Bee’ah, the Middle East’s leading and award-winning environmental management company, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) and Attero Recycling India will sign an agreement on Wednesday, 18th January at WFES, Abu Dhabi. The entities will combine forces to meet the computer and electronic recycling demands of UAE and the region.
As part of the agreement, Bee’ah will make significant strategic investment in e-recycling with the environmental management company housing the new facility within its waste management complex. Beeah will be partnering with Shurooq, the driving force behind the transformation of Sharjah; GII, a UAE-based financial services company known for its diverse set of risk-mitigated investment opportunities; and Attero Recycling India Ltd, the leading e-waste recycler and metal extraction company in India. This venture is called Attero-Tadwir-E.
Commenting on this momentous collaboration, HE Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, Bee’ah said, “This agreement is a sign of Bee’ah’s commitment to collaboration with other international leaders in their respective industries and sectors. Constant technological advancements mean that older devices become obsolete at an ever-increasing rate. Therefore, the need for computer and electronic recycling is higher than ever before and will only continue to rise. Bee’ah, Shurooq, GII and Attero Recycling India are united in the endeavour to meet this demand.”
Shurooq’s representatives were Mr Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, Director of Sharjah FDI Office; Mr Hassan Ayoub, Head of Investor Relations; and Mr Haitham Essa, Portfolio Manager. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO of Shurooq commented on the agreement, “Shurooq continues to show its commitment to innovation and enhancing Sharjah’s appeal as a business destination that is at forefront of the latest investment opportunities in the Emirate. E-recycling will simultaneously achieve social, environmental and economic development of Sharjah as a new investment opportunity that will also benefit the natural environment.”
Mr. Nitin Gupta, CEO of Attero Recycling India (AT-E), explained the importance of e-recycling: “Computer and electronic recycling is a preventative measure as well as a lucrative investment opportunity. Dangerous elements like lead, barium, polychlorinated biphenyls, beryllium, mercury, arsenic, cadmium cause various forms of cancer and other debilitating illnesses. There are also data security concerns, where electronic data lands in the wrong hands and leads to unpredictable long-term liabilities for corporate entities. E-Waste also contains numerous high value components like gold, palladium, cobalt, lithium, and platinum, which have historically been recovered in very inefficient and capital intensive processes. More gold can be derived from E-Waste than mining ore.”
Attero Recycling India (AT-E), with the support of GII, will set up integrated recycling, refurbishing and refining facilities across GCC region, starting with its first state-of-the-art facility in Sharjah. AT-E is to have between six to eight plants in various locations over next two to three years with an approximate investment of USD 200 million. AT-E has proprietary mechanical, metallurgical and chemical expertise. Their Patented component removal technology uses combination of infrared and mechanical separation to remove components from PCBs with high recovery rates. Furthermore, AT-E’s proprietary induction furnace improves the removal of impurities to improve metallurgical yields. Attero Recycling is certified by OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), allowing them to order parts and sell refurbished products under an OEM brand. Data sanitation is performed according to the highest international standards (US Department of Defense, ISO, DIN etc.) Proprietary pricing, data mining and algorithms allows to e-recycler optimise the gross margins on refurbished products sold.
The facilities will utilise innovative recycling technology, developed in-house at Attero India’s facility. With Bee’ah’s support, they will ensure that e-waste is processed in an environmentally-friendly manner with high efficiency and a lowered carbon footprint. These facilities operate at a fraction of the costs when compared to conventional multi-billion-dollar smelting facilities. AT-E will also be offering Data Security and Data Sanitation according to the most stringent global standards as well as Reverse Logistic and an E-commerce Platform as a comprehensive solution to the generators of electronic waste.
E-waste includes the broad spectrum of electronic appliances, products, components, and accessories that – due to malfunction, exhaustion (batteries, bulbs, etc.), or obsolescence have been discarded. E-waste generation in GCC is estimated to be at 600,000 metric tons in 2015, and expected to reach 900,000 metric tons in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 7%. While Saudi Arabia is estimated to generate 330,000 metric tons of e-waste annually, the largest in GCC, UAE is the second largest generator of e-waste in GCC, adding roughly 150,000 metric tons of e-waste every year.
Mr. Mohammad Al Hassan & Mr. Pankaj Gupta – Founding Partners & Co-CEOs – from Gulf Islamic Investments, said, “We are very excited about the e-recycling agreement with these major entities. As a UAE-based Sharia Compliant financial services company regulated by the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA), GII is dedicated to providing innovative, diverse investment possibilities. This agreement is in line with UAE Vision 2021. The UAE Government wants to ensure sustainable development while preserving the environment and to achieve a perfect balance between economic and social development. With our support, AT-E was the first e-waste management player in the region, covering the entire process of electronic waste, from collection to on-site precious metal extraction. Working with Bee’ah and Shurooq, demonstrates the on-going commitment of prominent shareholders and investors to providing a revolutionary and risk-mitigated investment opportunity in e-recycling.”