São Paulo – The Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) is searching for Brazilian companies to take part in its many projects in the United Arab Emirates in the sustainable development sector. In a seminar held on Monday (16) evening, in São Paulo, with the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, the Dubai agency’s executive showed some of the ongoing investments and opened the doors for Brazilian entrepreneurs to take part in the bidding rounds, make use of its facilities and promote the exchange of knowledge and technology.
The Dubai authorities have a goal of reaching 2030 with 75% of its power matrix generated by renewable sources. Currently, DEWA are investing in great projects, such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which generation capacity in 2020 should reach 5,000 megawatts, the equivalent to 800,000 households, and a hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, with a capacity for 250 MW. Simultaneously, there’s a plan to reduce emissions with the construction of nuclear power plants and clean coal-powered thermal power plants.
But the agency’s portfolio goes beyond this: there are plans for the installation of solar panels on buildings, water desalination plants, charging stations for electric cars, smartphone apps, the internet of things, artificial intelligence. The bidding rounds will offer over USD 70 billion in contracts in the next 4 to 5 years, as highlighted by Yousef Ebrahim Al Akraf, DEWA’s Executive Vice-President, Business Support & Human Resources.
“You are welcome to take part in these bids,” said the executive to the near 130 Brazilian business owners that attended the event at Hotel Renaissance. “We want to get to know new companies. We are here to learn and teach, add value to our knowledge. The doors are open and we will be happy to see innovative content.”
In addition to commercial partnerships, DEWA also opened the doors of its Research and Development Centre, which can be used freely by Brazilian companies. The executive mentioned as an example the solar energy area, in which there are the possibility of doings tests in panels and other components with abundant sunlight, high temperatures and also all the difficulties brought by the sand of the desert. In the complex, with constructions still ongoing, there are also areas destined to energy efficiency, water technologies and smart energy networks.
Repercussion
At the end of the presentation, DEWA’s executives were sought for many Brazilian entrepreneurs looking to strengthen relations. To Rubens Hannun, the Arab Chamber’s president, it was an important step. “There’s nothing like them coming here and presenting everything that they’re doing, which are the goals and how much this topic is booming in Dubai. It opens a door to Brazilian companies both to exchange know-how and trade – and we have very-prepared Brazilian companies,” he said.
The secretary of Energy and Mines of the State of São Paulo, João Carlos de Souza Meirelles, really liked the content presented by DEWA. “The United Arab Emirates are an example to the world. A country that is very rich in oil and gas and that is looking to replace these fuels and creating other resources,” he said.
Meirelles pointed out the invitation made by the agency’s executives to Brazilian companies to go over there to do their research. “They are creating a global platform for technology development with a view into sustainability.”
Fair in Dubai
DEWA took advantage of the occasion to promote the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), which is organized by the agency. Brazilian companies were invited to visit this year’s edition, scheduled to October 23 to 25. There, they will be able to see in detail everything that’s being done, not only in the UAE, but in other countries.
Hannun said that the Arab Chamber is planning to take part of the 2018 edition. “We will collaborate with next year’s WETEX. Initially, we want to set up a stand and take companies over there, but we’re still studying the topic,” explained the Arab Chamber’s president.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
