Through the 2028 Road Infrastructure Plan, approximately US $5.5bn will be invested in Paraguay’s infrastructure over the next five years, the Minister of Public Works and Communications, Claudia Centurión, has said. The investment amounts to an average of 4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

Centurión added that the investments would take place through the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), and would generate a significant number of jobs.

“We will modernise our transportation networks and facilitate the efficient flow of goods and people, strengthening our position as a nerve centre for trade and investment. We will finish the Bioceanic Corridor and we have also identified a very important corridor, that of the PY05 route, which today only needs one route between Pozo Colorado and General Díaz to finish in order to complete it,” said Centurión.

During the ‘Infrastructure Development: Betting on the Growth of Paraguay’ conference, she emphasised that the current government’s primary objective is to transform Paraguay into a “multimodal logistics hub of the region.”

To achieve this goal, investments will be made to strengthen road connectivity and infrastructure, modernise the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque, complete sections 2 and 3 of the Bioceanic Road Corridor, and improve route PY01, among other necessary works.

Centurión also added that 300 schools would be improved as well as the construction of five new hospitals – two of which are underway.

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Source: ME Construction News

Emrill Energy has hosted an energy efficiency workshop for industry stakeholders and owners association management companies, which focused on implementation strategies for the Energy Efficiency Policy recently released by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). The workshop attracted over 80 attendees, including building management professionals, property developers, and RERA officials, the firm said.

As per a statement, the policy aims to reduce energy consumption within the built environment through energy-efficient practices. The firm presented and discussed reporting strategies that will enable community management companies to fulfil RERA’s requirement for monthly building energy consumption reports.

RERA’s new energy efficiency policy requires UAE-based community management companies to submit evidence-based monthly reports detailing a building’s energy-efficiency efforts and sustainable practices. During the workshop, Emrill Energy and RERA presented and explained RERA’s new policy and stressed the importance of implementing energy-focused solutions to comply with the statutory guidelines, the statement added.

“Our goal is to increase energy efficiency and sustainable buildings in the UAE. Energy-efficient building practices and the implementation of energy management systems will allow for detailed monitoring, analysis, and optimisation of energy consumption in the built environment. The energy consumption reports are an integral tool to help RERA assess a building’s energy efficiency every month and provide insights for building management companies on the effectiveness of current energy-saving strategies. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable and energy-aware future for the UAE,” said Mohammed Khalifa Bin Hammad, Senior Director at RERA.

To support the UAE’s commitment to sustainable and innovative initiatives aligned with the country’s Green Agenda 2023, Emrill Energy explored solutions to develop more energy-efficient buildings, asset lifecycle optimisation strategies, and implementing smart technologies to monitor and increase energy savings while enhancing environmentally-friendly operations, the statement explained.

Shariq Ahmad, Associate Director at Emrill Energy commented, “Not only do Emrill Energy’s solutions provide a comprehensive framework to support organisations in monitoring energy usage required for RERA reporting, but they also benefit building owners, owners’ associations, and tenants with significant cost-savings on utility bills and reduction in community service charges. By adopting energy management practices, property owners and occupants can benefit from lower service charges due to heightened energy efficiencies while maintaining consistent energy outputs within their properties. For example, HVAC systems consume almost 70% of a building’s energy, and with the reduced power requirement for these HVAC systems through our optimised energy efficient solutions, we can reduce generation capacity at the utility plant level, resulting in a more sustainable and cost-effective solution.”

Ahmad continued, “The goal of our energy efficiency workshop was to bring together industry experts, owners’ associations, developers, property management companies and organisations to lead the change and work towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient built environment. By implementing total energy management and energy efficiency solutions, we are confident we can execute energy-saving strategies within buildings, improve overall efficiency through sustainable strategies and work towards the UAE’s vision for a more sustainable future.”

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Source: ME Construction News

Al Zorah Development Company has launched its new luxury marina-front project, Gateway – Porto Al Zorah. The residential project is set to feature 157 simplex and duplex apartments, and will be built within Al Zorah City.

A joint venture between Ajman and Solidere International, Al Zorah Development Company said the project, located in a neighbourhood bordering the Al Zorah Golf Club, a natural mangrove forest, and a creek, will serve as a testament to excellence. The development will boast facilities of the highest calibre, encompassing a fitness centre, a family pool, and a playground, all enveloped by an inspiring landscape, it explained.

“We take immense pleasure in announcing the launch of Gateway – Porto Al Zorah as the latest jewel in our esteemed residential portfolio. This project is meticulously designed to prioritize resident comfort and elevated lifestyles, seamlessly blending the tranquility of creekside and marina living with sophisticated, contemporary finishing touches, culminating in an extraordinary experience,” said CEO George Saad.

Presented under the banner of ‘Exquisite Marina Lifestyle in the Lap of Nature’, the development seamlessly blends contemporary living with a deep connection to the environment, promoting living amid a superior quality of air due to its proximity to the flourishing Al Zorah Mangrove Natural Reserve Forest, said the developer.

The development configuration comprises studios, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, offering an unparalleled living experience tailored to families, professionals, and those seeking a distinctive lifestyle, it added.

Saad pointed out that residents will enjoy access to exclusive amenities, including unlimited golfing through membership at the Al Zorah Golf Club, a two-year membership at the forthcoming Beach Club, a silver-tier membership at The Oberoi Beach Resort, preferential berthing rates at Al Zorah Marina, and the Al Zorah City Residents Card, which offers special discounts across all Al Zorah-owned food, beverage, and hospitality establishments.

“At Al Zorah City, our unwavering commitment is to deliver unparalleled real estate offerings curated to enrich the lives of our residents and guests. With the introduction of Gateway – Porto Al Zorah, we are expanding our realm of expertise, presenting Ajman with an array of idyllic destinations to flourish,” he concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

A partnership has been signed between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and French water and waste management specialists Suez. The deal will see the provisioning of essential municipal and environmental services for AlUla’s expanding community of residents, businesses, and visitors.

According to a statement, the deal will further enable RCU’s transition into a mature and advanced municipality, and empower AlUla’s development into city that is prepared to overcome any challenges it may face as part of its ongoing growth.

Integrating Suez’s expertise into RCU’s delivery of city services will ensure the safe, sustainable, and consistent provision of water and waste solutions throughout AlUla. The partnership also strengthens RCU’s efforts to tackle the effects of climate change on the natural and urban landscape while also conserving biodiversity in AlUla.

RCU and Suez will both undertake strategic development projects and knowledge sharing to maintain and expand water and waste management within the framework of RCU’s goal to improve people’s quality of life. This will be done in full alignment with the pillars of AlUla’s Sustainability Charter, the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, and the Saudi Green Initiative, the statement added.

With more than 160 years’ experience in the field, Suez is ideally suited to aid RCU in its long-term goal of regenerating AlUla into a sustainable, liveable, and efficient destination that employs smart water, waste, and environmental technologies and solutions in its management of key resources, the statement noted.

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Source: ME Construction News

App-based property inspection firm VeriEstate says it has added the capability for prospective buyers and renters to source ‘accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive insights on the quality of properties’. The platform will help uncover mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) and/or other issues that are not visible to the naked eye, enabling buyers and renters to make informed decisions before purchasing or moving in, the firm pointed out in its statement.

The firm is said to be gearing up for its launch, which will help ‘usher in an era of higher trust, transparency, and cutting-edge technology in the real estate industry’.

The solution was conceived by Rajab Ali Virani, CEO of Vision Tech and is said to showcase the integration of blockchain and other advanced technologies. With a dedicated team of MEP engineers and experts for property inspection and reporting, VeriEstate harnesses the power of real-time information. The reports produced by the company boast formal credentials, making them a trustworthy and universally recognized point of reference for buyers, renters, brokers, and property owners alike, said a statement.

“Real estate properties are more than what meets the eye. They can appear perfect, while concealing flaws that can significantly impact their utility and valuation. So, the market is rife with buyers and renters wary of structural issues related to MEP systems. As often as not, such scepticism deters many from closing transactions. We are geared toward allaying such fears through scientific, non-intrusive quality checks,” stated Virani.

VeriEstate is said to leverage advanced sensors and imaging technology to detect hidden issues that traditional, superficial inspections may have missed. Additionally, the platform’s integration of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) helps identify patterns and potential concerns, providing valuable insights for future design considerations. The company said these outcomes have profound implications for real estate transactions, addressing the prevailing trust deficit and accountability issues in the industry, thus streamlining processes and reducing delays and confusion.

Snagging has long been a headache for both buyers and developers. The firm said its app excels in addressing this pervasive problem. With its cutting-edge technologies and blockchain to record and process real-time information and a team of meticulous experts, VeriEstate ensures no detail is overlooked during snagging and facilitates a quick and seamless process. This comprehensive solution not only saves valuable time for both parties but also enhances transparency and accountability, the company confirmed.

“Real estate transactions are capital-intensive, so complexities can arise. A credible certificate following a thorough property inspection can alleviate some concerns and accelerate transactions in both primary and secondary markets. There was a pressing need for an accessible, affordable, and user-friendly service — which is our vision with VeriEstate,” said Suhail Dawoodani, Managing Director of VeriEstate.

He added that the app aligns with Dubai’s reported move to revamp its official Rental Index to factor in quality and amenities while determining rents. Industry sources say policymakers aim to correlate property prices with quality and amenities instead of trends like locality, community, and brand.

VeriEstate is well-equipped to facilitate that transition while contributing to bigger goals, such as buildings’ compliance with green and sustainability standards and certifications for legal and insurance purposes. Such an interdisciplinary role, scientific methods, and an alignment with the government vision, will enable VeriEstate to achieve a user base of 10m by 2025, Virani noted.

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Source: ME Construction News

A long-term agreement has been inked between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and Saudi Telecom Company (STC). The 15-year partnership is said to showcase the joint vision of RCU and STC to drive AlUla’s digital transformation, said a statement.

STC said that it will integrate neutral host infrastructure into AlUla’s existing ICT (information and communication technology) framework, which includes 5G enablement. This will solidify the county’s technological landscape, paving the way for high-speed, robust infrastructure advances to streamline digital capabilities and elevate AlUla’s progress on its digital transformation journey, the telecoms firm explained.

Neutral fibre optic networks are networks that are open to all service providers. They can offer benefits such as lower costs, higher speeds, and greater efficiency through sharing of resources.

“Our collaboration with STC is an immensely significant step in AlUla’s digital transformation journey. By building advanced telecommunication infrastructure, we are setting the foundation for innovation, creating boundless opportunities for our community, and ensuring AlUla stands at the forefront of technological progress,” explained Waleed AlDayel, RCU’s Chief of Strategy and Digital.

The RCU-STC strategic partnership will not only improve the availability and quality of telecommunication in AlUla but also provide a myriad of opportunities for technologies that require high speeds and efficiency. Such improvements in telecommunications mean that more companies can serve AlUla’s residents and visitors, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 to raise service quality throughout the Kingdom, the statement added.

The integration of top-tier telecommunication technologies embodies RCU’s dedication to its community-first approach, focusing on enhancing residents’ quality of life through digital advancement, the RCU said.

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Source: ME Construction News

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has announced it has achieved a milestone on its Power Station 5 (PS5) Block 4 Project, following the arrival of Mitsubishi Power’s M701JAC Gas Turbine (GT). The M701JAC GT is the first-of-its-kind in the world GT manufactured for a primary aluminium smelter and installed in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

According to a statement from Alba, the JAC GT is an air-cooled version of the J-series GT and Steam Turbine, and has a combined cycle output 680.9MW, and reduces CO2 emissions when compared to conventional coal fired boilers and turbines worldwide.

“We are pleased to see the Gas Turbine at Alba’s Project site as that will bring us one step closer to boost our operational efficiency while accelerate our ESG transformation in line with the Kingdom’s objectives of Net Zero Emissions by 2060. The state-of-the-art JAC GT will enable Alba to reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and deliver clean energy. This GT will support our vision once fully commissioned to be a sustainable and responsible aluminium producer,” said Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali.

He added, “I thank our partners Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and SEPCOIII for their support to progress with this project’s milestones safely and on time. I also want to thank our project team for achieving to date around 1.5m safe working hours without LTI.”

Takashi Tozawa, Senior Fellow, Senior General Manager, GTCC Business Division of Energy Systems at MHI continued, “Today, marks an important milestone in our growing partnership with Alba, with the on-schedule progress and arrival of Mitsubishi Power advanced JAC gas turbine to Alba’s new Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Block 4 in Power Station 5. This project reflects Mitsubishi Power’s ongoing commitment to deliver our state-of-the-art and hydrogen-ready gas turbine technologies and services to support Alba and our partners in Bahrain, in meeting their power and decarbonisation goals, which are aligned with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 for sustainable development.”

Alba’s PS5 Block 4 Expansion Project is the addition of a fourth Block of similar combined cycle configuration with 680.9MW M701JAC Gas Turbine Combined Cycle, and includes tie into the existing 220kV Substation. Once operational in Q4 2024, Block 4 will increase the nameplate capacity of PS5 Complex from 1,800MW to 2,481MW, and reduce its overall GHG emissions intensity ratio by 0.5t of CO2 per 1.0t of aluminium produced.

Kong Lingfeng Vice President of SEPCOIII concluded, “We express our commitment to support Bahrain’s energy goals and meet Alba’s expectations through the timely installation of the gas turbine and generator. SEPCOIII aims to provide Chinese expertise to boost Alba’s production capacity while delivering this Project within the schedule.”

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Source: ME Construction News

As part of its plans for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, Morocco has said that it plans to build a large stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, and upgrade six others.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office, a deal was signed on the same day between the government and state-owned fund CDG to finance the new stadium to be ready by 2028 for a total cost of US $500mn.

The six stadiums to be renovated to host the African cup of nations in 2025 and the 2030 World Cup are in the cities of Agadir, Casablanca Fez, Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier. The refurbishments are estimated to cost a total of $1.4bn between now and 2028.

The funding will go towards ensuring the stadiums meet the standards that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set for the 2025 AFCON, as well as the requirements FIFA has set for the 2030 World Cup.

FMRF’s President Fouzi Lekjaa said that stadium renovation work has already started and it “will progress at a pace that guarantees the successful organization of both tournaments”.

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Source: ME Construction News

Saudi Arabia’s PIF has announced that its hospitality unit, Boutique Group, has appointed the lead architect and interior designer for a landmark project that aims to transform a historic royal palace in Riyadh into an ultra-luxury hotel.

PIF explained that to drive this architectural and design transformation, two key entities have now been appointed. First, Aedas, known for applying research-based architecture and merging it with local and global knowledge; and Tristan Auer, an interior architect known to have a rich aesthetic vision. Together, they will be designing The Red Palace, one of three royal palaces that the Boutique Group is set on transforming into world-class ultra-luxury hotels.

The Red Palace in Riyadh was constructed in the early 1940s by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founding monarch of Saudi Arabia, to serve as the residence and administrative centre for his son, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Notably, it was the country’s first concrete building, marking a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s architectural history.

Mark De Cocinis, CEO of Boutique Group said, “Our transformation project will protect The Red Palace’s key architectural and design features, creating a compelling guest experience by combining the new function of the palace as an ultra-luxury hotel, while preserving its original character and celebrating the Kingdom’s rich architecture and history. Saudi Arabia is on a journey of unprecedented diversification of its economy under Vision 2030, and we are committed to supporting the transformation of the Kingdom’s tourism and cultural sectors.”

Throughout its history, The Red Palace hosted international receptions and royal banquets, welcoming heads of state, government officials, and other prominent figures. Later, it served as the Council of Ministers’ headquarters for over three decades and housed the Court of Grievances until 2002.

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Source: ME Construction News

Plans have been announced to develop a third cross-border railway between Kazakhstan and China.

An agreement was signed by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the State Committee for Development and Reform of the People’s Republic of China, on the joint development of cooperation on the Ayagoz-Tacheng railway construction project.

According to the statement made by Marat Karabayev, the Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, the agreement includes plans for a railway line that will connect the Kazakh city of Ayagoz to the Chinese city of Tacheng.

Plans have also been unveiled to build a third railway checkpoint between Kazakhstan and China, in addition to the development of terminal facilities in the border area.

“There are now two railway checkpoints with a capacity of 28m tons. This year we expect them to be at full capacity. Now it is necessary to develop new capacity between our country and China. Therefore, with the commissioning of the third railway checkpoint, the volume of transportation between Kazakhstan and China by rail will reach 50m tons,” explained Karabayev.

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Source: ME Construction News