DUBAI, UAE, 6 March 2024: The International Code Council (ICC) announced that it signed a contract with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP), Sultanate of Oman, to develop a series of six comprehensive building codes. Making the announcement through a Press release, ICC said, it is in line with a significant move aimed at enhancing building safety and construction standards in Oman.

ICC said leveraging its expertise in crafting and implementing building codes for jurisdictions around the world, it aims to tailor these codes to suit local contexts, reflecting Oman’s priorities and aspirations. This endeavour, ICC added, exemplifies its extensive experience in executing similar projects, underscoring its commitment to fostering safe, affordable, and sustainable communities, worldwide. 

ICC said that H.E. Dr Khalfan bin Said Al Shueili, Minister, Housing and Urban Planning and Judy Zakreski, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Solutions, ICC, formalised the agreement during a signing event that took place on February 14 at the Royal Opera House in Muscat. 

ICC said the Council and MoHUP are dedicated to setting new benchmarks in building safety and construction practices in the country, and added that the project’s primary areas of focus include safety standards, sustainability, and technology integration, with the entire endeavour slated for finalisation by early 2026. 

ICC said that Oman’s adoption of building codes based on the 2021 and 2024 International Codes (I-Codes) will serve as a catalyst for raising standards and promoting best practices, nationwide. By embracing advanced building regulations that align with regional standards, ICC said, the country ensures the safety and wellbeing of its citizens and positions itself as a leader in fostering safety and sustainability in construction. 

Dr Hanan Al Jabri, Director General, Urban Planning, MoHUP, said: “With rapid infrastructure growth and urban development happening in the country, the demand for robust building codes prioritising safety and resilience, has become increasingly important. The strategic cooperation between MoHUP and the ICC underscores a shared responsibility to advance safety, sustainability, and innovation in Oman’s construction industry and represents a significant milestone in the journey towards achieving the goals outlined in Oman Vision 2040.” 

Zakreski said: “We are honoured to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning on this exciting and important project. The Oman Building Codes will serve as a blueprint for safe, sustainable, and resilient construction practices in the country and align Oman’s building safety regulations with others in the MENA region.” 

ICC said that throughout the project duration, ICC and MoHUP will be working closely with designated Omani authorities, design professionals, and other stakeholders. ICC added that this inclusive approach, adopted by the ICC on every project, ensures consistency, harmonisation, and support, which will benefit Oman’s construction industry and its citizens.

MILAN, Italy, 6 March 2024: Deutsche Bank announced that it has launched a sustainability-linked finance programme for Epta’s supply chain. Making the announcement through a Press release, Epta said, this is the first programme of its kind for a business in the commercial refrigeration industry and is designed to provide financial incentives to its suppliers to improve their sustainability performance. Furthermore, Epta said launching initially in Italy, the programme is set to be rolled out globally.

Epta said that the supply chain finance (SCF) programme means that its suppliers can receive payment immediately after an invoice has been approved by the company, with the financing costs for the suppliers being based on its creditworthiness. Epta also said that an added benefit of this sustainability-linked SCF is that suppliers can further reduce financing costs in the supply chain if they improve their ESG rating – in this case, an ESG rating by the global sustainability rating platform, EcoVadis. Furthermore, Epta said, the more sustainable a supplier operates, the greater the pricing benefit.

The programme, Epta said, is designed to build responsible, resilient supply chains and ensure the company meets and exceeds the ever-changing sustainability expectations from our customers, investors and other key stakeholders. In addition, Epta said that it is able to analyse the performance of each supplier to identify its strengths and areas for improvement, using the EcoVadis evaluation model.

Paolo Maestri, Head of Corporate Bank Italy, Deutsche Bank, said: “Sustainability plays an increasingly important role for supply chains. By implementing ESG-linked solutions into their supply chain finance programmes we help our clients to develop incentives for their suppliers.”

Simone Salani, Group Purchasing & Procurement Director, Epta, said: “The finance programme developed with Deutsche Bank is an additional milestone in our mission of being the green transition Enabler in the commercial refrigeration sector. Less than a year ago, we announced a partnership with EcoVadis to stimulate our entire supply chain to be more transparent and sustainable. We are proud to take a further step in this direction, and we believe the decision to support our sustainable partners is a strong message to the market and our stakeholders”.

DUBAI, UAE, 6 March 2024: – Danfoss announced that it completed two decades of engineering in the UAE and the opening of its newly renovated office, equipped with sustainable technologies, such as solar panels and EV chargers.

Making the announcement through a Press release, Danfoss said that since its establishment, Danfoss Dubai has been at the forefront of driving innovation and sustainability in the Middle East region. Danfoss said it has continuously evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers, from its humble beginnings operating through partners and agents to becoming a fully established office. Furthermore, Danfoss said its Dubai office now employs over 100 employees, and added that 25% of its leadership team includes women.

Danfoss said the celebration of the 20th anniversary coincided with the completion of Danfoss’ JAFZA-based office’s renovation, which integrates sustainable technologies such as solar panels on the rooftop and parking area, and EV chargers, aligning with Danfoss’s global goal of achieving carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030. This renovation, Danfoss said, not only enhances the working environment for employees but also underscores its environmental agenda. In addition to the office renovation, Danfoss said, that the company opened the first regional Danfoss Drives Technical & Training Centre.

Commenting on the milestone, Ziad Al Bawaliz, Regional President, Danfoss Turkey, Middle East, and Africa, said: “The 20th anniversary of Danfoss Dubai is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, not only in the UAE, but the whole MENA region countries and beyond. Providing a more sustainable modern office environment marks an important milestone in our journey. As we look ahead, we remain committed to driving positive change and engineering a sustainable future for the region.”

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 6 March 2024: Serco Middle East has announced the launch of an Urban Twin Solution to help governments and organisations address critical environmental challenges using the latest space-enabled environmental data. Making the announcement through a Press release, Serco said that launched with technology partner Murmuration and mobility data partner Michelin Mobility Intelligence, the holistic Urban Twin monitoring service will provide Serco clients with a complete 360-degree environmental overview, helping them to use the latest AI data-driven insights and analytics to fight climate change at a building, development, project, city or giga city level.  

Using state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite data and other geospatial data sources, Serco said, companies and governments would be able to proactively put climate protection measures in place during the planning stage of their projects, or retrospectively look to minimise their environmental impact from existing assets. 

Serco said the new solution would enable companies and governments to monitor the environmental impact of their operation, via AI modelling; it will also enable prediction, through simulating the impact of decisions on different climate-based scenarios, such as dealing with the impacts of rising sea levels or monitoring air quality in congested environments. Furthermore, Serco said the data would also help support the conservation of biodiversity, as well as provide the insight to create more sustainable traffic networks, and added that with such information fuelled with the latest data, entities are enabled to make better decisions, and be capable of planning for situations and events so they are better prepared in the fight against climate change. 

Commenting on the launch of the Urban Twin Solution at LEAP in Riyadh, Amar Vora, Head of Space, Serco Middle East, said: “The launch of our Urban Twin Solution is an exciting moment for us at Serco. With 50% of essential climate variables only measurable from space, we must look to the invisible infrastructure of the skies in the fight against climate change. Earth observation satellite data provides us with a bird’s eye view of what is happening on the ground. It can help us take bold steps to manage many challenges, such as reducing air pollution, acting on greenhouse emissions, and enhancing food security through better monitoring, management, and optimisation of agricultural practices. Moreover, through earth observation data, we can impact a better future. We can predict scenarios that may arise if we don’t act now to take mitigating action, so we can be better placed to make informed decisions to ward against the effects of climate change when it comes to managing the built environment.”

Echoing Amar’s thoughts, Engi Jaber, Founder and Managing Director, Climatize, which has recently been acquired by Serco, said: “Fighting climate change is in our DNA, and to make meaningful change, it is vital that we use the latest earth observation satellite data and technology to help us. As an end-to-end transformation partner, we’re looking forward to harnessing the latest insights from the Urban Twin Solution to better help advise our clients on the next steps and to create action plans when it comes to countering the effects of climate change. By working closely with companies operating in the built environment, we are excited to help them navigate climate issues so we can create sustainable urban projects, protecting our planet for both now and in the future.”

MILAN, Italy, 6 March 2024: Epta announced that it installed its cutting-edge refrigeration technologies in the Republic of Congo for the first time, based on the remarkable results achieved in already existing African stores in Cameroon and Mauritius. Making the announcement through a Press release, Epta said, due to substantial technological advantages, the first Franprix shop in Pointe-Noire chose a transcritical CO2 modular control unit with the Epta patented FTE system, marking a real change of pace in the African commercial refrigeration trend.

Epta also said that not only does the region have wild nature and breathtaking landscapes, it is also characterised by a tropical climate and temperature which never drops below 23 degrees C, with adverse environmental conditions posing a significant challenge for Epta. Furthermore, Epta said that the adoption of CO2 as a coolant, which is still unusual on the African continent, could be less efficient in extreme climatic contexts.

Epta said Franprix, part of the Burotec Group and an institution in France in terms of the variety and quality of its products on sale, has successfully relied on Bonnet Névé for refrigerated cabinets and display cases. The new store, with a surface area of 925 square metres, Epta said, diversifies the local offer and houses a vast assortment of Bonnet Névé furnishings, flexible in layout and combined in attractive configurations, marked by a linear and modern design.

Furthermore, Epta said at the core of the fresh foods area is SkyView Plus, dedicated respectively to fruit and vegetables and pre-packaged, ready-sliced meat and cheese. This area, Epta added, featuring local gastronomic specialities and the great classics of French tradition, is of considerable importance within the supermarket and houses Captur, a refrigerated panoramic island with glass sliding doors, and MultiFresh Plus, a vertical Integral from the MultiCity family. Epta said that these units, ideal for impulse purchases and promotional sales, contribute to creating an authentic proximity store. Epta also said the traditional refrigerated serve-over display case Shape M, from the Mozaїk line, guarantees an excellent space or display area ratio and enhances the properties of high-margin meat cuts.

Prakash Nankani, Managing Director, Burotec Group, said: “We highly appreciate the professionalism of the Epta team in managing the entire project. The result is a supermarket equipped with the sector’s most innovative solutions. The choice to turn to Epta is consistent with our strategy to develop projects oriented towards a more sustainable future.”

LINDAU, Germany, 6 March 2024: ENGIE Refrigeration GmbHcooling announced that it delivered 43% more chillers and heat pumps to customers in 2023 than the previous year – despite the challenging situation in the German and international markets. Making the announcement through a Press release, ENGIE said, the portfolio expansions in recent years and the strategic focus on “excellence in cooling and heating” mean that the company remains optimistic about the coming months. 

ENGIE said that it has recorded double-digit sales growth compared to 2022 and thus also significantly increased its earnings (EBIT). Jochen Hornung, CEO, ENGIE Refrigeration, said: “We at ENGIE Refrigeration are proud that we achieved outstanding order successes as a team in 2023 and were able to support numerous users from various industries on their path to climate neutrality with our products and solutions in a very challenging market environment.”

ENGIE said this success of the company shows that it has set the right course for the future in recent years, and added that the company’s high drive for innovation and the technical expertise of its specialists are reflected in its cooling and heating portfolio. In the cooling sector, ENGIE said QUANTUM Air, with a cooling capacity of up to two megawatts, outperformed all air-cooled chillers with magnetic bearing compressor technology available on the market and in the heating industry, the thermeco2 high-temperature heat pump with the natural refrigerant CO2 and the SPECTRUM Water heat pump are providing lasting impetus in various industries.

Hornung further said: “At ENGIE Refrigeration, we expect greater volatility in the markets due to the geopolitical situation, to which we will respond with strategic adjustments. The shortage of skilled labour also remains a challenge for us. However, we are convinced that we are well positioned for the future and are continuously pursuing our goal of offering users the cooling and heating solutions of tomorrow today.”

ABU DHABI, UAE, 4 March 2024: Dentons announced that it has advised Masdar on its successful financial close concerning the 1,800MW solar photovoltaic independent power project, DEWA Phase VI, situated in Dubai. Making the announcement through a Press release, Dentons said the project is the sixth phase in the development of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

Dentons said the project would sell its entire power output to DEWA, the sole buyer of power output in Dubai, under a long-term PPA. The sixth phase of the project, Dentons said, is set to be operational in stages, and added that it would power over half a million residences while reducing carbon emissions by 2.36 million tonnes annually and will increase the total production capacity to 5,000MW by 2030, making it the largest solar park in the world.

Dentons said it played a pivotal role in advising Masdar throughout the transaction, including negotiations with DEWA, the EPC contractor, the O&M contractor and a syndicate of financiers. Furthermore, Dentons said, the financing was structured as a dual tranche syndicated conventional and Islamic Ijara facility. 

Dentons said Standard Chartered Bank acted as documentation bank, global agent, conventional facility agent and account bank; Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC led on the Islamic structure, which needed to be AAOFI/UAE Central Bank compliant; First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC acted as Global Green Facility Coordinator; HSBC Bank Middle East Limited acted as Regional Green Facility Coordinator, and hedging was provided by First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC. Dentons added that Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Conventional Mandated Lead Arrangers and Lenders, with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC and Warba Bank KSCP acting as Islamic Mandated Lead Arrangers and Participants. Dentons also said that it assisted from the term sheet negotiation stage to the facility and security structuring, as well as advising on hedging arrangements to ensure a smooth financial close.

Stephen Knight, Banking and Finance partner, Dentons, Abu Dhabi, said: “We are delighted to have supported Masdar on the successful financial close of the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This transaction is a new milestone in using clean and renewable energy in the UAE, and another example of Dentons’ commitment to helping shape the future of the UAE, in this case in line with the country’s National Energy Strategy 2050.”

DUBAI, UAE, 3 March 2024: Middle East Energy, announced that the Middle East and Africa’s most comprehensive energy exhibition is all set to be held from April 16 to 18 at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. Making the announcement through a Press release, the organisers said the event will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the organisers said that the event will be open from 10 am to 6 pm.

The organisers also said that there will be 16 country pavilions and over 1,200 companies from Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, Taiwan, Italy, Turkey, France, India, UAE, and more, offering various international industry trends.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 29 February 2024: New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) announced it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) to spearhead the transformation of Riyadh. Making the announcement through a Press release, NMDC said the agreement will see the two entities work closely together to create New Murabba: the world’s largest, modern downtown, serving as a model for future urban development and contributing towards Riyadh city’s evolution, in line with Vision 2030.

NMDC said its strategic partnership with TFD marks a pivotal moment in the realisation of New Murabba’s bold ambition to create the most advanced, transformative downtown experience in the world. NMDC said it aims to fulfil Saudi Arabia’s potential as a leading investment destination — a place where people live, work, and play.

NMDC said the MoU was signed by Michael Dyke, CEO, NMDC and Qusai bin Abdullah Al-Fakhri, CEO, TDF and added that as part of the agreement, TDF will provide direct financing opportunities — in collaboration with its network of partners and contracted investors, which solidifies NMDC’s access to TDF’s expertise, networks and investment capabilities. 

NMDC said the agreement is poised to unlock New Murabba’s immense potential, place Riyadh at the forefront of global destinations, and showcase Saudi Arabia’s commitment to innovative, sustainable urban development, cultural richness, and unparalleled visitor experiences on the world stage.

 Al-Fakhri said: “We are pleased to have partnered with the New Murabba Development Company to bring this bold undertaking to life: an innovative undertaking that will enhance Riyadh’s status on the global stage as one of the commercial and financial capitals of the world. This future-focused partnership extends our efforts to work in a fully aligned manner with the private sector to create a greater, more prosperous Saudi Arabia.”  

Al-Fakhri further said: “In line with Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy, our agreement with New Murabba Development Company marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Riyadh. Together, we aim to create a modern downtown in Riyadh, that provides even greater access to exceptional living, working and entertainment experiences. Representing the best in the nation, we believe New Murabba will attract tourists and investors, to Saudi Arabia, and improve citizens’ and residents’ quality of life.”

Dyke, said: “New Murabba will be a gateway to the future. We are confident that our partnership with TDF will enable us to play a transformative role in diversifying sources of income for the Saudi economy, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of Vision 2030. Together, we will create groundbreaking opportunities that will not only elevate the Saudi tourism landscape, and drive New Murabba to the forefront of global innovation.”

He further said: “Reflecting our commitment to the community and the environment, New Murabba has been designed in accordance with internationally established best practices and sustainability standards, incorporating green spaces, providing an extensive network of walking paths and promoting healthy living. We aim to make New Murabba an exceptional place to live, work, play, and visit. We will offer convenient access to a wide range of amenities and experiences that will enhance the lives of residents and visitors, fostering a sense of security and well-being. Accessibility is also a top priority for us, with New Murabba being just 20 minutes away from King Khalid International Airport by car. The Mukaab would serve as the centrepiece of New Murabba, redefining Riyadh’s skyline from the outside and presenting a truly jaw-dropping experience on the inside. 

Established in 2022, NMDC said, it is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), with its Board of Directors being chaired by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

NMDC said that the Mukaab sits at the heart of New Murabba, with its external façade inspired by the modern Najdi style, complementing Riyadh’s skyline. The iconic building, NMDC said, would feature a tower atop a spiral base and a structure comprising 2 million sq. m of floor space, would be a premium hospitality destination with a multitude of retail, cultural and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities.

NMDC said, TDF aims to enhance tourism investments and projects through financing and non-financing programs and solutions designed to support investors, entrepreneurs, and tourism facilities. The Fund, NMDC added, works in partnership with a range of entities, including businesses and companies in the private sector, to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy.

MILAN, Italy, 29 February 2024: Centro Studi Galileo has announced a series of international events taking place within the framework of Mostra Convegno Expocomfort 2024. Making the announcement through a Press release, Centro Studi Galileo said “FROM THE F-GAS REGULATION (EU) 2024/573 TO ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANTS: IMPACT ON NEW AND EXISTING SYSTEMS”, the first event of its kind conference, since the entry into force of the new F-Gas Regulation, will be held on March 14 and 14 in the Sagittarius Room (Congress Centre).

Centro Studi Galileo said the conference will feature high-level presentations from leading experts, the EU Commission DG Clima, and the Italian Ministry of Environment. Furthermore, Centro Studi Galileo said an important agreement (MoU, Memorandum of Understanding) will be signed with the Pan-African Union of RAC Associations U-3ARC in the Sagittarius Room (Congress Centre) right after the conclusions of CSG Conference, on March 14 at 1:00 PM.