EMSTEEL has announced new progress with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) to decarbonise steel production by sourcing clean, nuclear-generated electricity through Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Certificates Programme, certified under the I-REC Standard and managed by Emirates Water & Electricity Company (EWEC).

The move enables EMSTEEL to access verified low-carbon electricity, directly reducing its Scope 2 emissions and lowering the overall carbon footprint of steel produced in the UAE. The company said it is the first steelmaker in the region to utilise Clean Energy Certificates generated from nuclear power, positioning it at the forefront of decarbonisation in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries.

The latest development builds on a decade-long partnership between EMSTEEL and ENEC. During the construction of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant – the first multi-unit operational nuclear facility in the Middle East and North Africa – EMSTEEL supplied 160,000 tonnes of nuclear-grade rebar, accounting for around 60% of the project’s total rebar requirements.

EMSTEEL said the initiative supports TrueGreen, its sustainability identity that brings together its long-running decarbonisation efforts. The company has now integrated 86 per cent clean electricity across its steel operations and 14% across cement production. In total, this includes 1,484,067 MWh from nuclear power and 651,594 MWh from solar certificates across both businesses. EMSTEEL aims to reach 100 per cent clean electricity by 2030 as part of its long-term decarbonisation roadmap.

Eng Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL, said, “Clean energy, technology enablement, and verified data are central to credible industrial decarbonisation. Through TrueGreen, we are integrating these principles into every aspect of our operations. This synergy with ENEC strengthens our clean energy portfolio and supports our long-term strategy to scale low-carbon steel production. It reflects how national partnerships can accelerate industrial transformation and position the UAE as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing.”

His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group CEO of ENEC, said, “Pairing ENEC’s carbon-free baseload electricity with EMSTEEL’s continuous industrial load demand shows what the energy transition looks like in practice: clean power at industrial scale, delivered with traceable certificates while in parallel ensuring grid reliability.”

The collaboration highlights how cross-sector partnerships are supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, while reinforcing the role of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which supplies up to 25 per cent of the country’s electricity demand and avoids around 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

AMEA Power has reached a key milestone in the development of its 50MW Bondoukou solar photovoltaic project in Ivory Coast, having secured financial close while advancing major construction works on site.

The project is being developed by AMEA Goutougo, a locally registered project company wholly owned by AMEA Power. Situated in the north-eastern Gontougo region, the solar plant is expected to produce around 85 GWh of clean electricity each year.

Once operational, it will supply power to approximately 358,000 households and reduce carbon emissions by more than 52,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

To maintain project momentum, AMEA Power began early construction activities earlier this year, moving ahead with critical works before financing was finalised. With financial close now in place, the project enters its main execution phase, allowing construction activities to scale up and progress at pace.

The $71.8mn development is being financed by development finance institutions FMO and DEG, underlining continued international backing for Ivory Coast’s renewable energy strategy and confidence in AMEA Power’s delivery capabilities across Africa.

Progressing the region's power facilities 

The Bondoukou project aligns with the Government of Ivory Coast’s target to increase renewable energy’s share of the national power mix to 45% by 2030. By adding utility-scale solar capacity, the project will help enhance energy security and reduce dependence on thermal power generation.

Scheduled to begin operations in early 2027, the plant will become AMEA Power’s first operational asset in Ivory Coast. The company is also progressing a second 50MW solar PV project in the country, signalling its longer-term commitment to expanding clean energy capacity in West Africa.

Commenting on the milestone, Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, said, “This milestone marks an important step in the delivery of our solar project in Ivory Coast. By progressing early works ahead of financial close and now moving into full-scale execution, we are demonstrating our long-term commitment to the country’s clean energy transition. This project reflects our ability to deliver with pace, discipline and partnership, bringing lasting economic and environmental benefits.”

Beyond power generation, the project is expected to deliver socio-economic benefits through job creation during construction, with an emphasis on local employment, skills development and knowledge transfer. AMEA Power will also roll out community investment and development programmes aimed at delivering lasting positive outcomes for surrounding communities.

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.