A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by QatarEnergy with General Electric (GE). The agreement will see the companies join forces to develop a carbon capture roadmap for the energy sector in the country.

The focus of the MoU is to explore the feasibility of developing a world-scale carbon hub at Ras Laffan Industrial City, which as of today, is home to more than 80 GE gas turbines, QatarEnergy noted.

His Excellency Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, witnessed the signing of the MoU, which was held at QatarEnergy’s headquarters in Doha. The MoU was signed by Ahmad Saeed Al-Amoodi, QatarEnergy’s Executive Vice President, Surface Development & Sustainability and Joseph Anis, the President & CEO of GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

In March 2020, Anis told Middle East Construction News (MECN) that gas will play a critical role in the region’s energy mix.

“This MoU affirms QatarEnergy’s sustainability strategy and our efforts to implement effective measures to curb emissions and produce cleaner energy using the latest proven emissions reduction technologies. We are pleased to work with GE, who is a strategic partner, to pursue all available avenues including the use of clean energy carriers such as hydrogen as a fuel for gas turbines coupled with efficient and affordable carbon capturing technologies from such turbines, on an unprecedented scale, to achieve a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions,” H.E. Minister Al-Kaabi said while stressing the firm’s commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change.

QatarEnergy recently updated its sustainability strategy, which outlines several initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the further deployment of carbon capture and sequestration technology to capture over 11m tons per annum of CO2 in Qatar by 2035, the company confirmed.

Anis added, “QatarEnergy has a clear vision to lead the transition to a lower carbon industrial landscape. GE has been honored to support the development of Qatar’s energy infrastructure for decades and we are delighted to collaborate with QatarEnergy on their evolving sustainability journey. Exploring pre- combustion technologies such as the use of low carbon fuels to generate power, and post combustion technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration, can potentially significantly reduce the CO2 emissions from QatarEnergy’s facilities. Looking ahead, Qatar has the possibility of becoming a leading global player in the areas of hydrogen, ammonia, and CCS by helping to pilot and scale up these technologies for the rest of the world.”

In February 2022, Qatar facilities management market was estimated to be worth $22.3bn by 2030.

QatarEnergy said that its new projects are expected to further reduce the carbon intensity of Qatar’s LNG facilities by 35%, and of its upstream facilities by 25% (compared to previous targets of 25% and 15%, respectively), and strengthen Qatar’s commitment to responsibly supply LNG at scale in support of the energy transition.

The roadmap includes the development of carbon capture and sequestration, the utilization of hydrogen, and the potential usage of ammonia in GE gas turbines to reduce their carbon emissions, the firm concluded.

In June 2022, SNC-Lavalin launched an ‘Engineering Net Zero in the GCC’ report to support the region in achieving its Net Zero targets.

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Source: ME Construction News

Roughly nine months after reaching the four-billion-tonne autonomously hauled milestone, trucks equipped with Cat MineStar Command for hauling have now moved over five billion tonnes, Caterpillar has revealed.

Currently, more than 550 mining trucks are equipped with Command for hauling, operating across three continents. According to the company, Cat autonomous trucks are on pace to eclipse previous record totals of materials hauled in a calendar year, projected to be more than 1.4bn tonnes in 2022.

In May 2022, Caterpillar launched three new compact wheeled loaders.

“In 2013, we placed our first fleets of autonomous trucks in Western Australia at FMG Solomon and BHP Jimblebar. Since that time, trucks using Command for hauling have safely traveled nearly 200m km, more than twice the experience in autonomous operations of any automobile manufacturer,” said Denise Johnson, Group President of Caterpillar Resource Industries in a statement.

She added, “Caterpillar has grown the number of autonomous trucks in operation by 40% in the past two years. We believe that automation is one of many keys to implement technology that unlocks the value miners need when it comes to the energy transition toward more sustainable operations.”

In June 2022, Komatsu said it would expand its autonomous technology on haul trucks by 2024.

Speaking about the latest Cat autonomous trucks to be deployed, Marc Cameron, VP of Caterpillar Resource Industries added, “The new Cat 798 AC electric drive trucks replacing BHP’s entire haul truck fleet at the Escondida mine [in Chile] will feature technologies that advance the site’s key initiatives, including autonomy and decarbonisation. The agreement allows Escondida | BHP to accelerate the implementation of its autonomy plans by transitioning the fleet with autonomous haulage system (AHS) technology.”

In early September 2022, Caterpillar inked a deal to replace the haul truck fleet at a Chilean mine.

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Source: ME Construction News

The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has revealed that it plans to float five renewable energy projects across the Kingdom with a total capacity of 3,300MW as part of the fourth phase of the National Renewable Energy Program’s projects.

Of the five projects, three will be utilising wind energy to produce electricity, while the other two will make use of solar energy, a statement from SPCC said. It will also be the principal buyer, the statement added.

In March 2022, Acwa Power and SPPC inked a deal to develop 700MW of solar projects while, in June 2022, Acwa Power inked a PPA with SPPC for a $107mn solar PV plant.

Once operational, the total production from these wind energy projects will be 1,800MW – the Yanbu facility output will be at 700MW, the Al Ghat plant at 600MW and the Waad Al Shamal facility will be 500MW. The solar projects will have a total production of 1,500MW, which will be distributed through the 1,100MW Al Henakiyah project, and the 400MW Tubarjal project.

Floating these projects is part of the Kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Programme, a key initiative being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, the SPPC statement said.

Late in June 2022, ACWA Power signed a $1.15bn deal to develop one of the largest windfarms in the world.

“The programme is aimed at helping Saudi Arabia achieve its Net Zero target through the best energy mix of renewable energy resources and gas with 50% for each of them and replacing the fuel used to produce electricity by 2030, in bid to realise goals of the Saudi Vision 2030,” it said.

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Source: ME Construction News

The approach to wellness in the workplace in GCC countries differs compared to what’s seen in markets such as North America, Europe, the UK and even the Far East, according to Jennie Stallings, Partner and Commercial Manager at ChelseaGREEN.

“Awareness of its importance is growing but there is still a lot more to be done, and many opportunities to improve wellness in the workplace across all sectors. One of the main drivers for widespread adoption is education and incentivisation on a government level,” she explains.

Stallings is an established wellness consultant based in Dubai and will be speaking at Middle East Consultant’s forthcoming Wellness in Construction Summit, which will focus on Health, Safety and Wellness in the built environment. The event is scheduled to take place on 5 October 2022 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai. Registration is complementary but mandatory for construction professionals. Read about the event’s agenda here.

Discussing wellness programmes and critical steps that businesses need to put into action for tangible results, Stallings comments, “This is a complex topic and the requirements are multi-faceted. However, the biggest thing is putting it into practice from the top down, with businesses owners and CEOs leading by example. Employees need to see they have the company’s support to make their health and wellness a priority.”

Many individuals and companies have touted the benefits of wellness programs in the workplace, with a number of construction stakeholders introducing staff focused programs in a bid to boost productivity and take care of staff health.

According to McKinsey & Company, the global wellness market is worth about $1.5tn, with an annual growth of 5% to 10%. It noted that as per a survey of 7,500 consumers in six countries, 79% of the respondents said they believe that wellness is important, with 42% considering it a top priority.

Asked whether wellness initiatives actually deliver commercial benefits, Stallings responds, “Wellness initiatives absolutely deliver commercial benefits and there are numerous studies to demonstrate the return on investment for a business a whole. When the wellbeing of staff improves, productivity is enhanced and that has a direct impact on the bottom line.”

In June 2022, CRTKL said that wellness and happiness are key for Egyptian workplaces.

She adds, “Anybody and everybody can benefit from an in-house wellness program, providing it is tailored to the particular company and meets the individual needs of the user.” She made the comment when asked whether only particular employees or stakeholder groups benefit from in-house wellness initiatives.

Speaking about the Wellness in Construction Summit and its importance, she points out, “This event is helping to bring the wellness conversation to the forefront of people’s minds, and it’s only when these things are talked about openly that change happens.”

“It is also important to understand how wellness fits into the construction process as a whole during design and build, rather than seeing it as an interiors job once the occupiers move in,” she elaborates.

Discussing her presentation at the Wellness in Construction Summit – What can a business gain from wellness? A look at realities – she notes, “I’m going to cover several aspects but my main objective is to highlight how the value of an organisation is driven by its people and therefore, how companies can attract, nurture and retain talent with well-developed wellness strategies.”

She concludes, “I will discuss the tangible financial benefits and demonstrate how wellness programs contribute to high-performing workplaces. I will also look at the main aspects to consider from a conceptual point of view, such as air quality, movement, and ergonomics.”

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Source: ME Construction News

HKA has announced that Crispin Cockman has rejoined the company as a Director, and will relocate from the UK to be based in HKA’s office in Dubai.

According to HKA, Cockman is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with approximately 35 years of experience across major construction projects across various sectors of the industry.

At the 2021 Middle East Consultant Awards HKA was announced as the winner in the ‘Dispute Resolution & Claims Specialist of the Year’ category and, in April 2022, Mahmoud Abougabal joined HKA’s Expert Services Team as Director.

“Crispin is a valuable addition to our team for clients and peers alike. We are delighted that he has decided to re-join HKA after we worked together in KSA. With his technical and managerial background combined with his past experience working in the Middle East, he will be an excellent cultural fit within our organisation,” said Haroon Niazi, Partner & Head of Middle East.

The firm pointed out that Cockman’s experience as a senior manager, professional quantity surveyor and commercial manager has seen him work across the UK, the Middle East and South Africa involving work on major power plants, oil and gas installations and major commercial buildings.

He is said to specialise in the analysis of contract pricing and is also experienced in the preparation and assessment of claims on behalf of both contractor’s and employers, and in the preparation of numerous expert witness reports on matters of quantum.

In June 2022, HKA’s Nurul Sabri said that overcoming pay disparity based on ethnicity will require commitment of all levels and a strong collaborative approach.

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Source: ME Construction News

Dubai-based real estate developer Zāzen Properties has announced a new sustainability and wellness focused residential development. Zāzen Gardens will feature 159 units and will take shape within the Al Furjan community in Dubai.

According to the developer, the groundbreaking for the LEED Gold Certified and wellness focused development is scheduled for next month. A show unit and sales center will be at the project site, with off-plan sales scheduled to start in November, it added.

Apart from its key amenities, the development is expected to feature 35,000sqft of landscaping, multiple recycling stations, EV charging stations and solar panels on the rooftop which will help reduce common area service charges for owners.

In February 2022, ZāZEN Properties announced the completion of its first project in Dubai.

The developer also stated that indoor and outdoor areas will be carefully planned at all stages of development, ensuring that the LEED Gold criteria are met and the project minimises its carbon footprint, while providing the best environment for families to grow.

Due for handover in April 2024, the project also has two retail outlets on the ground floor that will cater to visitors and residents in the Al Furjan community, the developer explained.

“Peak interest in the Al Furjan area reinforces the district’s strength as a micro market. The EXPO 2020 metro line launch has seen two stations rise up within the area, providing easy access to renowned Dubai landmarks and communities such as Dubai Marina, JLT, Media City and Barsha Heights,” stated Zāzen Properties Co-Founder and COO Madhav Dhar.

Middle East Consultant will host its inaugural Wellness in Construction Summit in Dubai on 5 October at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road. Registration is complementary but mandatory for industry professionals.

With plans underway to convert the EXPO2020 site into a mixed use hub, the Al Furjan residential district will continue to be a preferred choice for the UAE’s middle-class and upper-class population, the developer pointed out.

“The second quarter of 2022 saw near 90% occupancy rate in Al Furjan’s vacant apartment listings and we expect the area to experience a continuous influx of investors, home-buyers, and renters,” added Dhar.

“With our next launch, right near the Gardens metro station, we are excited to bring added value to Al Furjan and raise the overall living experience and quality level of residential developments in the area, similar to what we achieved in JVT with Zāzen One. Zāzen Gardens will not only be LEEDd Gold certified, and deploy onsite renewable energy through solar panels, but it will also introduce a new concept of integrated wellness design within the building, leading to healthier and happier environments for both owners and tenants,” he concluded.

In June 2022, CRTKL said that wellness and happiness are key for Egyptian workplaces.

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Source: ME Construction News

Continental has launched its new LD-Master L5 Traction construction tyre expanding its ContiEarth range to include the radial tire, initially in size 35/65 R33.

The tyre, which will be presented at Bauma 2022, is specifically designed for loaders operating on abrasive surfaces.

In June 2022, Continental said it would offer NightViu premium lighting for the off-highway sector.

According to the company, the LD-Master L5 Traction offers high-level traction under demanding load requirements, a long service life and is fitted with tyre sensors ex-factory.

A reinforced carcass supports high load carrying capacity requirements and is protected by an L5 traction tread pattern while an extra deep tread and sidewall protection improves tyre robustness and long-term productivity, the company says. Digital tyre monitoring platform ContiConnect 2.0 is used to optimise the service life of the tyre.

In August 2022, Magna Tyres said it would introduce new tread patterns for mining equipment at Bauma 2022.

“To minimise idle time and ensure serviceability even under harsh conditions, the special tyres fitted to construction machinery should be controlled as precisely as possible,” said Continental in a statement.

“The LD-Master L5 Traction is fitted with an integrated tyre sensor ex-factory, making monitoring possible in real time. The sensor monitors temperature and tyre pressure, assuring at all times the most efficient operation mode for a long tyre life,” the company added.

Late in August 2022, Mitas expanded its tyre range for wheeled and backhoe loaders.

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Source: ME Construction News

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Germany’s RWE Renewables have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration on developing offshore wind projects across a range of key markets.

“This agreement will strengthen our existing relationship with RWE, who have been a long-standing partner with us on the London Array offshore wind farm, one of the largest in the world, while also representing an opportunity to expand our capabilities in offshore wind, a market which we see as having key strategic importance. By leveraging our two companies’ extensive expertise in this sector, we can help other nations to meet their offshore wind targets, transition to clean energy sources, and meet their net-zero objectives,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG added, “The acceleration of the energy transition remains key to tackling both the current energy crisis and the climate crisis. This is what we are doing at RWE with massive investments in renewable energy projects – on our own and together with partners. I am very pleased that we will join forces with Masdar, a known and reliable partner to RWE for years in our London Array offshore wind farm.”

In January 2022, Masdar formed a joint venture company with W Solar Investment for clean energy projects and, in June 2022, it signed agreements with Azerbaijan to develop 10,000MW of clean energy.

Masdar and RWE are shareholders in the London Array project, which has been operational since 2012. The wind farm has an operating capacity of 630MW, powering more than half a million homes, while displacing almost one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

Many countries have set ambitious renewables build-out targets like the UK, the US and South Korea. The UK, which already has the largest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world, is targeting 50GW by 2030 under its Energy Security Strategy.

The US is aiming to deploy 30GW of offshore wind by 2030, as part of President Joe Biden’s ‘Green New Deal’ initiative to halve greenhouse gas emissions by that date, and reach Net Zero by 2050. Korea is also looking to have as much as 20GW of offshore wind capacity by the end of this decade, as it seeks to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

In August 2022, Masdar backed a solar project in Azerbaijan with $21.4m financing.

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Source: ME Construction News

The World Bank has announced that it will provide US $2bn in aid to Pakistan, following the unprecedented floods that recently devastated the country. The financial institution said that the aid would be for reconstruction and rehabilitation, which includes food, shelter and other urgent needs of victims of the floods.

Record rain fall triggered severe flooding in Pakistan that, as per official data from the country, has killed over 1,600 people, and affected over 33m people since mid-June. Scientific analysis conducted by climate scientists across Pakistan, Europe and the United States revealed that climate change had a significant hand in causing the deadly floods.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials said that the floods have caused about $40bn in losses.

The government of Pakistan has been calling for international aid due to scale of the disaster. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the flooding “the worst in the history of Pakistan”, and pointed out that it would cost at least $10bn to repair damaged infrastructure across the country.

The announcement regarding the commitment of aid was made by the World Bank’s new Vice President for the South Asia region, Martin Raiser, following the conclusion of his tour of the country.

“As an immediate response, we are repurposing funds from existing World Bank-financed projects to support urgent needs in health, food, shelter, rehabilitation, and cash transfers,” the World Bank statement explained.

Initially, the World Bank had agreed to provide $850mn for flood relief on the back of a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The amount has now been increased to $2bn, the statement said.

Raiser commented, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and livelihoods due to the devastating floods and we are working with the federal and provincial governments to provide immediate relief to those who are most affected.”

In the wake of the disastrous floods, countries and other international institutions have been mobilising support for victims in the country. Towards the end of August, the United Nations launched a $160mn flash appeal for immediate relief of the victims.

On 1 September, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, ordered aid worth $13.6mn delivered to Pakistan. The food aid was provided by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, in co-operation with the World Food Programme and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment. Humanitarian organisations in the UAE have also been calling for relief kits for affected families in Pakistan.

In early September, UNESCO also announced that it has mobilised an emergency amount of $350,000 to help recover flood-damaged cultural heritage sites in the country. The organisation said it is also working in the field of education to quickly provide distance learning solutions.

“First of all, our thoughts are with the families who have lost a loved one, the injured, all those who have been forced to leave their homes and with the authorities. UNESCO stands with them,” said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.

The UNESCO statement added that cultural heritage has also been damaged by the floods, including the UNESCO World Heritage sites ‘Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro’ and ‘Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta’. Karez in Balochistan, a traditional irrigation system on Pakistan’s World Heritage Tentative List, the Amri site museum and the Sehwan folk and craft museum, both in the Jamshoro District, have also been reported as damaged by the recent floods.

It added that cultural practices, such as crafts and music, which are often an important source of income, have also been severely disrupted. UNESCO’s activities will aim to support not only the national response plans but also the knowledge bearers, artisans, crafts people and artists who have lost their livelihoods due to the floods on the other, the statement noted.

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Source: ME Construction News

The UAE’s hotel development pipeline has swelled to 48,000 keys, according to research carried out by Knight Frank. According to the consultancy’s latest analysis, the delivery of the planned hotel room supply is forecast to cost approximately US $32bn. Furthermore, it added that a growing number of international operators are rushing to be part of the world’s most successful hospitality markets.

“The UAE’s world-leading hospitality market is set to expand by 25% by 2030, with a further 48,000 rooms adding to the nation’s extensive 200,000 key portfolio. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Dubai is set to account for the lion’s share of this total, with 76% of all new rooms coming to the emirate, which already boasts over 130,000 rooms. This stockpile of hotel rooms is already higher than cities like London or New York,” said Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Middle East Research at Knight Frank.

He added, “The emirate has cemented its status as a city with universal appeal, in large part to the world-leading government response to the pandemic and some of the world’s most visited and incredible attractions. The accolades for Dubai keep coming – Trip Advisor’s most popular destination for 2022, the world’s busiest international airport and the highest hotel occupancy in the world, all of which strongly pointing to room for further growth and expansion of this all-important pillar in the economy”.

In August 2022, Dubai topped ‘getaway break’ rankings according to rental search engine Holidu.

Knight Frank estimates that by 2030, the Accor Group will cement its place as UAE’s largest hotel room operator, with close to 25,000 rooms under management, a position the group also enjoys in Saudi Arabia.

Turab Saleem, Partner – Head of Tourism and Hospitality, Knight Frank, explained: “The UAE’s vibrant hospitality market continues to expand, with a clear focus on the luxury end of the price spectrum. Our analysis shows that 70% of all the rooms planned will fall in the 4- and 5-star category.

“This comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with what is set to be one of the world’s most ambitious hospitality development programmes that will see more than 275,000 hotel rooms built across the Kingdom over the course of the 2020’s at a total cost of $110bn. The region’s transforming hospitality sector is set to create a very attractive proposition for global travellers”.

In September 2022, it was announced that Abu Dhabi National Hotels intends to develop a 1,000 key resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.

Durrani added that the success of the UAE’s hospitality market means international operators are keen to continue cementing their presence. He pointed out that the proportion of international operators to local ones is set to rise to 60%, from 56% today.

“Interestingly, Hilton Hotels will add the most rooms overall, with close to 5,000 new keys expected by the end of the decade, a 43% increase on today. This mirrors the group’s plans in Saudi, where Hilton hotels will emerge as the second biggest operator by 2030 with 19,000 rooms under management, around 3,000 rooms more than the group will have in the UAE by that stage,” he said.

“The UAE’s three biggest cities – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, continue to lead the region in terms of hotel performance, but Saudi Arabia’s existing cities are poised to experience a sea change in demand as Vision 2030 unfolds and business as well as leisure travel begins to overwhelm the existing supply, which will inevitably translate into heightened room rates and ADRs, at least while the existing number of keys remains inadequate for the demand yet to come,” concluded Saleem.

Late in September 2022, Accor said it would open 38 branded residences by 2024, 40% of which would be located in India, Turkey, Africa and the Middle East.

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Source: ME Construction News