HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), delivered a keynote speech at the Arabia CSR Forum 2018, which is organised by the Arabia CSR Network. The forum, under the theme ‘Driving Innovation through the SDGs’ is held on 2-3 October 2018 at Roda Al Murooj hotel in Dubai.
The inaugural session was attended by H.E. Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Saqr Al-Qasimi , Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation of Ras Al Khaimah , HE Dr. Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), Habiba Al Marashi, President of Arabia CSR Network, and number of senior officials from the public and private sectors and leading Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) specialists.
“It is my pleasure to be here at the Arabia CSR Forum 2018, organised by the Arabia CSR Network under the theme ‘Driving Innovation through the SDGs,’ to highlight sustainability and its role in dealing with climate, environmental, economic, political, and social changes. DEWA is sponsoring this year’s forum during the Year of Zayed, which marks 100 years since the birth of the leader of sustainability and community, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace. The Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed laid the foundations for social, humanitarian, and charitable work in the UAE and extended his helping hand to those in need all over the world, regardless of their colour, race, or religion. Our wise leadership, represented by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, follow the same path. The UAE has developed various strategies and initiatives including the UAE Vision 2021, UAE Centennial 2071, the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and other federal and local strategies, as part of its global responsibility to combat climate change by conserving natural resources, increasing the share of clean energy, implementing green development plans, and contributing to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum once said, “The unity of nations and people in addressing the challenges of climate change is the best and shortest path in maintaining Earth’s climate.” These strategies and vision are the basis for launching our ambitious initiatives, programmes, and projects that aim to consolidate the foundations of sustainability with its economic, social, and environmental aspects,” Al Tayer said.
“Dubai is spearheading global efforts to promote sustainable energy and works to reduce its carbon footprint. This is done through a comprehensive approach for sustainability, which we consider the basis for the transition towards green economy, and is in line with our aspirations to engage the youth who are the driving force and a key element in achieving the vision of our wise leadership and the sustainable development goals locally, regionally, and globally,” added Al Tayer.
“DEWA’s role is to enhance the quality of life by providing electricity and water services according to the highest standards of quality and reliability for all customers in Dubai. We work according to a long-term vision to promote sustainable development in all its aspects. That’s why sustainability is an integral part of our organisational strategy. DEWA’s vision to become a sustainable, innovative, world-class utility is aligned with the objectives of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030, which represent a unique opportunity and a major challenge at the same time. DEWA took part in the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015 in New York, where the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 was adopted. DEWA supports the SDGs by aligning its work plans, initiatives, programmes, and projects with them. DEWA contributes to achieving the SDGs which include: ensuring access to water for all; ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and up-to-date energy sources; promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all; building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation; ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns; and taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. In support of this path, DEWA has adopted innovation, and has prioritised this in its strategy and is using the disruptive technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), energy storage, data protection, blockchain, and Big Data to achieve this. The key areas where DEWA has adopted innovation include its main work, clean energy projects, R&D, smart city initiatives, diversification of income, digital services, supporting emerging tech start-ups, and cyber security. Innovation in clean energy projects is crucial in our projects as DEWA is currently working on the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will produce 5,000 MW by 2030, and is building an Innovation Centre that focuses on the latest solar power technologies. This supports DEWA’s approach towards innovation in clean energy, and supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources by 2050,” said Al Tayer.
“Since 2014, DEWA has been a pioneer in managing projects based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model through which DEWA achieved world-class results, and set new global records for low power prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This has led to long-term stable energy prices for customers in Dubai. The competition created amongst developers by DEWA in its IPP projects has resulted in significantly reduced CAPEX per megawatt of installed capacity compared to the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, leading to a more efficient utilisation of available economic resources. DEWA has attracted major inward investments from the private sector and foreign banks, resulting in cash inflows into the Dubai and UAE economy. The project companies created by DEWA and our private sector partners place an emphasis on employment and knowledge transfer to Emirati employees, thus directly benefiting the local community. Currently, DEWA has more than 4,000 MW of IPP projects in the pipeline, in partnership with the private sector and total investment of over AED 30 billion. Through this model, DEWA was able to avoid additional investments, worth approximately AED 26 billion, allowing us to invest in other infrastructure projects. We have aligned our CSR strategy with the main objectives of the Year of Zayed through a comprehensive programme that includes six programmes and 29 initiatives. These involve various activities and events that reflect the noble principles and values instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed in the hearts of citizens and residents of the UAE,” added Al Tayer.
“Our social initiatives are an integral part of our strategic plan. We have institutionalised an integrated system for social work that includes plans, initiatives, implementation and evaluation, based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), to ensure the sustainability of its results. DEWA allocates 8% of its sales revenue to CSR initiatives, and works with various public and private organisations to implement these initiatives. DEWA’s CSR efforts over the last few years have contributed to an increase in society happiness from 82% in 2013 to 92% in 2017, in addition to many local and international achievements in CSR,” concluded Al Tayer.
“There is little focus currently on circular economy and the concept of reuse and recyclability in design and disposal of products in the Arab world. We at Arabia CSR Network are proud of the pioneering role that DEWA is playing under the leadership of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO in pushing it into mainstream operations and cementing it into the strategies of government and the private sector” Said Al Marashi