Make it in Emirates Forum discusses industrial sustainability legislation and the Sustainability Action Plan

The Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) forum organized a panel discussion on sustainability in the UAE’s industrial sector and the country’s efforts towards sustainable development. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) hosted a panel discussion on the Federal Regulation on Energy Management in Industrial Facilities. The regulation, the first of its kind in the industrial sector, supports operational excellence in energy management, reducing consumption and accelerating decarbonization and sustainability in industrial companies.

Roadmap towards sustainable development

The panel discussion concerned the impact of regulations on the industrial sector and the sector’s action plan towards sustainable development. It further highlighted the incentives and enablers that the UAE has developed to increase energy efficiency and drive transformation in the industrial sector.

For his part, Ahmed Al Kaabi, Deputy Undersecretary for Electricity, Water and Future Energy Sector at the Ministry of Energy, revealed that the discussion on the impact of the regulation supports the objectives of the UAE’s National Energy and Water Demand Management Program. Additionally, it aims to reduce energy demand by 33 percent, improve air quality by 32 percent and contribute to a 63 million tonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across the industrial sector.

“The regulation reflects the ministries’ commitment to pioneering the shift towards sustainable use of resources and promoting innovation in energy management,” Al Kaabi added. Furthermore, Al Kaabi added that the aim of the national program is to create an integrated industrial ecosystem that puts sustainable development at the forefront and contributes to achieving the UAE’s environmental and economic goals.

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Operation 300 billion

Highlighting the UAE’s efforts to revitalize its industrial sector, Osama Amir Fadhel, Deputy Under-Secretary of the Industrial Accelerator Sector at MoIAT, stressed the importance of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, Operation 300 Billion, which includes initiatives to enhance investment attractiveness, growth, and competitiveness.

Fadhel also said that improving energy efficiency is key to reducing emissions and improving sustainability practices in industrial facilities. “We are working with the Ministry of Energy, local governments and the private sector to launch initiatives supporting sustainable development in the industry,” he added. This includes developing regulations and promoting technological transformation through the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative. This, in turn, will increase investment attractiveness and competitiveness, while reducing energy costs across the sector.

Therefore, the ministry considers it a priority to regulate energy consumption in the energy-intensive industrial sector. Therefore, the Federal Regulation on Energy Management in Industrial Facilities encourages companies to innovate and improve energy efficiency, further supporting the creation of investment opportunities in the industry.

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