After due consideration and consultation with its customers in power and water, MEED has announced that the winner of its debut Arabian Energy & Water Industry Leadership Award will be H.H. Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA).

The award is MEED’s highest honour and is awarded to those who have exhibited vision, made lasting contributions to the power and water Industry and inspired and directed industry members to accomplish its goals.

The award will be presented at MEED’s Arabian Power & Water Summit (APWS) taking place on 29th – 31st March 2010 in Abu Dhabi. MEED’s APWS is the largest and most important gathering of business people and government officials in the region addressing the challenge of ensuring the countries of the GCC have sustainable long-term capacity to deliver electricity, water and water reuse services.

The Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) has, for more than a decade, transformed the way large electricity and water desalination facilities are financed, developed and operated. After adopting a clear and concise privatisation strategy, ADWEA has led the creation of Independent Water and Power Producers (IWPP) where partnership agreements are made between ADWEA and a number of international companies to establish the IWPP, whereas ADWEA holds a 60% share of these, and 40% ownership is held by the foreign investor. Through its privatization program, ADWEA succeeded to bring in AED 65 billion of foreign investments to produce more than 13,000 Megawatt of electricity and 823 million imperial gallon of water daily.

A spokesperson from ADWEA commented, “H.H. Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan is pleased to accept the honour and receive this high accolade which he considers an indication on the success of the Government of Abu Dhabi’s strategy in adopting the privatization of the water and power sector as a strategic choice; the success of the privatization programme comes as a result of the directives of HH Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, and the continuous follow up of HH Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Chairman of the Executive Council”. The spokesperson also said that ADWEA would like to thank its partners who have helped to move Abu Dhabi power and water infrastructure forward over the last ten years. We live in unparalleled times of success and prosperity. ADWEA has significantly worked through the last decade to increase production from 200 million gallons water per day in 1999 to reach to more than 823 million gallons water per day, and from producing 3,000 MW to more than 13,000 MW electricity, which makes Abu Dhabi the only city in the region that does not face any shortage in water and electricity production.

MEED also added that under the distinguished leadership of H.H. Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ADWEA have been working in line with the Government of Abu Dhabi Strategy with regards to the water and electricity sector, including introducing an ambitious programme for privatization which attracts leading international firms and banks, as well as local, regional and international investors and financiers. ADWEA has also been entering into agreements with international legal, financing and technical consultants

H.H. Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan and ADWEA have addressed a host of challenges, including regional change and global economic turbulence, with consistency and the highest standards of professional competence. The authority is a vital source of electricity to other parts of the UAE and is making a key contribution to the development of a technically-qualified and highly-motivated national workforce. It is tackling future challenges through careful planning, effective long-term investment in capacity, action to reduce waste and increase efficiency and an appetite for new technology, including the benefits that renewable energy can bring to the people of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

“H.H. Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been central to the progress of power and water developments in Abu Dhabi”, the spokesperson concluded, “Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority sets a template in adopting and introducing digital management systems throughout its several directorates, moving ADWEA from being a traditional government department to an electronic one. H.H. Sheikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan and ADWEA have set the benchmark for excellence that is defining the future of water and power strategy.”

Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority has been implementing its privatization programme since its foundation in 1999. The programme resulted in having nine strategic projects being executed in partnerships with international firms. ADWEA privatization programme has become the model to other GCC and Arabic water and electricity companies keen to learn from ADWEA experience and achievements in this field.

For more information and to secure a place at Arabian Power and Water Summit 2010 contact:

MEED customer services team on +9714 390 0049, www.arabianpowerandwater.com or email events@meed.com.
 

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