UAE- MD and CEO of DEWA receives French delegation

DUBAI 7th October 2015 (WAM) -- Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority DEWA has received a French delegation and has discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation between DEWA and French energy companies.

The French delegation included Anne-Marie Idrac Special Representative of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Michel Miraillet Ambassador of France to the UAE Majdi Abed French Consul-General in Dubai Stephen Marchisio Attache at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Patrick Erps Commercial Attache at the French Embassy Laurent Chaudet President of the French Business Council and a group of representatives from French energy companies.

During the meeting DEWA received an invitation to participate in the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP21 in Paris later this year.

Al Tayer emphasised the significance of enhancing cooperation with French companies and organisations through initiatives projects and investment opportunities. He briefed the delegation on the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park which is the largest single-site strategic project in renewable energy worldwide with a planned 1000MW production capacity by 2020 and 3000MW by 2030.

The project will provide a dedicated supply of 100 MW to Dubai Expo 2020 to manage its energy requirements. The project supports the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 developed by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to diversify the energy mix in the emirate where solar energy is expected to account for 7% of total energy production by 2020 and 15% by 2030.

Al Tayer explained that DEWA's investments in the energy sector will amount to approximately AED60 billion over the next five years and these investments will enhance the production of electricity and water to support the growth of green economy and create a competitive advantage for the UAE in clean energy and energy efficiency technologies.

DEWA is supporting the Smart Dubai initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world in three years with Shams Dubai contributing power from solar arrays installed on Expo 2020's buildings. The Expo will also have three different types of electric vehicle charging stations from the Green Charger initiative.

Al Tayer briefed the delegation on The Hassyan Clean Coal Power Plant Project where the first phase of the project is expected to produce 1200MW by 2020. He said it is considered a key step in the roadmap adopted by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy which focuses on producing electricity from clean coal as part of Dubai's energy portfolio. He said that the Hassyan power plant uses ultra-supercritical technology to produce energy according to the highest international standards set by the European Union.

"DEWA is working to expand the M-Station power and water desalination plant. The new combined-cycle power plant will add a further 700 megawatts to the installed generating capacity of M-Station at Jebel Ali boosting it to 2760MW when the project is completed in 2018" added Al Tayer.

Anne-Marie Idrac demonstrated France's interest in promoting partnerships with Dubai particularly in the energy sector. The delegation showed interest in participating in DEWA's projects related to renewable energy and the exchange of experiences on technology to promote sustainable growth in Dubai.

At the end of the visit the members of the French delegation thanked Al Tayer for the warm reception and expressed their appreciation for DEWA's contributions in areas of mutual cooperation.