DQG targets greater corporate participation at Emirates Energy Award 2007

During its fourth meeting held recently, ahead of the EEA ceremony to be staged later in September, the Committee agreed to waive the 'two years in operation' requirement for the major and minor project categories, and to extend the deadline for submission of entries until the end of July 2007. The Committee also agreed to hold workshops on energy management in the oil and gas sector, which will be held in November and sponsored by ADCO.

"We have resolved important issues and we are now on track to fully align the Emirates Energy Awards with the Strategic Plan recently unveiled by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai," said Dr. Abdullah Al Amiri, Chairman of the Committee.

With the easing of restrictions and the extension of the deadline, DQG expects a boosted corporate participation at the EEA, which will consequently help improve the organization's awareness campaign about energy conservation. The committee members, who include Marwan Al Sawaleh, Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Dr. Mohammed Dulaimi and Ali bin Towaih, have also recently created an action plan for the EEA, making it more flexible and representative of the present economic situation.

Of the five key areas of concern highlighted in the Strategic Plan, the committee has chosen to focus on two that are most relevant to the EEA, namely: infrastructure, land and environment; and economic development.

"The EEA helps realize the Strategic Plan by promoting a balance between economic growth and sustainability, and encouraging enterprises to optimize the utilization of energy resources in socially and environmentally responsible means,"

said Al Sawaleh, who is also the Chairman of DQG, the organizer of the Award.

The energy challenge is a critical issue facing the UAE and the region, and the UAE government has encouraged the use of energy efficiency measures, especially with the abundance of alternative energy sources in the region such as the sun, water and wind.

Research also reveals that energy-efficiency programs, encouraged by the EEA, contribute significantly to the overall economic performance of business enterprises, as considerable savings can be achieved by adopting effective energy programs.

Launched by the DQG under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed, the Emirates Energy Award recognizes the best implemented practices in energy conservation and management that showcase innovative, cost-effective and replicable energy efficiency measures.

The EEA will be granted in six categories: Public Corporation Energy Award, Private Corporation Energy Award, Energy Engineer Award, Major Energy Project Award, Minor Energy Project Award, and Education and Research Award.