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UAE to set up waste-to-energy facility in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah

The move is seen as an important step for the country?s journey towards achieving sustainability in line with the UAE?s Vision 2021. (Image source: MOCCAE)

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi?s future energy company Masdar and Bee?ah to develop a waste-to-energy conversion facility in the emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah

Under the agreement, Masdar and Bee?ah will be responsible for implementing required services for the preparation of an integrated study to develop a multi-fuel commercial and traditional facility to convert waste into energy in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

Speaking at a press meet, Saif Mohammed Al Shara, assistant undersecretary for the external audit sector at MOCCAE, explained that this waste-to-energy conversion facility is expected to serve Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah to provide an integrated, sustainable and eco-friendly solution for the disposal of municipal solid waste across the UAE.

Also, a steering committee will be set up to discuss and take decisions for the progress of the project study.

?The signing of this MoU comes as result of the keenness of the ministry to strengthen the existing strategic partnership with the concerned authorities to address the surging developmental challenges and manage them in a sustainable manner,? Al Shara said.

?It also aims to achieve the national agenda targets under the UAE Vision 2021,? he added.

Speaking about the newly signed agreement, Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO of Bee?ah, commented, ?Optimising energy efficiency and maximising waste diversion from landfills, waste-to-energy projects hold great potential for the clean energy future of the UAE.?

He further added, ?With the economic growth that the UAE has enjoyed over the past years, it is necessary for us to pursue responsible energy stewardship and diversify the region?s renewable energy portfolio to achieve the sustainability benchmarks earmarked in the UAE Vision 2021.?

?We will further advance the application of commercial waste-to-energy technologies in the UAE, while promoting the UAE?s overarching goal of diverting 75 per cent of its municipal solid waste away from landfill by 2021,? said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.