Developing sustainable business practices highlighted at Power + Water Leaders' Forum in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, 13 September, 2011: Seventeen power, water, and energy projects in the Middle East, valued at US$ 11.9 billion, are surging ahead according to new research revealed in the build up to next month's Power + Water Middle East Leaders' Forum in Abu Dhabi.
In the GCC, as economies diversify and population grows at a steady pace, electricity production across the six States has increased by 90 per cent in the last ten years, from 176.1 billion kilowatts per hour in 2000 to 335.3 billion in 2011. At the same time, energy consumption has increased by 91 per cent, from 160.4 billion kilowatts per hour in 2000 to 306.5 billion in 2011.
"Growing population, fast paced industrialisation, and investments pouring back into the construction sector are among the prime factors pushing the electricity demand in the region and thus, resulting in a promising growth for the electricity sector with huge future potential," said Anita Mathews, Exhibition Director for Power + Water Middle East.
"The renewable energy sector in particular is seen as an area of immense growth in the region, particularly as global warming and spiraling oil prices have forced world leaders to plan ahead for more sustainable forms of energy production that includes nuclear, solar, wind and biomass."
The latest figures have been released by market research specialists Ventures Middle East ahead of the Power + Water Leaders' Forum, which runs alongside the Power + Water Middle East exhibition, taking place from 16 to 18 October at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011 report, produced by the United Nations Environment Programme showed that investment growth in the Middle East and Africa last year was up 104 per cent, with developing countries overtaking the developed for the first time. The report states that new clean energy regulations, government subsidies and economic stimulus are largely responsible for the increase in investment.
Recent examples of renewable energy projects in the region include the US$150 million solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR) Project in Oman, which will begin construction early next year, and the US$150 million Fujeij Wind Farm in Jordan, slated to start construction later this year, with completion toward the end of 2013.
The water sector too has seen massive growth in the MENA region, which has now emerged as the largest in the world for desalination plants. It is estimated that the region needs to add approximately three million cubic meters per day of desalination capacity every year to meet the mounting water demand, resulting in likely investments of up to US$20 billion over the next four years.
Presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), the Power + Water Leaders' Forum is back after a successful inaugural year in 2010, and will discuss developments in the field of 'Developing Sustainable Business Practices'.
The one day conference will include presentations of eminent speakers from the US Department of Energy, ABB Consulting, the UK Energy Research Centre, WS Atkins, Oracle Utilities, and Alliance for Water Stewardship.
More than 100 exhibitors have signed up for Power + Water Middle East. The exhibition has established itself as the premier meeting place for industry professionals wishing to network with local and international companies offering solutions to the power generation, water and nuclear energy industries.
LATEST POWER, WATER, AND ENERGY PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Country | Number of projects | Project value $US | % of projects by value |
Saudi Arabia | 4 | 4.2 billion | 35 % |
UAE | 4 | 205 million | 2 % |
Qatar | 2 | 3.052 billion | 25 % |
Kuwait | 2 | 41 million | .3 % |
Bahrain | 2 | 4.05 billion | 34 % |
Jordan | 2 | 290 million | 2.5 % |
Oman | 1 | 150 million | 1.2 % |
Total | 17 | 11.9 billion | 100% |
Source: Ventures ME
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Power + Water Middle East is organised by Informa Exhibitions (www.informa.com), the largest publicly owned organiser of conferences and courses in the world with more than 10,000 events annually. In the Middle East, Informa has a portfolio of more than 40 large scale events and conferences, making it the largest trade and consumer event organiser in the region
For further press information please contact:
Lindsay Johnston / Gareth Wright / Ahmad Huzayen
Total Communications
Tel: +971 4 336 9909
Fax: +971 4 336 9905
Email: lindsay@totalcompr.ae / gareth@totalcompr.ae / ahmad@totalcompr.ae
© Press Release 2011
