< Previous SITE VISIT 40 May 2021www.fm-middleeast.com structure were designed to have a very low thermal mass to allow the building to respond quickly to temperature changes. The large flat roof has been designed to incorporate the potential for photovoltaic panels to be installed in the future. “We also wanted to extend time during the year when we could keep the building cool using only natural ventilation. We visited the historic centre of Sharjah and saw how some spaces around the small, shaded courtyards there remained open even as the temperatures rose. Shade and ventilation were crucial to our strategy at the House of Wisdom, where the central courtyard is open to the sky and the perimeter doors open, drawing air through the courtyard to cool the entire building.” The building has been designed in accordance to the Sharjah Fire & Life Safety codes with sprinklers throughout and advanced fire suppression systems in critical areas of the building such as the server and specialist equipment rooms. The landscape surrounding House of Wisdom is divided into two sections: The South Garden hosts the Japanese garden, as well as a children’s playground while The North Garden includes a reflective pool with fountains, a cactus garden and The Scroll Monument. The monument was designed by the UK artist, Gerry Judah, and is a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Arabic scrolls as a single, spiraling sculpture that loops towards the sky. Using a form of geometry called ‘developable surface’, the curved shell was created from rolled steel plates, cut by lasers guided by computer control, welded together and painted with multiple layers to protect the steel from sandstorms and weather erosion. The library will be home to 305,000 books, of which 200,000 are in the digital format and 11,000 comprising books in varied languages. The library also includes lecture halls, reading lounges, exhibition spaces, a dedicated children’s educational area, a central courtyard, a café, a restaurant, and outdoor gardens. FM’S ADVANCED STAGE CONCEPTS HELPED ESTABLISH HOUSE OF WISDOM AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN WORK, PLAY, LEARN AND LIVE UNDER SAFE, COMFORTABLE, PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT. The central courtyard is open to sky and the perimeter doors open, drawing air through the courtyard to cool the entire building. Dara Towhidi, partner at Foster + Partners.EXCLUSIVE May 2021 41www.fm-middleeast.com Abdulmohsin Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA's Rail Agency, spells out the details in the new operations and maintenance contract for Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram R TA’s previous contract with FM operator Serco Middle East, which was first awarded in 2009, was of relatively short duration, which “made it difficult for the operator to make any long-term investment for improvements,” said Abdulmohsin Ibrahim Younes, CEO, RTA Rail. Younes said: “Now with a longer contract term, this presents an opportunity for the new operator to materialise any investment for long-term improvements.” The new operator is a French-Japanese consortium which will now carry out the operation and maintenance of the Dubai Metro as well as the operation of the Dubai Tram. The contract covers 15 years (9 base years and 6 renewable years) and amounts to approximately AED542m per annum. The consortium consists of three companies namely Keolis, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, and Mitsubishi Corporation. The award of the contract follows a public tender released by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in which four consortiums and international firms specialised in rail operation and maintenance took part. In an exclusive interview with Facilities WHY RTA CHOSE A NEW SERVICE OPERATOR AND A 15-YEAR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR DUBAI METRO? Dubai metro. Management Middle East, Abdulmohsin Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA's Rail Agency, revealed the details in the new contract. He said: “The new operations and maintenance (O&M) services contract is a product of a thorough tender process for the procurement of the services.” The process included: detailed assessment of potential business models; inputs of a benchmarking exercising covering over 30 rail systems worldwide; analysis of the suitability of each model with RTA’s strategic, commercial and technical objectives being used as the key criteria for assessment of the different business models; market engagement sessions with all Bidders to market-test the shortlisted models; and consideration of the lessons-learnt over the past 11 years of contract with Serco and use of best- practices from public and private rail entities “This approach allowed an alignment between the expectations of the client and the market, and helped driving the success of the procurement process,” said Younes. The key features of the new contract include improved performance & enforcement regime; optimised risk allocation; transparency of financial information including profit share mechanism; and more output-based specification, which will result in initiatives such as condition-based maintenance and overall introduction of best practices and innovation. Talking in detail on the selection criteria and as to why the consortium was chosen, Younes revealed that the bidders were requested to demonstrate “how they will meet, and where applicable exceed, the requirements and obligations of the Metro and Tram agreements, whilst fulfilling the objectives established by the RTA”. The criteria were based on both technical and financial submissions. The key technical criteria were about the capability to perform mobilisation; operations for metro and tram; metro asset management and maintenance; staffing; and quality, health, safety and environment. Younes said: “The French-Japanese consortium was chosen because it has submitted the best technical and financial offers.” The consortium will take over operations on 8 September 2021 with preparations being made for the handover of assets and systems from Serco. www.fm-middleeast.com42 May 2021 FMME Awards 2021 in association with PLATINUMSILVERCATEGORY MEET THE JUDGES We present to you the judges for this year’s awards. This year we have retained a couple of judge’s from last year, namely Sara Momtaz and Alan Millin. The Facilities Management Middle East awards are judged through a blind ballot cast by a panel of judges selected from the FM community. The judges will score each entry through an online voting system and their decisions weigh on the criteria listed for each of the categories. The winner and highly commended are decided based on an average of the judges’ scores. This collective judgment draw on the judges’ combined experience and knowledge of the industry. IVAN BRINKLEY DIRECTOR TECHNICAL SERVICES - FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, NEOM With a background in Hotel Technical Services and over 24 years O&M & FM experience in the Middle East, Ivan Brinkley has a depth of experience in FM services – general management, operations management and consultancy services. He has held senior management positions with a number of well-known owner operators and service providers. Projects includes ARAMCO, Burj Al Arab, King Abdullah Financial District, and others. His current role is FM director, technical services, NEOM in KSA. STANLEY G MITCHELL CEO, KEY FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Stan Mitchell is CEO of Key Facilities Management which is the longest established True Facilities Management business in the UK, 2020 being Key FM’s 30th year. He is a past chair of BIFM, founding chair of Global FM, founding chair ISO Technical Committee 267 responsible for the development of international standards in FM and current chair of BSI FM Committee. He delivers FM-related consulting and training worldwide in support of developing awareness, understanding of the benefits and opportunities related to FM. ALAN MILLIN FM CONSULTANT Alan Millin is a chartered engineer and chartered manager, with over four decades of experience within the various facilities management domains, and is the proud recipient of the prestigious ITP Award for Outstanding Contribution to the FM industry, 2019. In addition to FM consultancy, Millin also provides interim executive/ management consultancy support to organisations in need of successful turnaround initiatives. Since returning to the UK after almost 25 years in the GCC, Millin has established a successful architectural photography practice in the North-East of England. THIS YEAR’S ESTEEMED PANEL OF JUDGES AT THE FM MIDDLE EAST AWARDS 2021www.fm-middleeast.comMay 2021 43 FMME Awards 2021 in association with CATEGORY HEND OBAID AL MARRI CEO, DUBAI LAND DEPARTMENT Hend Al Marri has extensive experience in strategic and financial leadership, with duties comprising strategic planning, business development, performance management, international relations, financial management, and project management. Marri has held several positions in Dubai Land Department, including current as the chief executive officer of Dubai Real Estate Institute. She began working at DLD in 2006 as Director of the Academic Affairs and Qualification of Real Estate Professionals Department at DREI. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment in Dubai. Marri has enjoyed several major achievements across her career, most prominently of which was raising DREI’s market value as a profitable institute and its brand equity, spreading real estate knowledge innovatively among various parties in the sector and the society, and enhancing the value of education and real estate investment at the local and global level. She has received many awards and certificates of appreciation as a distinguished and creative employee and an outstanding and proactive organiser. SARA MOMTAZ CEO, MASTERMIND CONSULTANCY & ADVISORY IWFM UAE COMMITTEE Sara Momtaz is an independent strategic FM consultant based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She is a well-recognised industry veteran, respected business leader and consultant in the region. With over 20 years of sector experience, she’s been awarded a well-deserved series of accolades in the field of FM, including the winner of the “Achieving Women Award 2019”, voted within the Top Ten “Power List” Most Influential FM Individuals within the Middle East in 2015, 2017 & 2018, and 2nd Most Powerful Women in the Middle Eastern FM Industry in 2017 and 2018. Momtaz held senior executive positions with Khidmah (subsidiary of Aldar), QBG Facilities Management Group, Abu Dhabi National Hotels Compass (a joint venture Abu Dhabi National Hotels & Compass Group), Damac Holding and the Al Fara’a Group. Momtaz holds a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration graduating with High Distinction grade, she is also qualified as a Fellow “FIWFM” (most prestigious grade) member of the IWFM UAE Committee. Momtaz is an active member of numerous industry bodies including MEFMA, IWFM and IFMA where she has appeared in numerous seminars, panel discussions and presented at several key conferences across the GCC region. www.fm-middleeast.com PLATINUMSILVER 44 May 2021 CATEGORY FMME Awards 2021 in association with MEET THE SPONSORS As a Platinum sponsor, what does FM Middle Awards mean to you? What are you looking forward to at the awards this year? Ejadah is supporting this important event as we recognize the important role that it has been playing for the past 14 years in the FM industry, promoting healthy competition and innovation between the industry leaders, and recognizing outstanding initiatives. FMME awards recognise our colleagues who dedicate their time and talents to make the communities they are operating in a better place. Industry professionals who went above and beyond expectations and succeeded in ways beyond the norm. What are your thoughts on the future of FM? On the short run, we are expecting a strong come back in most industries post the success of vaccine program in the region. This will reflect positively on the FM sector. Moving forward, technology is the only way forward in FM. Technological progress increases productivity, leads to the development of new services and achieve professional efficiency. We expect to see major progress in intelligent technology which shall squeeze low-quality labour out of the markets and create new demands for skill sets. How has Ejadah fared over the last 12 months and what were some of the biggest learnings? The impact of Covid 19 has affected the FM sector specifically in the management of manpower and availing the right resources to support our clients during these difficult times. Notwithstanding the above, Ejadah has witnessed a significant unusual growth in the past 12 months by being awarded critical projects with existing and new clients. The two main lessons learnt over the past 12 months that FM companies should focus at revolve around resilience and sustainability being the main drivers which should refine the mindset of all ecosystem partners. What are some of the immediate initiatives and innovations Ejadah plans to undertake in the coming months? Ejadah will continue to expand in the implementation of innovative technologies and invest in artificial intelligence in aim to achieve the ultimate operation efficiency. We will also continue in growth planning and exploring new horizons whether through introducing new services to support our clients’ requirements or expanding to new markets in the region. Our focus will remain on our people, technology & innovation, integrity, transparency & stakeholder management. EJADAH RETURNS ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR AS THE PLATINUM SPONSOR FOR THE FMME AWARDS 2021. HERE IS A BRIEF INTERVIEW WITH TAREK NIZAMEDDIN, SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT EJADAHwww.fm-middleeast.comMay 2021 45 CATEGORY FMME Awards 2021 in association with FMME AWARDS RECOGNISE OUR COLLEAGUES WHO DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE OPERATING IN A BETTER PLACE. SUPPLIER NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com46 May 2021 PROFITS Ducab Group—one of the UAE’s largest industrial manufacturing businesses—has confirmed substantial gains across all three of its business units in 2020, achieving a collective year-on- year profit increase of 36% despite the challenging global conditions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Mohammed A. Al-Mutawa, CEO of Ducab Group, said: “Ducab Group was able to achieve outstanding results while serving our customers internationally with the same level of excellence they always expect from us. The company’s ongoing focus on product diversification provided Ducab with a strong foundation going into 2020. We have always been keen to explore new markets and opportunities, and were able to support strategic projects around the world and across different vertical sectors including energy, transportation, industry, and many others in 2020. We will continue to do this in the year ahead.” In its latest Board meeting, Ducab also confirmed the appointment of Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri as the company’s new chairman. Eng. Jamal replaces Dr. Ahmad Bin Hassan Al Shaikh, who served as chairman from 2019-2021. “The past year has offered us a lot of lessons. I am proud that we have remained resilient and determined to achieve our objectives, and delivered an exceptional performance last year. I am confident that Eng. Jamal will continue that sense of optimism while developing the best talents and technologies for future growth,” noted Al Shaikh. Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri said: “The strategic development of Ducab’s business last year, despite a global pandemic, has been remarkable. I highly commend Dr. Ahmad for his strong direction, which has seen numerous milestones reached across the organisation. Over the next two years, our Board will support Ducab’s next chapter of expansion, Company looks to the latest ‘Operation 300bn’ strategy as a platform to strengthen its strategic partnerships across the industrial value chain Ducab achieves signifi cant gains in 2020 with 36% profi t increase Y-o-Y reinforced by the highest international safety and sustainability standards, while contributing to the wider economic transformation of the UAE’s industrial sector.” DUCAB BUSINESS UNIT ACHIEVEMENTS Ducab Cable Business (DCB), the largest business unit of the group, delivered a profit increase of 13%, with a product sales volume close to 80,000 conductor tonnes. DCB operations have continued uninterrupted throughout the pandemic, manufacturing all of its cables and wires in the UAE for customers in the country— which remains the division’s largest single consumer market—as well as about 25 export markets. Ducab Metals Business (DMB) saw a 33% profit increase year-on-year in 2020. The metals operation includes Ducab Aluminium Company (DAC) and Ducab’s Copper Rod Factory. DMB builds on the company’s extensive expertise in the field while capitalising on the UAE’s position in the global metallurgy markets. DMB sold close to 190,000 tonnes of metal products in 2020 to over 45 countries internationally. Meanwhile, the Ducab High Voltage (DHV) business unit improved the overall margins by 42% in 2020 compared to the previous year. DHV was the first dedicated high voltage and extra-high voltage power cable manufacturing facility in the Middle East, and today offers a wide portfolio of tailored cable solutions on a turnkey basis. The division sold nearly 6,000 tonnes of specialised high voltage cable throughout 2020 to several regional Utilities and global EPCs. “There is continued demand locally and globally for the cable and metals products that we manufacture. Moreover, the recent launch of the ‘Operation 300bn’ strategy by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology will serve as a platform for us to strengthen our strategic partnerships across the industrial value chain. We look forward to being an active contributor to the programs being rolled out as part of this comprehensive strategy, and to continue taking Made in UAE products to the world,” added Eng. Jamal. Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri - Ducab chairman. Ducab Cable Business (DCB), the largest business unit of the group, delivered a profit increase of 13%, with a product sales volume close to 80,000 conductor tonnes.www.fm-middleeast.com SUPPLIER NEWS May 2021 47 BMS Siemens Smart Infrastructure has updated its Desigo CC smart building management platform to version V5.0, which marks the software’s opening for more systems and devices. The platform now offers improved connectivity and support for more integrations, such as EV charging stations. In addition, it provides new functions for easier and more flexible usability. Desigo CC V5.0 further strengthens the level of cybersecurity protection and enables a wide variety of buildings to become future-proof and easy to manage. Desigo CC V5.0 is now linked to the infrastructure around the building. For the first time, it offers the ability to monitor the energy consumption of electric vehicles, thanks to EV charging station integration via the OCPP protocol. In a user-friendly manner, Desigo CC represents the status information of the e-charging stations and provides dedicated graphic symbols for an easy visualization. Additionally, Desigo CC extends its cloud connectivity with direct access from the Siemens cloud application Building Operator through a secure internet tunnel to start the local Desigo CC Flex Client for advanced operation. With this easy cloud connection, operators can access their Desigo CC without the need for a VPN connection, anytime and from anywhere, allowing them to reduce their on-site presence. Flex Client is the new HTML5 front- end of Desigo CC that can run on any operating system and web browser supporting HTML5 technology, and also mobile devices such as tablets – all without requiring installation steps. Flex Client has been designed to drastically improve the user experience and to make the monitoring of any building an easy task. With V5.0, Flex Client has been improved and now provides easier event handling, a sophisticated trending application and easy access to building schedules. To protect vulnerable building data even better, Desigo CC V5.0 is now IEC62443-3-3 SL2 compliant. Extensions and subsystem integrations have been extensively evaluated and tested to be listed as SL2 compliant, allowing Desigo CC to be used in deployments with CAMPAIGN Masdar has launched the global brand campaign ‘For A Sustainable Future’ to reinforce the company’s leadership in renewable energy and sustainable technology, while highlighting the sustainable development goals of the United Arab Emirates. Ahead of Masdar’s 15th anniversary later this month, For A Sustainable Future will highlight real-world examples of Masdar’s investment in the transition to cleaner energy sources, celebrate its legacy, and reiterate its commitment to a sustainable future for all. “Guided by the future-focused vision of our nation’s leadership to develop a resilient and sustainable economy, Masdar continues to innovate and build on its strong history of driving commercially viable, renewable energy solutions for the UAE and around the world,” said His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Chairman of Masdar. “Importantly, Masdar’s 15 year track record of contributing to the growth of the renewable energy sector reflects the UAE’s commitment, as a responsible global citizen, to progressive climate action,” HE Dr. Al Jaber added. “ We, in the UAE, have always viewed the climate challenge as an opportunity to diversify our economy, building knowledge, skills and jobs. As we prepare to celebrate Masdar’s 15th anniversary, ‘For A Sustainable Future’ will celebrate our many achievements, which have positioned Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a global renewable energy leader.” Despite the global economic challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, Masdar has maintained its growth trajectory. The capacity of the renewable energy projects that the company is a partner in has more than doubled over the past two years, from 4 gigawatts (GW) to 11 GW – enough electricity to power more than 4 million homes – with a combined value of $19.9bn. Desigo CC V5.0 further strengthens the level of cybersecurity protection and enables a wide variety of buildings to become future-proof and easy to manage For A Sustainable Future will highlight real-world examples of Masdar’s investment in the transition to cleaner energy sources Siemens enables digital building transformation with new version of Desigo CC Masdar launches ‘For A Sustainable Future’ campaign to celebrate 15 years as a global renewable energy leader Desigo CC V5.0 is now linked to the infrastructure around the building. The capacity of the renewable energy projects that Masdar is a partner in has more than doubled over the past two years.. SUPPLIER NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com48 May 2021 SHOWROOM LG Electronics (LG) together with ENCOM Trading has opened a new business-to-business (B2B) showroom in Ras Al Khaimah, serving customers across the Northern Emirates with advanced technology across Air Solutions, Information Display and IT domains. Since 2003, LG has been providing businesses in the region with its advanced range of B2B solutions. The company’s strategy focuses on reaching decisionmakers across both government and private sectors, encompassing a wide range of industry verticals. In aiding clients as they navigate their individual journeys of technology adoption, LG has contributed towards enabling business growth across commercial, residential and industrial sectors across the UAE and wider Gulf region. At the showroom, LG’s experts will be on hand to understand business challenges ambitions, offering strategic business counsel to all visitors. The range of technology on display at the showroom includes solutions for offices, large-scale residential sites, hotels, schools and more. On display for the first time from LG’s air solutions division are the Round Cassette and Smart Dual Vane Cassette air conditioners – examples from the company’s all-inverter lineup. LG inverter technology solves commonplace issues, such as ineffective and noisy air solutions, instead providing faster cooling, durability and quieter running. LG’s inverter’s also come with a 10-year warranty. The Round Cassette AC is designed to be more aesthetically pleasing than conventional models, while covering a larger surface area and providing increased airflow. Similarly, LG’s Smart Dual Vane Cassette AC offers wider airflow and fine angle control. Visitors will also be able to view and learn more about LG’s Air Water Heat Pump technology – self-contained equipment which can generate hot and New base aims to empower decision makers across the Northern Emirates to implement more effi cient and eff ective solutions to drive growth LG opens new B2B showroom in Ras Al Khaimah cold water in a more efficient manner, replacing existing boilers and chillers used for this utility and ideal for individual villa owners and hotel verticals alike. “We’re proud to have opened our Ras Al Khaimah showroom today, in response to increasing desire from business owners across the Northern Emirates to implement more efficient, intelligent and cost-effective solutions. Our expansion is testament to not only witnessing increasing demand for such technologies, but also our goal of empowering local decision makers across the UAE through the power of technology,” said Hongju Jeon, president, LG Electronics Gulf. Also on showcase at the new location in Ras Al Khaimah are standout technologies from LG’s Information Display business. As organizations transition back to working from the office and implement hybrid models, LG’s All- in-One display offers the ideal solution for meeting rooms, presentations and even exhibitions. The 136-inch display tackles the challenge of large displays being difficult to install – with no requirements for controller connections or module configuration. It has been designed to operate in humid environments and also features an automated Standby Mode for reduced energy consumption. “Whether looking to invest in HVAC solutions which enhance comfort, peace of mind and cost-effectivity, or displays which increase productivity and immersion, our new showroom truly has a host of technology to help businesses across all industries reach newfound levels of operational excellence. We look forward to providing decisionmakers with counsel regarding how our technology can optimize processes and drive growth. As well as reaching new audiences, we also see this opening as an important step towards forging even stronger ties with our existing customers – offering strong technical and after sales support,” Jeon continued. Among a host of other innovations, LG is also catering to the needs of the healthcare sector with its high resolution medical monitors. Each monitor has been designed to enhance the experience of clinicians in providing comprehensive patient care at every stage. This includes enabling more accurate diagnosis and clinical review, to providing added clarity and practical benefits, with dustproof and water-resistant surgical models available. “Over the past year, we’ve witnessed businesses increasingly realizing the importance of investing in efficient solutions. With our new showroom opening, it gives us great pride to be working alongside LG to guide decision makers on their purchase journeys. We look forward to welcoming businesses from across the Emirates to this location and working collaboratively to drive their growth,” said N Zakkir Hussain, chairman at ENCOM Trading. The range of technology on display at the showroom includes solutions for offices, large-scale residential sites, hotels, schools and more.www.fm-middleeast.com SUPPLIER NEWS May 2021 49 POWER PLANT Mitsubishi Power, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received an order for two M701JAC gas turbines, the Company’s latest model in its air-cooled J-Series, for a 1,500-megawatt (MW) class natural-gas-fired GTCC (gas turbine combined cycle) power plant under construction in Sirdarya, the Republic of Uzbekistan. The order follows the conclusion of an equipment supply agreement for the Sirdarya project between ACWA Power, a Saudi developer, investor and operator of power and water desalination assets in 13 countries worldwide, and China Gezhouba Group Co., Ltd. (CGGC) as the appointed project EPC contractor. The Sirdarya project was planned by the Government of Uzbekistan to provide cleaner, more efficient and cost- competitive gas power that can be utilised across industries in Uzbekistan. This new plant will have capacity equivalent to 8% of Uzbekistan’s total generation capability and will be able to meet 15% of the country’s overall power demand when complete. Construction of the new power plant will also lead to the partial closure of existing Sirdarya thermal power plant with improved efficiency, which is expected to result in a reduction of CO 2 emissions by 2.2 million tons per year. In addition to providing two high- efficiency next-generation gas turbines as the plant’s core equipment, Mitsubishi Power will also provide technical advisers to support construction and commissioning and 25-year long term service agreement (LTSA) to support reliable operation. The JAC-Series are gas turbines featuring a forced-air-cooled combustor system and an optimised cooling structure. They also have an extra-thick- film thermal barrier coating that enables more advanced cooling of turbine blades, and they adopt a compressor with a high pressure ratio. Since inception in 2004, ACWA Power has grown rapidly both domestically and internationally in line with its mission to make available electricity and desalinated water in a reliable and responsible manner to support the social development and economic growth of nations where they operate. decarbonised society. SOLAR The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Arab Bank signed a $114m financing package with ACWA Power for the construction of the largest private solar plant in Egypt. The development of the Kom Ombo solar plant will add 200 MW of energy capacity, increasing the share of renewable energy in Egypt’s energy mix and further promoting private-sector participation in the Egyptian power sector. The package comprises loans of up to $36m from the EBRD, $18m from the OPEC Fund, $17.8m from the AfDB, $23.8m from the GCF and $18m from Arab Bank. This is in addition to equity bridge loans of up to $14m from EBRD and $33.5m from Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP). The new Kom Ombo plant will be located less than 20 km from Africa’s biggest solar park, the 1.8 GW Benban complex. Once operational, the new utility-scale plant will serve 130,000 households. ACWA Power submitted the lowest tariff in what was the first solar photovoltaic (PV) tender in Egypt. The provision of solar energy through a public tendering process aims to achieve a competitive tariff and promote the growth of solar energy as an affordable alternative to conventional energy sources. Private-sector participation in the Kom Ombo project is the result of successful policy dialogue with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), as well as a $3.6m technical assistance programme, co- funded by the EBRD and the GCF, to support the EETC in administering competitive renewable energy tenders. Mitsubishi Power will provide technical advisers to support construction and commissioning The development of the Kom Ombo solar plant will add 200 MW of energy capacity Mitsubishi Power receives order for two gas turbines for 1,500MW class GTCC power plant in Uzbekistan Egypt’s largest solar plant, Kom Ombo, receives $114m fi nancing package The JAC-Series gas turbines. [Representative image}.Next >