The Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) Forum held a panel discussion on sustainability in the UAE’s industrial sector and the country’s efforts towards sustainable development. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), hosted a panel discussion on the Federal Regulation for Energy Management in Industrial Facilities. The regulation, the first of its kind in the industrial sector, supports operational excellence in energy management, the reduction of consumption, and the acceleration of decarbonization and sustainability in industrial companies.
Roadmap towards sustainable development
The panel discussion delved into the impact of regulation on the industrial sector and the sector’s roadmap towards sustainable development. Moreover, it highlighted incentives and enablers that the UAE developed to enhance energy efficiency and drive the transition in the industrial sector.
For his part, Ahmed Al Kaabi, assistant undersecretary for the electricity, water, and future energy sector at MoEI, revealed that the discussion of the impact of the regulation supports the objectives of the UAE’s National Energy and Water Demand Side Management Program. Moreover, it aims to reduce energy demand by 33 percent, improve air quality by 32 percent, and contribute to the 63-million-ton reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 across the industrial sector.
“The regulation reflects the ministries’ commitment to pioneering the shift towards the sustainable use of resources and promoting innovation in energy management,” added Al Kaabi. Moreover, Al Kaabi added that the national program aims to create an integrated industrial ecosystem that places sustainability as a priority and contributes to achieving the UAE’s environmental and economic objectives.
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Operation 300bn
Highlighting the UAE’s efforts in boosting its industrial sector, Osama Amir Fadhel, assistant undersecretary of the industry accelerators sector at MoIAT, highlighted the importance of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, Operation 300bn, which includes initiatives to boost investment attractiveness, growth, and competitiveness.
Fadhel also stated that improving energy efficiency is crucial for reducing emissions and enhancing sustainability practices in industrial facilities.”We are collaborating with the MoEI, local governments, and the private sector to launch initiatives supporting industrial sustainability,” he added. This includes developing regulations and promoting technological transformation under the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative. In turn, this will enhance investment attractiveness and competitiveness while reducing energy costs across the sector.
Hence, the ministry considers regulating energy consumption in the high-usage industrial sector a priority. Therefore, the Federal Regulation on Energy Management in Industrial Facilities encourages companies to innovate and improve energy efficiency, further supporting the creation of investment opportunities in the sector.
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