathering for the region’s data center industry.
The geopolitics and energy transition nexus was the focus of the Energy Intelligence Forum which took place from 25-27 November in London
The Forum provided a platform for energy leaders to debate and shape sustainable solutions to the energy challenges of the 21st century and explore collaborative solutions for industrial decarbonisation. Energy leaders explored the potential impact of industrial policy, geopolitical competition, and Trump’s election on these industries.
The event highlighted the urgent need for innovation in carbon removal technologies to mitigate rising greenhouse gas emissions. Temperatures will rise by 1.5°C in the next 10 to 15 years, according to Dr. Hoesung Lee, the sixth chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and winner of Energy Intelligence’s Energy Economist of the Year. “Global emissions must peak by 2025, but this won’t happen.”
Efforts to decarbonise the industry were a key focus, with hydrogen, electrification, carbon capture, and nuclear are all competing to be the top solution for energy-intensive sectors like steel, chemicals, shipping, and aviation. According to Anne-Laure de Chammard, executive board member at Siemens Energy, there is a still a long way to go on this front. “Sectors with clear targets and incentives are progressing faster than those without clear signals,” she noted, adding that small modular reactors can play a key, timely, role to provide electricity for the expanding demand of data centres around the world. “You can build one in roughly one year.”
BP Plc CEO Murray Auchincloss was hopeful that that onshore wind developments in the US could be accelerated, following promises from the President-Elect to curb regulations.
“We think it [the Trump presidency] is a strong chance to help the US get back to putting construction forward, getting regulatory reform in place, and getting faster permitting and really allowing construction to move forward. That's what we're most hopeful for, because the US has been struggling in that space,” Auchincloss commented.
Darren Woods, chairman & CEO of ExxonMobil, was awarded Energy Intelligence’s 2024 Energy Executive of the Year for leadership in growth and innovation, including the acquisition of Texas-based oil and gas exploration and production company Pioneer, and advancements in carbon capture, hydrogen, and lithium.
TotalEnergies was awarded the 2024 Energy Innovation Award in recognition of its commitment to the energy transition, having invested over US$70bn in low-carbon initiatives since 2015 and ambitiously working to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Lara Sidawi Moore, deputy CEO and chairperson of the Executive Committee of Energy Intelligence commented, “Our choices now, we hope, will help to craft a unified framework to provide energy security, stability, and prosperity to future generations. We urgently need greater foresight, collaboration, and determination to help drive the world toward a more sustainable, resilient, and secure energy future.”
Cannon Artes is constructing an advanced wastewater treatment and water reuse plant within one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the Middle East.
The facility, designed to support the water recovery requirements of a major polyolefin plant in Qatar, will process up to 25,000 cubic metres of effluent and cooling-tower-blow-down water daily. With a recovery capacity of 780 cubic metres per hour, the plant significantly reduces discharge rates, achieving nearly 80% water reuse.
This far exceeds regulatory standards. The facility is part of a nearly US$2bn project to establish a new polyethylene plant. The plant, designed with two polymerisation units and an annual capacity of nearly 2 million tons, incorporates advanced membrane technologies to manage industrial wastewater and cooling water blowdown.
Industrial effluents are treated using Cannon Artes’ proprietary EmbioArt Membrane BioReactor (MBR), while cooling water blowdown is processed with ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies. The facility has a total treatment capacity of approximately 1,000 cubic metres per hour.
The project also includes a 600 cubic metre-per-hour remineralisation plant, equipped with six advanced calcite filters. This system increases pH and reduces the corrosivity of recovered water, setting a new benchmark for industrial remineralisation technology.
Sustainable operations
The Qatar project highlights Cannon Artes’ capability to execute large-scale, complex contracts. The company handled every aspect, from process design to procurement, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and delivery. All components were customised to meet client specifications, integrating cutting-edge technologies like EmbioArt MBR, UF, and RO for maximum efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Construction commenced in August 2024, with infrastructure expected to be completed within six months by early 2025. Full mechanical completion is slated for Q4 2025, demonstrating an impressive timeline given the project's complexity.
With projects delivered in more than 80 countries, the company has provided customised solutions to industries including oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food and beverage, solidifying its reputation for excellence in industrial water management.
“Cannon Artes was chosen as the supplier of choice earlier this year, due to our proven ability to deliver large-scale and complex industrial wastewater treatment solutions that meet the highest environmental and efficiency standards,” said Alessio Liati, sales director at Cannon Artes. “To give an idea of the project’s scale, the water treatment plant alone spans an area comparable to three football fields, with more than 1,600 reverse osmosis membranes, 360 ultrafiltration modules, and over 17,000 sqm of active MBR membrane surface.”
MYCRANE, a digital platform for online crane rental, has launched a new international marketplace
Already established in markets such as India and the Middle East – with more than 1,500 registered crane rental companies – MYCRANE users and other interested parties around the world are now able to buy and sell used and new lifting equipment. This will promote a shift from low volume and costly trades to cost-efficient sales transactions.
Lifting equipment on sale on the platform includes mobile, crawler, tower and specialist cranes in addition to aerial work platforms and other equipment.
“Just as we’ve made crane rental easy and accessible for all, we now want to democratize the equipment sales process, by supporting fast, global trading and providing access to a wide range of keenly-priced equipment,” remarked Andrei Geikalo, MYCRANE founder and CEO.
“The MYCRANE Marketplace is particularly valuable to individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who will be empowered by the ability to source the right equipment at the right price – wherever they are, internationally. The goal is to streamline the buying process, increase transparency and choice, and create a robust trading platform for the benefit of the entire industry.”
MYCRANE has added that it is also able to offer logistics and transportation services, facilitating the sales process at customer sites anywhere in the world, as well as insurance and leasing to fund the purchase.
Mazoon Mining, a subsidiary of Minerals Development Oman (MDO), has officially commenced work on the Mazoon Copper Project.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 10 November in the Wilayat of Yanqul, Al Dhahirah Governorate, under the patronage of His Excellency Abdul Salam bin Mohammed Al-Murshidi, chairman of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA).
As the largest integrated copper concentrate production project in Oman, the Mazoon Copper Project spans 20 sq km and includes five open-pit mines with an estimated 22.9 million tons of copper ore reserves. The project is a critical step in addressing the surging global demand for copper, a key component in renewable energy technologies and electrical infrastructure.
A central feature of the project is the construction of a cutting-edge processing plant. Spanning 56,000 sqm, the facility will have the capacity to process 2.5 million tons of copper ore annually. It is expected to yield 115,000 tons of copper concentrate each year, with a high-grade purity of 21.5%.
Sustainable solutions
This ambitious venture underscores Oman’s commitment to strengthening its mining sector and diversifying its economy in line with its Vision 2040 goals. By leveraging its rich mineral resources and adopting state-of-the-art technology, Mazoon Mining aims to position the Sultanate as a competitive player in the global copper market.
Sustainability is a core pillar of the Mazoon Copper Project. The project has adopted a water recycling system and waste management systems to preserve the surrounding environment, safeguarding air quality, and protecting groundwater. Minerals Development Oman continues to advance its exploration campaigns across a range of strategic minerals, including copper, chromite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, and silica.
Al Murshidi said, "This project marks a transformative step in positioning Oman as a strategic copper hub, contributing to the diversification of our national economy and creating sustainable job opportunities for Omanis. We are confident that the project will have a significant positive impact on the local community, supporting SMEs and driving economic development."
Dr. Badar bin Saud Al Kharusi, chairman of Minerals Development Oman, added, "We are proud to see the progress of Mazoon Copper Project after an extensive series of exploration activities. This project marks a milestone for Minerals Development Oman, adding invaluable assets to our portfolio. The company began copper ore extraction from Block 4 in Wilayat of Sohar in 2024 and has continued its exploration efforts across its 23,644 sq km concession area. With the necessary financing secured, the project reflects the trust garnered locally and globally. We are committed to ensuring each project phase meets the highest environmental and social standards."
Brady Corporation is offering a new, more cost-efficient solution to quickly detect unstable Li-ion batteries in storage
Able to automatically measure 0,5°C temperature differences per second, the solution provides the accuracy and speed needed to isolate unstable batteries before they become a safety risk.
Brady’s new battery temperature monitoring solution involves 3 components: self-adhesive battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded temperature sensors, RFID readers with up to 16 antennas, and a customisable RFID software platform. The self-adhesive UHF RFID-embedded labels can be applied inside battery cell boxes for fast temperature change detection. Alternatively, every battery cell can be labelled with Brady’s on-metal, printable UHF RFID labels to enable more elaborate advantages in Li-ion battery supply chains.
Every second, the RFID antennas and readers automatically power all labels and sensors in range to collect temperature readings with 0.5°C accuracy. Every temperature reading, and matching battery storage location, is collected by the RFID software platform. When customisable temperature thresholds are reached, the software platform triggers 3rd party devices via standard API. With almost continuous, automated and accurate temperature monitoring, warehouse stakeholders can receive early warnings via sms, email or even racking warning lights. They can be guided in time to specific warehouse locations for unstable Li-ion battery isolation. Alternatively, Brady’s software platform API can also trigger an autonomous vehicle to automatically remove an unstable battery.
Cost-effective
Battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded sensors are a more cost-effective battery temperature monitoring solution than powered RFID tags or IR cameras. UHF RFID labels and their temperature sensors receive power wirelessly from RFID antennas and readers in range. They are available at significantly lower costs – up to 5 times less than battery-powered RFID tags – and do not require maintenance.
The number of RFID readers needed to completely cover storage locations in a warehouse heavily depends on warehouse setup, racking height and storage volume per racking compartment. Brady can connect up to 16 antennas to a single RFID reader that provides high accuracy, high speed temperature monitoring for all storage locations in 12 metre wide and 4 metre high racking.
The automated, and almost continuous, nature of the temperature monitoring solution enables Li-ion battery manufacturers and logistics companies to significantly increase safety and reduce risk at advantageous costs.
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Automated inventories
By adding an RFID reader gate at designated warehouse exits, Brady’s solution can also enable automated, real-time warehouse inventories. RFID labelled items are read by Brady’s RFID readers the moment their label enters reader range. When they pass through a designated RFID reader gate, these items can easily be subtracted from the inventory by the RFID software platform. When used in this way, the solution can provide cost-effective battery track & trace inside the warehouse from entry to exit, complete with battery cell box or battery cell temperature fluctuation in between.
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This article is authored by Brady Corporation
NMDC Group, the Abu Dhabi based EPC focusing on the dredging, marine and energy sectors, is broadening its offering with the establishment of a new business unit, NMDC LTS, which will focus on logistics and technical services
Building on NMDC Group’s experiences and capabilities in the logistics and technical services sector, NMDC LTS will own and/or operate NMDC Group’s significant resource pool of marine support craft, technical capabilities, plant and equipment to expand its services to the wider construction and industrial sectors.
Eng. Yasser Zaghloul, CEO of NMDC Group, said, “NMDC LTS will be a trusted platform that gives new partners access to one of the biggest construction logistics and technical services operators in the region and enable them to gain the benefits of efficiency, innovation, and service focused delivery that NMDC Group has built over the decades of success. We look forward to continuing to work with our current partners in this exciting next phase of NMDC Group’s growth, and to take our expertise and offering to new clients and markets.”
Peter Marvin, chief technical & resources officer of NMDC LTS added, “The delivery of EPC projects in the marine sector has unique challenges, requiring innovative solutions to enable the logistics and technical support necessary to build the infrastructure that our customers and partners need for their sustainable growth. Over decades NMDC Group has consistently proven its expertise, capability and capacity in this field delivering maritime and energy infrastructure around the world. NMDC LTS will take these strengths and expand its application to new customers, partners and industrial sectors through value-added collaboration and seeking to translate our extensive capabilities to meet their needs beyond the delivery of infrastructure. NMDC LTS is uniquely positioned to maximise the potential of this diversification into the logistics and technical services sectors.“
NMDC Group’s other business units are NMDC Dredging & Marine, NMDC Energy, NMDC Engineering and NMDC Construction.