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The alliance seeks to promote decarbonisation throughout the UAE. (Image source: Modon)

Construction

Advancing low-carbon construction in the UAE

EMSTEEL Group, one of the biggest producers of steel and construction materials in the UAE, and Modon, a master developer located in the country, are collaborating on projects all across the country.

According to Modon, this partnership validates his status as the UAE's first real estate developer to employ low-carbon steel.

Through the introduction of green steel made with certified renewable hydrogen, the alliance seeks to promote decarbonisation throughout the UAE and the larger region's construction value chain. This green steel establishes a new standard for environmentally friendly and conscientious building methods. It comes from the EMSTEEL Group and Masdar's innovative green hydrogen pilot project, which is the first of its kind in the MENA area.

Ibrahim Al Maghribi, CEO of Modon Real Estate, said, “We are delighted to partner with EMSTEEL in this pioneering initiative. This strategic alliance not only underscores our commitment to sustainability but also positions Modon as a leader in the adoption of low-carbon building materials. By integrating green steel into our projects, we are taking a significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the UAE’s green targets. This collaboration is a testament to our dedication to create vibrant, sustainable communities that align with the UAE’s net-zero 2050 strategy.”

Saeed Alghafri, CEO, Emirates Steel, part of EMSTEEL Group, said, “With the recent launch of our green hydrogen pilot project with Masdar, we are elevating our utilisation of clean energy and laying the foundation for future implementation of clean hydrogen for green steel production at scale, contributing directly to the UAE’s net-zero strategy and national hydrogen economy targets. As the first steelmaker in the world to capture its CO2 emissions, and the first steelmaker in the MENA region to demonstrate green hydrogen for green steel production, we believe that our partnership with Modon will play a key role in building on our efforts to decarbonise industry at scale. We are excited to continue exploring the potential that such ground-breaking partnerships can promise to the well-being of future generations.”

Maggie Slowik, global industry director for manufacturing, IFS. (Image source: IFS)

Manufacturing

Empowering workforce, ensuring quality in manufacturing

Between an aging workforce, and the difficulty to attract new workers, the manufacturing industry is fraught with problems and a growing shortage of skilled labour.

But on its very own shop floors exist years of knowledge and expertise from its current workers, the very human tools that will help manufacturers uphold quality standards.  

Without the correct systems in place, the knowledge from experienced workers goes undocumented, and a lack of standardised processes stop manufacturers from capturing crucial information, the sort of information that could easily result in product recalls.  

Now, with the addition of connected worker technologies, manufacturers can tackle countless pain points felt by today’s companies, simply by connecting training and empowering frontline workers.  

When you put the connected worker at the heart of your operations, the entire quality lifecycle is enhanced – workers are fully trained on the latest standards, new quality efficiencies can be realised as algorithms and data are analysed, and the risk of product recalls are minimised. 

Human intelligence  

Of course, machines and technology are getting smarter—but so are humans, and having the two work in tandem can help manufacturers reap real rewards in the fight for continuous improvement of product quality.  

It’s the frontline workers in these operations that will make or break a successful quality and food safety operation before it leaves the factory.  

Connected, trained, and empowered workers are essential to add a frontline layer of quality control and an all-seeing eye on what’s happening on the shop floor. Giving workers the ability to access and analyse data based on algorithms and use cases will drive efficiencies across quality control. We see this with  features like Digital Forms and Issues Management from Poka Inc., an IFS company, which give frontline workers the tools to perform essential quality checks. 

The power of real-time information 

Poka’s connected worker platform provides the opportunity to learn from other workers and their manufacturing experiences. It enables manufacturers to take their best, most knowledgeable employees and capture and reuse their knowledge. They can ensure the best people are training new employees to the best possible standards—and they only have to do it once.   

The results? When frontline workers are fully trained on the most up-to-date processes and standards, they contribute to the organisation’s ability to reduce waste, optimise production efficiency, and, crucially, minimise defects. The 70:20:10 model, which puts collaborative working  on top of the learning and development scale, is  precisely how training and development works for frontline workers on the shop floor.  As opposed to simply telling workers to ‘go on a course’ the model focuses on 70% of learning on the job, 20% of learning through colleagues and 10% via formal training programmes.    

Integrate technology to combat quality issues 

Integrating connected worker platforms alongside enterprise resource planning (ERP) software gives manufacturers embedded functionalities to address the entire quality lifecycle—from supply chain management, manufacturing work in progress, and maintenance, through to warehouse management, and distribution.  

By giving frontline workers the tools to document quality checks, and access information to stay compliant and proactive, manufacturers can empower a company-wide culture of innovation. When the focus is shifted to empowering your frontline workers, you’re able to give your teams the tools to identify opportunities for improvement. 

This article was authored by Maggie Slowik, global industry director for manufacturing, IFS. It has been edited for brevity. 

SAF production is expected to climb to 2.7 billion litres in 2025. (Image source: Canva)

Energy

Slow SAF growth "disappointing" says IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced updated projections for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production, reflecting progress in the aviation sector's shift towards greener alternatives while acknowledging challenges in scaling output.

In 2024, SAF production is expected to double to 1 million tonnes, or 1.3 billion litres, compared to 2023 levels. Despite this growth, SAF will account for just 0.3% of global jet fuel production and 11% of global renewable fuel capacity. These figures fall short of earlier forecasts that had anticipated SAF production reaching 1.5 million tonnes (1.9 billion litres) in 2024. The lower-than-expected output is attributed to delays in ramping up key SAF facilities in the United States, which have now postponed their timelines to the first half of 2025.

Looking ahead, SAF production is expected to climb to 2.1 million tonnes (2.7 billion litres) in 2025, representing 0.7% of jet fuel production and 13% of global renewable fuel capacity. The adjusted projections underline the pressing need for greater investment and policy support to accelerate SAF adoption, a critical component in the aviation industry's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.

Achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 will require a monumental shift in renewable fuel production infrastructure, according to IATA’s analysis. To meet this goal, the industry will need to establish between 3,000 and 6,500 new renewable fuel plants, which will also cater to sectors beyond aviation by producing renewable diesel and other fuels.

The investment required to construct these facilities averages approximately US$128bn annually over the next 30 years. While substantial, this figure is notably lower than the US$280bn invested annually in solar and wind energy markets from 2004 to 2022, highlighting the comparative feasibility of scaling renewable fuel production to support aviation’s decarbonisation efforts.

“SAF volumes are increasing, but disappointingly slowly. Governments are sending mixed signals to oil companies which continue to receive subsidies for their exploration and production of fossil oil and gas. And investors in new generation fuel producers seem to be waiting for guarantees of easy money before going full throttle. With airlines, the core of the value chain, earning just a 3.6% net margin, profitability expectations for SAF investors need to be slow and steady, not fast and furious. But make no mistake that airlines are eager to buy SAF and there is money to be made by investors and companies who see the long-term future of decarbonisation. Governments can accelerate progress by winding down fossil fuel production subsidies and replacing them with strategic production incentives and clear policies supporting a future built on renewable energies, including SAF,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.

“Governments must quickly deliver concrete policy incentives to rapidly accelerate renewable energy production. There is already a model to follow with the transition to wind and solar power. The good news is that the energy transition, which includes SAF, will need less than half the annual investments that realising wind and solar production at scale required. And a good portion of the needed funding could be realised by redirecting a portion of the retrograde subsidies that governments give to the fossil fuel industry,” said Walsh.

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