Dongfeng Motor vehicles at the G20 summit (Image source: Dongfeng Motor)

China’s Dongfeng Motor showcased its vehicle range at the recent G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, as the event’s designated transport partner

“This collaboration epitomises and highlights Dongfeng’s deep cultivation of the African market in recent years through localised production, technological exchanges, and other initiatives,” the automaker said in a statement.

Its specialised ‘green’ fleet at the event included multiple new models, such as the Dongfeng BOX and Dongfeng 007, to provide safe and reliable transportation services for national delegations and staff during the summit.

The company has assembly operations in Morocco, where it produces light-duty trucks, and is exploring similar opportunities in Egypt and Algeria.

It also exports significant numbers of cars and commercial vehicles to South Africa, Nigeria and other markets.

The G20 collaboration stemmed from Dongfeng’s partnership with South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation to provide a high-quality green mobility solutions for the showcase event.

“The fleet's zero-failure stable operation during the event visually showcased Dongfeng Motor's latest achievements in electrification technology, intelligent manufacturing, and high-end quality control to the world,” the statement added.

“Through its successful debut on the international stage, Dongfeng Motor has demonstrated with concrete actions that its new energy vehicles are fully capable of meeting the high-end and rigorous transportation demands globally, both in terms of capability and reliability.”

The company also said that it was a vote of confidence in its Africa ambitions.

“The success of serving as an official partner for the G20 Summit has significantly enhanced Dongfeng's brand reputation and influence in South Africa and across the broader African region, laying a solid foundation of trust for future market expansion.”

Dongfeng Motor added that it hopes to use the momentum from the summit, held at the end of November, to continue to improve its products and services offering to the market.

“The company will continue to uphold an open and cooperative global approach,” the Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer added.

Certifying the shift to clean energy.

Emirates Water and Electricity Company has announced the opening of registration for its Q1 2026 Clean Energy Certificates auction, which will close on 9 January 2026

EWEC plays a central role in coordinating the planning, procurement, supply and system dispatch of water and electricity across the UAE, and the auction forms part of its wider efforts to support verified clean energy use in Abu Dhabi.

The upcoming auction reflects continued growth in demand for Clean Energy Certificates across the emirate’s economy. Businesses, organisations and individuals are increasingly using CECs, issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, to confirm that their electricity consumption is sourced from renewable or clean energy. As Abu Dhabi’s only officially accredited mechanism for making renewable and clean energy claims, CECs allow participants to demonstrate measurable reductions in Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions while aligning with national climate and sustainability objectives.

Interest in the scheme remained strong throughout 2025, with auctions attracting participants from sectors including healthcare, industry, retail, real estate, events and commercial services. Sales volumes reached some of the highest levels recorded since the programme was introduced, highlighting a growing commitment to verified clean energy consumption at scale.

Mohamed Almarzooqi, chief asset development & management officer of EWEC, said, “The continued growth in Clean Energy Certificates usage reflects how organisations across Abu Dhabi are turning decarbonisation plans into verified outcomes. CECs provide a transparent, internationally recognised pathway to renewable and clean energy adoption, enabling companies and institutions to credibly track progress against sustainability goals, reduce Scope 2 emissions, and align with the UAE Net Zero By 2050 Strategic Initiative. As we open registration for the first auction of 2026, we invite all entities, including individuals, to participate and help consolidate the momentum we have collectively built.”

Clean Energy Certificates are the sole accredited instrument in Abu Dhabi for verifying both the environmental and economic value of clean energy consumption. Issued in units of one megawatt hour, the certificates comply with the International Renewable Energy Certificate Standard. EWEC serves as the scheme’s Single Registrant and Auction Operator, overseeing both registration and the auction process.

Innovation showcase highlights Oman’s energy transition.

AtkinsRéalis, a leading global engineering and nuclear services company, in collaboration with Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals, hosted the “Powering the Future: Oman Electricity Innovation Showcase” on December 10, 2025

The event convened senior leaders from government, utilities, regulators, and the private sector to explore strategies for meeting Oman’s rapidly growing electricity demand driven by AI-enabled economic development. Discussions focused on a balanced energy mix incorporating nuclear power, renewables, AI-ready grids, and storage solutions, all aligned with the nation’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

H.E. Mohsin Hamed Saif Al Hadhrami, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, commented, “A secure and sustainable power system is central to our industrial strategy and economic ambitions, which includes recently announced initiatives like the Oman Digital Triangle, a gigawatt scale group of three AI superclusters under the National Digital Infrastructure Roadmap. This collaboration highlights technologies and delivery models that can help Oman diversify its energy mix, enhance grid resilience, and accelerate progress toward our national targets.”

The showcase featured sessions on decarbonisation pathways, grid resilience for AI-intensive economies, economic growth opportunities, and the complementary role of reliable nuclear energy alongside intermittent renewables. Lightning talks highlighted the importance of regional grid interconnections, hydrogen, financing, and policy frameworks. Participants engaged in interactive simulations to explore managing a diverse electricity supply mix and examined global case studies on nuclear project delivery and refurbishment.

Todd Smith, vice-president of marketing and business development at CANDU Energy Inc., added, “Reliable, clean, baseload power is the anchor for a modern grid, serving both people and a data-driven economy. Nuclear provides the dispatchable, low-carbon capacity that helps Oman scale renewables without sacrificing stability or affordability. The question is how to design the right mix, attract and sequence investments, drive new industry capacity and growth, and build the institutional capability to deliver at pace.”

The event was timely as Oman’s electricity demand grows at 6.1% annually, with MENA-wide consumption projected to increase by 50% by 2035. Data centre expansion, with installed capacity potentially tripling to 3.3 GW in the next five years and market growth expected to reach US$9.5bn by 2030, underscores the need for scalable, practical solutions to ensure energy security, economic competitiveness, and climate resilience.

Matthew Tribe, global market lead, buildings & places at AtkinsRéalis, said, “Our ambition with this showcase was to rise above the noise and illuminate innovative pathways grounded in evidence, strategic choices, and informed trade-offs. Today, cities, industries, and digital ecosystems converge on a singular imperative: abundant, resilient, and clean energy. In partnership with the Ministry, we have articulated a forward-looking roadmap that harmonises renewables, advanced storage, and grid-forming technologies with proven nuclear solutions, empowering Oman to accelerate near-term growth while steadfastly advancing toward a net-zero future.”

AtkinsRéalis combines extensive global nuclear and grid design expertise with a strong regional presence, drawing on decades of experience delivering CANDU reactors and managing a 7,000-person nuclear workforce. CANDU technology provides Oman and the broader region with a proven pathway to secure, low-carbon baseload power, supporting both grid stability and large-scale renewable integration. AtkinsRéalis remains committed to partnering with governments and industry stakeholders across the Middle East to identify opportunities and co-develop solutions that promote sustainable growth and deliver resilient, future-ready energy and infrastructure systems.

DEWA & Dell Technologies collaborate for sustainable utility. (Image credit: DEWA)

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has taken another decisive step towards shaping the future of smart and sustainable utilities by exploring strategic collaboration opportunities with Dell Technologies.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, welcomed a senior Dell Technologies delegation led by Adrian McDonald, President for Europe, Middle East & Africa; Walid Yehia, Managing Director – Gulf; and Mohammad Amin, Senior Vice President – CEEMETA. The meeting was also attended by Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future at DEWA, and Mohammed Bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub, part of Digital DEWA.

The discussions centred on strengthening cooperation to deploy advanced digital solutions that support Dubai’s smart infrastructure ambitions, accelerate green initiatives and transform utility services through innovation. Both parties examined how emerging technologies can play a pivotal role in redefining operational excellence across the energy and water sectors.

Al Tayer affirmed that, in line with the vision and directives of Dubai’s wise leadership to make AI the cornerstone of future initiatives and services in the emirate, DEWA is harnessing the latest Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, particularly AI, to enhance performance and productivity. He emphasised the critical role of robust IT infrastructure, AI and Big Data analytics in building more resilient, efficient and customer-centric utility services.

The meeting highlighted opportunities for Dell Technologies to contribute its global expertise in digital transformation to support DEWA’s ambitious road maps for sustainable energy, integrated water management and smart city development. Discussions explored modernising critical infrastructure through next-generation IoT, edge computing and advanced data centre solutions to enhance grid reliability, seamlessly integrate renewable energy and optimise water distribution networks.

Both sides also examined how AI, advanced analytics and machine learning can unlock new operational efficiencies through predictive maintenance, intelligent demand forecasting and personalised customer engagement. Sustainability emerged as a core focus, with an emphasis on green data centres, energy-efficient system designs and innovative cooling technologies aligned with Dubai’s environmental goals.

The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening cybersecurity frameworks, ensuring the long-term security, resilience and reliability of Dubai’s critical utility infrastructure in an increasingly digital future.