ACWA Power to Emphasize Role as Global Accelerator of Energy Transformation at WETEX

ACWA Power to Emphasize Role as Global Accelerator of Energy Transformation at WETEX
TT

ACWA Power to Emphasize Role as Global Accelerator of Energy Transformation at WETEX

ACWA Power to Emphasize Role as Global Accelerator of Energy Transformation at WETEX

ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation and desalinated water plants worldwide, will showcase its portfolio of leading renewable energy and water desalination projects at the at 22nd Water, Energy, Technology and Environment exhibition (WETEX) as a Titanium Sponsor.

Unlike any of its former editions, WETEX 2020 is launching virtually and will be the first ever carbon-neutral, 3D exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa on Water, Energy, Sustainability and Innovation.

ACWA Power will be exhibiting its record-breaking projects that played an instrumental role in lowering renewable energy tariff levels and opened new opportunities in energy efficiency and water production through a virtual 3D interactive stand.

The milestone projects will include Shuaa Energy, (MBR Solar Park Phase II); Noor Energy 1 (MBR Solar Park Phase IV); ACWA Power’s newest win – Shuaa Energy 3 (MBR Solar Park Phase V); Umm Al Quwain IWP; and Taweelah IWP, the largest desalination project in the world.

“This year, WETEX is going to be more critical than ever as a result of the increasing economic implications incited by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prioritising innovation today is key to unlocking postcrisis growth – and WETEX is the ideal platform that gathers like-minded stakeholders, governments and companies who are eager to explore and reciprocate insights and visions on forward-looking smart technologies and electrification solutions for a collective prosperous future,” ACWA Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan said.

ACWA Power is partaking in three leading seminars during WETEX this year. Paddy Padmanathan, President and CEO of ACWA Power, is joining the CEO Roundtable alongside CEO of Engie KSA, Turki Alshehri and CEO of Sterling & Wilson, Bikesh Ogra, to discuss the challenges posed by the pandemic and how to prepare for a post COVID-19 world.

Abla Addas, Business Development Manager at ACWA Power, will run a seminar on the challenges and opportunities of “Energy Efficiency, Sustainability and Conservation” following the immense impact of the lockdown period on the environment. Dr. Andrea Lovato, Vice President & Head of Renewables Development at ACWA Power, will lead a robust session on the potential of green hydrogen as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.



Kazakhstan Anticipates Completion of ACWA Power’s Wind Energy Project

ACWA Power announced in March that it would execute the project, which will aid Kazakhstan in reaching its goal of sourcing 50% of its energy from clean resources by 2050. (Photo: ACWA Power)
ACWA Power announced in March that it would execute the project, which will aid Kazakhstan in reaching its goal of sourcing 50% of its energy from clean resources by 2050. (Photo: ACWA Power)
TT

Kazakhstan Anticipates Completion of ACWA Power’s Wind Energy Project

ACWA Power announced in March that it would execute the project, which will aid Kazakhstan in reaching its goal of sourcing 50% of its energy from clean resources by 2050. (Photo: ACWA Power)
ACWA Power announced in March that it would execute the project, which will aid Kazakhstan in reaching its goal of sourcing 50% of its energy from clean resources by 2050. (Photo: ACWA Power)

Kazakh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Madiyar Menilbekov, announced that his country eagerly anticipates the completion of ACWA Power’s first wind energy project in the Zhetysu region. This project, led by the Saudi company, will have a total capacity of 1 gigawatt and an investment value of approximately $1.5 billion.
ACWA Power announced last March that it would execute this project, which will aid Kazakhstan in reaching its goal of sourcing 50% of its energy from clean resources by 2050. Construction is expected to commence in the summer of 2025.
Menilbekov told Asharq Al-Awsat that both countries “have established a solid political dialogue at a high level, along with cooperation in trade, economics, culture, and parliamentary exchange.” He expects this high-level dialogue to continue at the upcoming COP 16 summit in Riyadh.
He further emphasized that trade, economic, and investment cooperation is the cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, noting: “Both countries share a similar outlook on economic development, reflected in Kazakhstan’s Strategic Program 2050 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
The Kazakh ambassador highlighted that last September, the Islamic Development Bank approved financing for projects in Kazakhstan focused on water resource development, enhancing agricultural productivity, and ensuring food security, with total allocations amounting to $1.153 billion.
In tourism, he noted significant progress toward establishing direct flights between the two countries. Air Astana launched flights between Shymkent and Jeddah in October and announced a route from Almaty to Medina, bringing the total to six direct flights. Additionally, Kazakh companies in construction, oil services, and IT have recently opened offices across Saudi Arabia. The Farabi Innovation Center was inaugurated in Riyadh to attract talented entrepreneurs and innovative startups from Nur-Sultan and Central Asia to the Kingdom.
Menilbekov explained that since gaining independence, Kazakhstan’s GDP has grown 17-fold, with foreign trade reaching $139.8 billion last year. He added: “Since 1993, Kazakhstan has attracted a total of $441 billion in foreign direct investment, allowing our economy to remain one of the most dynamic in Central Asia and the post-Soviet region.”
According to Menilbekov, Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer and exporter of natural uranium, responsible for more than 45% of global production and exports. He also noted that Kazakhstan produces 18 of the 34 raw materials identified by the European Union as “critical materials.”
Menilbekov further mentioned that Kazakhstan possesses 200 million hectares of agricultural land, with about 100 million hectares currently under regular cultivation.