Dubai, UAE, 17 April 2015

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has confirmed its Transformer Oil Test Laboratory is operating with high-tech certified technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance, which supports power transmission by providing analytical services and service-evaluation systems. Monitoring transformer oil helps maximise the operational lifespan of the transformer, which is reduced significantly if undiscovered faults inside the equipment start to occur. This is why DEWA built a fully-equipped laboratory to check the status of new and used electrical insulating oils in accordance with international standards used by specialised laboratories.

This year, DEWA is allocating a dedicated space for the Transformer Oil Test Laboratory at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2015), from 21-23 April. DEWA will highlight the lab's services and the mechanisms used in transformer oil tests to WETEX visitors.

"DEWA constantly strives to make our customers happier by adopting the most innovative mechanisms in the production, transmission, and distribution of energy. This supports our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility and our commitment to become a global role model in performance, efficiency, productivity, and excellence in providing reliable and available electricity and water services according to the highest international standards. The internationally-accredited laboratory in Warsan provides transformer oil testing services for DEWA and other local and regional customers from the commercial and industrial sectors, according to the highest international standards and specifications," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

"DEWA has achieved outstanding results in efficiency and reliability that surpass even the private sector. DEWA increased efficiency of energy generation by 22% between 2006 and 2014, using the latest technologies and adopting technological innovations. DEWA has surpassed leading European and American companies by reducing losses in power transmission and distribution networks to 3.26%, compared to 6-7% in Europe and the USA. Water network losses decreased to 9%, compared to 15% in North America, achieving global results in reducing water losses. DEWA's results are among the best internationally for customer minutes lost per year. DEWA's figures reached 4.9 minutes, compared to 15 minutes recorded by leading utilities in the European Union," added Al Tayer.

"DEWA's Transformer Oil Test Laboratory has ISO/IEC 17025 certification. It is the first government transformer oil laboratory in the UAE to get this internationally-recognised certificate.

The ISO/IEC 17025 is one of the international standards to test efficiency of testing and calibration laboratories. It is the standard for calibration and testing labs adopted by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It follows stringent international standards for measuring quality, efficiency, and safety of products and services," concluded Al Tayer.

The Transformer Oil Test Laboratory checks the oil used in all kinds of electric power transformers. This oil also insulates parts that should be beyond the reach of electricity, and it is necessary that this oil remains at a fixed temperature in all circumstances, making it imperative to carry out continuous testing to ensure the stability and quality of the oil used to cool the transformer. Periodic testing of insulation oil quality is one of the most important factors to ensure safety of transformers.

DEWA's Transformer Oil Test Laboratory performs over 25,000 tests annually. These cover all DEWA's power transformers in all sections, including over 40,000 units in production, distribution and transmission. It also helps DEWA and its customers to avoid any potential malfunctions during the operating lifespan of the transformers. This in turn, reduces non-planned outages in an effective way.

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:
Ribal Dayekh or Noora Khoory    
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority     
+9714 515 1784 
ribal.dayekh@dewa.gov.ae 
noora.khoory@dewa.gov.ae 
        
Mutasem Shadid or Mazen Alebrahem
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
+9714 450 7675/450 7613
mutasem.shadid@bm.com
Mazen.Alebrahem@bm.com

© Press Release 2015