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
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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.



Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.