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The project will help reduce emissions in the shipping industry.

Energy

Lloyd's Register (LR) has signed an agreement with German developer DAI Infrastruktur GmbH (DAI) to provide advisory services for Project Ra, a large-scale green ammonia production and bunkering development at East Port Said, Egypt

Project Ra is expected to have a production capacity of up to two million tonnes of green ammonia annually (mtpa), with 1.65mn tonnes produced from renewable energy sources, with production scheduled to start in 2029. Located strategically next to the Suez Canal, it offers a critical bunkering hub for ammonia-fuelled vessels navigating one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. It is expected to play a key role in supplying key European ports with green ammonia, for use as bunkering fuel, electricity generation, and reducing CO₂ emissions in industrial processes such as steel production.

The development aligns with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO)  regulations which will require the use of low- and zero-carbon fuels from 2030 onwards.

LR’s advisory services will cover demand-side pricing analyses, infrastructure planning, asset integrity and risk assessments, regulatory guidance, lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis, and market and offtake strategy support. LR will also undertake concept design reviews, feasibility studies and performance benchmarking aligned to ISO 55000.

Panos Mitrou, Global Gas Segment director, Lloyd's Register, said, “Our partnership with DAI demonstrates LR's commitment to supporting the development of critical alternative fuel supply chains that will enable shipowners to navigate the post-MEPC 83 regulatory landscape successfully.

Ioannis Papassavvas, CEO of DAI Infrastruktur, added, “Project Ra represents a critical step in delivering green ammonia at the scale and reliability the maritime sector urgently needs. LR’s advisory support will be vital to ensure Project Ra meets the highest international standards, while aligning with the long-term needs of shipowners and global regulators.”

The Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater in Egypt.

Water

ACCIONA, along with local firm DHCU, obtained an €35mn (US$38.15mn) contract from Egypt’s Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater (CAPW) so it can operate and maintain Phase II of Cairo's Gabal El Asfar wastewater treatment complex.

The eight-year agreement rehabilitates also upgrades two major plants within the facility so that they can each treat 500,000 m³ per day.

Gabal El Asfar is known to be the largest wastewater treatment complex located in Africa as well as the Middle East. This ranks it third globally, with a total capacity of 2.5 m³ per day.

Home to more than eight million residents, it serves the vital eastern part of Cairo.

ACCIONA’s already established footprint is further reinforced by this latest contract within Egypt’s water sector.

The company led the design, construction, and commissioning in a previous expansion phase at Gabal El Asfar in 2013, adding another 500,000 m³ to its daily capacity.

ACCIONA and DHCU were entrusted not too long ago in 2022 for Phase I's operation and improvement that handles 1.5 m³ of wastewater for each day.

Other developments

Beyond Gabal El Asfar, ACCIONA has partnered together with CAPW on additional projects, and this includes the water infrastructure operations for New Cairo.

The initiative collects water from the Nile River and then transports the water. It then purifies the water and distributes to consumers in the satellite city 30 kilometers east of the capital.

The company constructed five other major drinking water treatment plants throughout Egypt.

The Almerya, Rod el Farag, Mostorod, North Helwan I, and North Helwan II plants serve collectively over six million people because they have a combined capacity that exceeds 600,000m³ per day.

Within ACCIONA’s portfolio is the Bahr Al Baqr wastewater treatment plant. It is actually another key project that is located in northwestern Egypt.

It has 5.6 m³ capacity as one of the world’s largest, designed for high-quality water production for agricultural irrigation.

Additionally, ACCIONA operates several other wastewater facilities in Egypt as these facilities include those located in Abnoub-El Fath, Sodfa-El Ghanayem, El Ayat, and Abu Simbel.

Sustainable infrastructure and renewable solutions are led by ACCIONA globally.

They have been keeping to carbon neutrality since back in 2016.

Operations are maintained in more than 40 countries, also the company reported €19.19bn (US$21bn) in sales for 2024.

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The collaboration is further bolstered by ADQ’s acquisition of a 49% stake in Plenary in 2024. (Image source: Abu Dhabi Media))

Construction

Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Plenary Group, deepening efforts to bring greater private sector participation into the emirate’s infrastructure landscape.

The agreement, forged during the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, aims to accelerate the development of strategic projects through collaborative planning and delivery frameworks.

Working in tandem with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), ADPIC is actively pursuing new models of public-private collaboration, inviting international expertise and capital into priority sectors.

ADPIC currently oversees around AED200 billion worth of infrastructure initiatives, with a focus on safety, sustainability, and timely execution.

Advancing infrastructure in the region

Plenary, a global infrastructure specialist, has strengthened its presence in the UAE since its market entry in 2022.

The firm has already secured three major projects in Abu Dhabi, including the landmark Zayed City Schools initiative, the emirate’s first school PPP.

The collaboration is further bolstered by ADQ’s acquisition of a 49% stake in Plenary in 2024.

This marked a milestone as the first major UAE investment into an Australian company following the signing of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The joint venture, Plenary Middle East, now serves as a regional vehicle for developing infrastructure projects across the Middle East and Central Asia.

The Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, hosted by ADPIC, continues to serve as a key platform for exploring new investment avenues, showcasing innovation, and advancing sustainable infrastructure strategies aligned with the emirate’s long-term development goals.

His Excellency Eng. Maysarah Mahmoud Eid, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, said, “Strengthening private sector engagement is vital to delivering resilient, efficient, and future-ready infrastructure.

“This partnership with Plenary reflects our commitment to fostering high-impact collaboration that unlocks long-term value for Abu Dhabi, while supporting innovation, economic diversification, and world-class project delivery.”

Paul Crowe, Plenary CEO, said, “The MoU strengthens our strategic relationship with ADPIC and reinforces our mutual commitment to advancing private sector engagements across the emirate. We look forward to collaborating with ADPIC on Abu Dhabi’s strong pipeline of PSE projects.”

 

he transaction was completed under a binding share purchase and subscription agreement.

Mining

Alcoa Corporation has finalised the sale of its 25.1% stake in the Ma’aden joint venture to Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), marking a strategic exit from the integrated mining complex the two companies launched in 2009.

The transaction was completed under a binding share purchase and subscription agreement.

In exchange, Alcoa received around 86 million Ma’aden shares, valued at approximately US$1.2bn, alongside US$150mn in cash, which will primarily be used to cover taxes and transaction costs.

The company expects to report a gain of roughly US$780mn under other income for the third quarter of 2025.

In line with past asset sales, this gain will be recorded as a special item.

Saudi mining growth

Alcoa, which is based in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, is a global leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products. It will now hold an estimated 2% of Ma’aden’s outstanding shares.

As stipulated in the agreement, these shares must be retained for a minimum of three years, with one-third eligible for sale after each of the third, fourth, and fifth anniversaries of the transaction’s closing.

However, under certain conditions, Alcoa is allowed to hedge or borrow against the shares during the holding period, and the lock-up may be reduced in specific scenarios.

The Ma’aden joint venture, established as a fully integrated aluminium production complex in Saudi Arabia, comprises the Ma’aden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC) and the Ma’aden Aluminium Company (MAC).

Prior to the deal, Ma’aden held a 74.9% majority stake.

Citi served as Alcoa’s exclusive financial advisor for the transaction, while legal counsel was provided by White & Case LLP.

“While today marks the end of the Joint Venture, the closing of this transaction demonstrates the initial value to our shareholders and enables visibility within Alcoa’s financials until we monetize in the future,” said William F. Oplinger, Alcoa’s president and CEO.

“I thank Ma’aden’s leadership and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their partnership over the last 16 years, and we look forward to continued engagement as Ma’aden shareholders.”

Also read: Power Metallic gets licensed to explore Saudi mineral belt



The two companies will collaborate on AI-powere autonomous operations. (Image source: Borouge)

Manufacturing

Abu Dhabi-based petrochemicals company Borouge is collaborating with Honeywell to conduct a proof of concept for AI-powered autonomous operations, which is  is set to deliver the petrochemical industry’s first AI-driven control room designed for full-scale, real-time operation

The initiative aims to deploy the proof-of-concept technologies to enhance Borouge’s operations across its Ruwais facilities in the UAE. Autonomous operations will enable Borouge to optimise production, reduce energy use, and enhance safety while reducing costs at what will be the single largest petrochemical site in the world. Both companies will leverage their expertise in process technology and autonomous control capabilities to identify new opportunities to deploy Agentic AI solutions and advanced machine learning algorithms.

The project is a key component of Borouge's companywide AIDT programme, which is projected to generate US$575mn in value this year. In 2024, Borouge’s portfolio of over 200 AIDT initiatives—spanning operations, health and safety, sales, sustainability, and product innovation—generated $573mn in value

New systems

Borouge has already installed the world’s largest Real-Time Optimisation (RTO) system across three large-scale ethane crackers and 20 furnaces. The initiative analyses over 2,500 parameters per minute, enabling instant data-driven decisions, significantly enhancing productivity, optimising energy consumption and reducing emissions. The unique system minimises ethane dumping and optimises resource use, in line with Borouge's commitment to sustainable growth and operational excellence.

Borouge has invested in its state-of-the-art Innovation Centre located in Abu Dhabi and is now using advanced AI-powered tools to accelerate innovation, enabling the company to bring new grades of advanced polymers to market quicker. In collaboration with ADNOC AI Lab, Borouge has completed its first “Polymer Optimisation” programme, achieving a 97% accuracy, enabling Borouge to reduce its development timeline from months to weeks.

Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, chief executive officer of Borouge, said, “Borouge's AI, Digitalisation, and Technology (AIDT) transformation programme is setting new standards in operations, innovation and business performance. By collaborating with global AI leaders such as Honeywell, we are accelerating growth, driving efficiency, and enhancing shareholder value. This project further strengthens Borouge’s competitive edge as we continue to deliver on our ambitious AIDT roadmap.”

George Bou Mitri, president of Honeywell Industrial Automation, Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Central Asia, said, “By integrating AI and automation technologies into core operations, we are helping unlock new levels of efficiency, safety, and performance. This agreement shows how advanced technologies, applied with purpose, can reshape industrial operations at scale.”

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Jumia opens 27,000 sq m smart warehouse to boost Egypt e-commerce logistics

Logistics

Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, has taken a significant step in reinforcing its presence in Egypt with the inauguration of a new integrated warehouse on Suez Road, Cairo

This development marks one of Jumia’s largest investments in the country and demonstrates its continued confidence in Egypt’s strategic role in Africa’s economic and logistical landscape.

Spanning over 27,000 sq m, the new facility is designed to optimise Jumia’s logistics capabilities by improving storage efficiency and speeding up deliveries, particularly to Upper Egypt. The warehouse is equipped with advanced smart systems that enhance order processing and customer satisfaction. As a key component of Jumia’s logistics infrastructure, the centre supports the company’s future expansion and aims to better serve merchants and consumers across the country.

This investment aligns with Jumia’s mission to boost Egypt’s digital economy and enhance its service offerings. It will also provide tailored logistics solutions for local manufacturers and merchants, reinforcing the platform’s support for domestic production.

The warehouse is projected to generate up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs over the coming years, solidifying Jumia’s contribution to national economic development and youth empowerment.

Prime minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly commended the initiative, remarked, "We welcome this move by Jumia, which reflects the trust that major global companies have in Egypt’s investment climate. We look forward to more partnerships that support the state's goals in digital transformation, the development of logistics infrastructure, and the provision of job opportunities for Egyptian youth."

Abdel Latif Olama, CEO of Jumia Egypt, expressed his appreciation for the government’s support, stated, "We are proud of this achievement, which reflects Jumia’s long-term investment commitment in Egypt. We view Egypt as a strategic hub for our operations in the region. This warehouse represents a qualitative leap in the level of services we provide to our customers and partners, and it supports our vision of becoming an integrated platform that combines technology and logistics across the continent. It will also contribute to our growth in the Egyptian market."

Egypt also plays a critical role in Jumia’s tech ecosystem, hosting one of its largest technology hubs on the continent. This centre is home to a skilled team of engineers and developers who are building digital tools and logistics solutions to support operations across Africa.

During the inauguration, Olama delivered a presentation detailing Jumia’s impact in both Egypt and broader African markets. He also outlined plans for future expansion, reaffirming Egypt’s strategic importance to the company.

The launch of this facility is part of Jumia’s wider expansion strategy aimed at strengthening its infrastructure across Africa. Similar logistics centre s have already been established in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Morocco, reinforcing the company’s role in advancing digital commerce and economic development across the continent.

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