The Energy Working Group under the directorship of the UAE-UK Business Council organizes The Energy Efficiency Workshop

Abu Dhabi, UAE February 1 2015

Held under the Patronage of His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy, the Energy Working Group under the directorship of the UAE-UK Business Council hosted a forum to share best practices in energy efficiency and explore avenues for further collaboration on implementation of energy efficiency technologies and measures.

Held during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the event focused on Energy Efficiency related to Smart Cities, Building Efficiency and Water Desalination and Bulk Demand.

The forum was attended by distinguished guests including His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy, The Right Honourable Matthew Hancock, MP and UK Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, His Excellency Nasser A. Alsowaidi, Chairman of the Energy Authority and Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business Council, His Excellency Saeed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Sir Jonathon Porritt, the renowned environmentalist and writer.

Members of the Energy Working Group include: the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Royal Dutch Shell as Co-Chairs; Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA); Masdar; Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC); Thani Emirates Petroleum Corporation; Regulation and Supervision Bureau; Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer); BP; Amec Foster Wheeler and ATKINS.

The forum was facilitated by consultants Strategy&. Recommendations and actions discussed at the forum will be collated and presented to the UAE-UK Business Council.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries today consume more primary energy than the whole of Africa, according to a recent report released by Chatham House.  It is estimated that the regions fuel demand will double by 2024 at the current demand growth rate. [1]

In his keynote address at the Forum, Minister Al Mazrouei said, As energy leaders, we are committed to addressing the critical issues of energy security, access and efficiency.  Energy efficiency initiatives are an essential part of the global strategy as we strive towards developing the smart cities of tomorrow.  Working together with the UK and global partners, we can create a successful collaboration that will deliver sustainable energy future for all nations.

The Right Honourable Matthew Hancock, said, I am delighted to be in the UAE today at a time where the country has embarked on a solid path to energy sustainability, with a determined vision to achieve energy security while delivering unprecedented levels of efficiency.  We are confident that the continued collaboration between our two countries in this regard, building on this long-standing partnership will deliver a secure energy future for many generations to come.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar said, Hosting the UAE-UK Business Councils Energy Working Group Forum in conjunction with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a testament to both the UAEs vision on the future of renewable energy and clean technology and the importance of smart cities to our economies. Smart Cities like Masdar are a beacon for the future and we look forward to working with our counterparts in the UK on advancing energy efficiency in our two countries and bringing innovations to the global arena.

His Excellency Nasser A. Alsowaidi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Energy Authority and Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business Council, commented on the existing excellent multi-layered relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, and on the importance to nurture the same through the UAE-UK Business Council, which had been established in 2011 to increase trade and investment between the two countries to 12 billion by 2015. Furthermore, His Excellency Nasser A. Alsowaidi indicated that The Energy Efficiency Workshop held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability week by the Energy Working Group under the directorship of the UAE-UK Business Council is one of the many initiatives endeavoured by the energy working group, aimed at increasing communication as well as ensuring knowledge transfer and expertise between the two countries.

Commenting on the event, Dr Saif Al-Nasseri, Gas Processing Director at ADNOC and Co-Chair of the Energy Working Group under the directorship of the UAE-UK Business Council said, Meetings such as this that bring together global leaders and great thinkers in the field of energy will spearhead needed innovations. This initiative continues to open lines of communication and enhance the exchange of knowledge and best practices between the UAE and the UK ultimately achieving the goals of the council which is to increase trade between both nations.

Sir Jonathon Porritt gave a special address on the benefits of energy efficiency and its link to decoupling. The energy efficiency implementation is critical in achieving the decoupling of economic growth and energy use. Three key elements will help achieve this; pricing, standards, and visionary leadership of both the UAE and the UK.

The UAE-UK Business Councils Energy Working Group members have been working for four years to support the UAEs energy and infrastructure growth.

-Ends- 

About the UAE-UK Business Council
Established in 2011, the UAE-UK Business Council is a high-level body co-chaired by H.E. Nasser A. Alsowaidi, Chairman of the Energy Authority (UAE side) and Mr. Samir Brikho, Chief Executive Officer of Amec Foster Wheeler (UK side). 

The purpose of the UAE-UK Business Council is to help achieve the two governments aim to substantially increase trade and investment to GBP 12 Billion in 2015.

The role of the UAE-UK Business Council is to:

         Identify and recommend actions to remove impediments to greater trade, investment and commercial links between the two countries

         Explore ways for the Forum to act as a catalyst for greater interest, and linkages between the two countries commercial sectors, respective SMEs and multinationals

         Propose innovative areas for collaboration that would benefit both countries economically and commercially, in order to deepen the relationship and strengthen the partnership

         The Energy Working Group is one of seven working groups formed to catalyse investment and economic growth

About the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week:
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is an initiative of the Abu Dhabi government to facilitate conversation and heighten awareness of some of the planets most pressing environmental and economic challenges. ADSW is hosted by Masdar, the renewable energy and sustainable technologies company based in Abu Dhabi.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Maryam Amiri
02 6024830
mamiri@adnoc.ae

[1] http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/Research/Energy,%20Environment%20and%20Development/0813r_gulfoilandgas_es.pdf Press Release 2015