Sign in
WASTE MANAGEMENT-
Cemex to operate Regenera waste facility in Egypt: Building materials supplier Cemex has inked an agreement with Egypt’s Assiut Governorate to operate the second Regenera municipal waste treatment facility, according to a statement. Cemex will treat nearly 7k tons of waste monthly to produce alternative fuels and compost.
Regenera 1 recently began operations: The first Regenera facility began operating in May in Mahalla El Kubra with the help of Assiut Cemex. The company agreed with the governor of Egypt’s Gharbia governorate to manage and operate the non-hazardous recycling and treatment plant — with a capacity of 800 to 1k tons per day — for 10 years. Cemex will also transport the treated waste to the Sadat sanitary landfill in Menoufia governorate.
INVESTMENT WATCH-
UAE + Ghana sign USD 30 mn biodiversity and climate partnership: The UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abujinabo signed a letter of intent for the UAE to invest USD 30 mn to support biodiversity, reforestation, agroecology, climate solutions, and nature-based community development, according to a press release. Potential joint projects will be discussed by the two countries at COP29 and COP20.
GREEN SHIPPING-
Oman making moves to position itself as green bunkering hub: Oman’s leading logistics solutions provider Asyad Group has signed a joint study agreement with energy firm OQ Alternative Energy and Sumitomo Corporation Middle East to explore Oman’s potential to be a low-carbon fuel bunkering hub, according to a statement released last week.
What we know: The group has issued a request for information (RFI) from the world’s leading shipping companies to propel the adoption of global green logistics solutions in the country, the statement notes. The insights gathered from the RFI will form the foundation of a feasibility study to assess key factors including levelized costs of low-carbon fuel delivery, the infrastructure needed to support operations, and alignment with global regulatory standards.
Leveraging Oman’s existing facilities: Existing bunkering sites in Oman’s Salalah and Duqm ports are earmarked for retrofitting to support low-carbon fuel operations, the statement added.
Things are taking shape in Oman: Oman’s Sohar port also announced in June that it will start using biofuel bunkering in tugboat operations after experimenting with B20 — an 80% diesel and 20% biofuel mix — at Tug Sohar.
STARTUP WATCH-
UAE FoodTech Challenge supports startups addressing food security: The third UAE FoodTech Challenge – recently launched during the UN General Assembly in New York by International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen – will award four startups a shared USD 2 mn prize to address food and water insecurity in the Global South, sustainable food and energy systems, and food waste reduction, according to a press release (pdf) published last week. The goal is to “produce more food with … less water, less energy and less waste, all while facing the pressures of climate change,” Chair of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of the challenge Rima Al Mokarrab told The National on Thursday. Applications are open until 12 December.
DECARBONIZATION-
Naufur + Gord partner on decarbonization: The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) and Naufar have signed an MoU to promote sustainability, energy efficiency, water management, and carbon reduction, according to a statement published last week. The collaboration aims to enhance sustainable practices and operational efficiency across Naufar’s projects, with Gord providing support for green building certifications, energy and water efficiency audits, and the development of a Green IT strategy.
OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-
- Opec Fund extends loan for Armenian climate action: The Opec Fund has signed a USD 10 mn loan agreement with Evocabank CJSC to bolster energy efficiency, renewable energy projects, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Armenia. (Statement)
- Emsteel to co-lead the AFID: UAE’s Emsteel has been appointed as co-chair of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonisation (AFID), led by the International Renewable Energy Agency, replacing Tata Steel alongside Siemens Energy. The alliance serves as a platform for enhancing dialogue and collaboration on sustainable industrial practices. (Statement)
- The UAE inks MoU with ABB to boost EV charging infrastructure: The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed an MoU with ABB Group last week to enhance EV charging infrastructure across the country. ABB will collaborate with the ministry to explore and develop EV charging solutions, promote sustainable practices, and facilitate knowledge transfer in the energy and mobility sectors. (Statement)
- Oman works on launching a Net Zero Center: Omani ministries and government stakeholders are working on establishing a national Net Zero Center to guide the country in achieving net zero emissions by 2050 after reducing emissions by 21% by 2030. The center will monitor and update net zero targets, suggest policy standards, lead the national energy efficiency strategy, set up and operate a carbon credit certification system, and maintain GHG emission compliance. (Oman Daily Observer)
- Egypt’s GEM partners with Schneider Electric on green tech: The Grand Egyptian Museum Authority and Schneider Electric signed an MoU to implement advanced technology aimed at boosting energy efficiency and sustainability at the museum. The partnership will implement Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform for managing energy, HVAC, water, gas, data networks, and command and control systems. (Statement)
