Etihad’s special sturgeon fish cargo shipment goes swimmingly from Frankfurt to Abu Dhabi.

In an interesting announcement, Etihad has revealed that its Crystal Cargo’s latest shipment of precious goods transported live reared sturgeon for the world’s biggest caviar factory, which is being built in Abu Dhabi.

The 22 adult sturgeon fish were flown from Frankfurt Hahn Airport to Abu Dhabi and, then, transported to a new 60,000-square-metre farm recently, commissioned for rearing sturgeons and production of caviar in the UAE, the airline company said. It added that Etihad’s clients in the project were the UAE-based Bin Salem Holding and United Food Technologies AG, a German company. Bin Salem and UFT are reportedly working together on the development of the caviar factory.

According to the announcement, each sturgeon was transported in a specially designed container in a temperature- controlled environment, which was set to be constantly between 10ºC and 15ºC. At each stage of the process, the pallets were loaded and unloaded within minutes, Etihad claimed, and revealed that the airlines utilised one of its new A330-200 freighter aircraft, which provides temperature-control technology to transport endangered species.

Commenting on the rare feat, Roy Kinnear, Senior Vice President Cargo, Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad is proud of its reputation for carrying precious cargo, and this now includes sturgeon fish which are on the list of global endangered species. The Etihad Crystal Cargo team, working closely with our ground handling colleagues and clients, demonstrated expertise and coordination skills to ensure the fish were shipped safely from Frankfurt to their new home in the UAE.”

Brings with him over 30 years of experience in the HVACR sector

According to an announcement, Anwar Hassan has been named Vice President, Engineered Systems Group (ESG), Sales, Saudi Arabia and Global Business Lines & Operations (GBL&O), Engineered Systems Technology, located in Jeddah. He will report to Basel Aziz, Managing Director, Al Salem Johnson Controls, and Magdy Mekky, Vice President and Managing Director, Middle East. He will be responsible for managing the Engineered Systems’ sales team in Saudi Arabia, to help it continue to profitably grow, as well as the Associated Service Business, the announcement said, and added that Hassan will also be responsible for advising the building efficiency GBL&O leadership on HVAC&R technology, and will report to Santiago Perez.

Hassan holds a Master’s degree in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from King’s College, University of London, UK, and brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the HVACR sector, the announcement said.

Hassan began his career with York International in 1983 in Saudi Arabia, and in 1995, went to York, Pennsylvania, in the US, to assume a leadership role in service management. In 1998, he became the Regional Manager for the Arabian Gulf, based in Dubai. He relocated to York again in 2001, when he was named the Director of Marketing and Engineering, Large Tonnage Chillers (LTC), and then became Vice President, Industrial Equipment, responsible for LTC and Industrial Refrigeration, North America. Most recently, Hassan has been leading the Large Tonnage Solutions business.

Commenting on the appointment, Buddy Doll, Vice President for ESG, Middle East, said that placing Hassan in the new role demonstrated the company’s commitment to the rapidly growing Saudi Arabian market, which is a major priority for building efficiency and for the organisation’s industrial and development partner in the region.

Company will provide facility maintenance to the airport

Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation has announced signing an agreement with MAF Dalkia, whereby, the company will provide maintenance works to all facilities of the airport. The services will include not only multi-technical services, such as, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and civil works, but also specialised maintenance for the airfield systems and equipment like navigation aids, radio communication, airfield lighting systems and the runway civil works, the announcement confirmed.

The agreement was signed at the Department’s headquarters in the presence of HE Eng Abdulwahab Mohammed Khalfan Al Roomi, Director General of Department of Civil Aviation, Sharjah, and Alexandre Mussallam, CEO, MAF Dalkia, the announcement said.

On the occasion, Al Roomi said: “Signing the agreement reflects Sharjah International Airport’s keen interest to keep and maintain all its facilities, including service and technical facilities, and operate efficiently round the clock. No doubt, the agreement will help the airport’s Engineering Department to function properly, amidst rapidly growing movement of passengers, aircraft and airfreight and the airport’s high rates during the recent years. This requires an effective maintenance department that assumes its functions accurately and professionally.”

Al Roomi added that the agreement would be effective for three years, with annual assessment maintenance operations, along with ongoing assessment and subsequent maintenance as required.

Mussallam, expressing his views on the agreement, said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Sharjah International Airport, the most ancient airport in the region. We will provide our distinguished experience and services to the airport in order to maintain the airport’s leading position on the local, regional and international levels. We will perform our works to the full satisfaction of the Department, which we would like to thank for its confidence and selecting us to carry out this project.”

Says it is poised to enter energy solutions market in MEA and reach $10 billion in global sales by 2013

LG has announced its plans to become a major player in the global energy solutions market by introducing the third version of the existing tropical Multi V system and the VRF Air Handling Unit (AHU) within the Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets. LG claims that the VRF AHU integrated control system lets users manage air conditioning for an entire building and provides heating, cooling and outdoor fresh air conditioning, while saving energy. The company adds that the AHUs can be used for 100% fresh air application or re-circulating air application.

Based around these solutions, LG said that it plans to aggressively expand its market share in the MEA’s commercial air conditioning sector this year, and evolve into a total solution provider for the market. The company also revealed that it is constructing an AC Academy at Jebel Ali, which has been LEED Silver certified, where LG is customising products to the needs of the MEA consumers. The company also aims to enhance the reliability of its products to work in all weather conditions.

LG also announced that it intends moving beyond its traditional role in air conditioning and making a foray into the energy business, with solutions, including LED lighting and solar power. With this objective in view, it said that it plans to invest $500 million and increase its workforce and R&D, with a further aim of reaching $10 billion in global sales by 2013.

“We’ve developed a range of products and solutions that meet the ever more pressing demands of consumers, while also containing costs and reducing energy consumption,” said HS Paik, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE.

“We’re confident that we have every energy solution covered, whatever the business. We already have references with the Multi V, including Al Gurm in Abu Dhabi and the American Academy School in Abu Dhabi. This proves the awareness and acceptance level of this technology, which is popular across the MEA.”

Providing technical insight, Senior Manager, Commercial Air Conditioners, Dharmesh Sawant, added: “With the increased emphasis on local green building codes, like Estidama in Abu Dhabi and Q-SAS in Qatar, tropical Multi V III and VRF AHU solutions will help the local authorities to meet their objective. LG supports the stakeholders across the value chain. We have a dedicated team to support the consultants and developers in the concept, design stage, as well as a dedicated team for contractors in the post-tender stage and a dedicated team for facilities management companies.”

Claims that nearly $20 billion in wasted natural gas could be used to generate reliable, affordable electricity

According to a study released by GE, titled ‘Flare gas reduction: recent global trends and policy considerations’, five per cent of the world’s natural gas production is wasted by burning or ‘flaring’ unused gas each year – an amount equivalent to 2.4 million barrels of oil per day.

The study says that gas flaring emits 400 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, the same as 77 million automobiles and two per cent of global CO2 emissions from energy sources, without producing useful heat or electricity. Worldwide, billions of cubic metres of natural gas are wasted annually, typically as a by-product of oil extraction, it adds.

The study reports that flaring levels in the Middle East are relatively high, with the amount of gas flared increasing from 17.1 billion cubic metres (Bcm) per year in 2000 to 34.6 Bcm per year in 2008. The CO2 emissions from gas flaring, however, reportedly decreased from 98 million metric tonnes per year in 2004 to 87 million metric tonnes per year in 2008, and the flaring share of energy sector CO2 emissions also decreasing from 7 to 5.1 per cent during the same period.

The report records a notable achievement by Saudi Arabia in managing gas flaring. The Kingdom’s master gas system mega-project, which was online in 1982, today gathers almost 100 Bcm per year and is the world’s largest single hydrocarbon network. It claims that approximately half of the gas supply for the system comes from associated gas that was previously flared.

Elaborating on the subject, Joe Anis, GE Energy’s President and CEO for the Middle East, said: “The success achieved by Saudi Arabia is one example in the long journey for the Middle East region towards managing gas flaring more effectively, which has long-term environmental and energy sector impact. Eliminating wasteful gas flaring has the potential to be the next big energy and environmental success story, and through better management, the region can benefit not only from direct costs in terms of resource use, but also in social and environmental costs.”

The GE study says that the technologies required for a solution exist today. Depending on the region, these may include power generation, gas re-injection (for enhanced oil recovery, gathering and processing), pipeline development and distributed energy solutions. It believes that nearly $20 billion in wasted natural gas could be used to generate reliable, affordable electricity and yield billions of dollars per year in increased global economic output.

The study highlights the following recommendations to reduce gas flaring:

Strengthen international commitments: The next phase of flare gas eradication requires a coordinated effort from central and regional governments, oil and gas producers, technology providers and the international community. These efforts must include both proper punitive actions and incentives to encourage investment.

Advance local solutions: Local efforts are critical to flare gas reduction. Governments, producers and technology providers across the globe must cooperate to communicate the value of gas, including greater efficiency; highlight the financial benefits associated with gas flaring reduction; secure local government support for monitoring and enforcing flaring regulations; and build capacity that helps local investors and contractors develop, operate and service distributed power generation.

Expand access to financing: Local efforts require capital support, including investments in pipeline, processing and storage, which make it economically efficient to gather and utilise flare gas. Various forms of credit enhancement, including partial risk guarantees, are one option to support investment while policy reforms are under way. Targeted technology funds and carbon partnerships also can facilitate projects, along with carbon financing and expanded eligibility for flare gas reduction within the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism.

International White T-grid, System, 150 and 130 clip-in and lay-in metal ceiling systems available

SAS International, manufacturer of interior building solutions, has announced launching of commodity products, available directly from its stock at its local depot in Dubai.

 Products now available include International White T-grid, as well as SAS International’s System 150 and 130 clip-in and lay-in metal ceiling systems, the announcement said.

The company has claimed that the development of the resources in Dubai will service its customer-base further, to meet the needs of contractors coordinating interior fit-out projects for the Middle East market. Contractors in the region will, therefore, be able to take advantage of specifying metal ceiling systems accredited to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards at competitive price points, the manufacturer added.

According to SAS International, it has a dedicated office and warehouse in the Dubai Investments Park and also operates an office in Abu Dhabi, apart from offices across the Middle East and Europe.

At 58,000 TR, its projects in the country, the company claims, constitute the largest water conserving closed-loop cooling system

Güntner has revealed that it has recently been involved in HVAC supermarket projects in Turkey, such as Carrefour and Metro. The cooling load for the projects is estimated at 58,000 TR, making it the largest water conserving closed‐loop cooling system, especially applicable to land‐locked areas, said Güntner, and added that each chiller was designed with a Güntner GFD dry cooler re‐designed to suit the climate.

The company explained that due to the location of the project, sound was an important factor to consider, as traditional units would have probably been noise pollutants. The issue was addressed by special measures taken during the initial planning and design stages, so that it would supply specially customised units, Güntner said, adding that the dry cooler was designed with special low-noise fans, with a noise output level of only 87 dB (A).

Speaking to Climate Control Middle East on another issue, Güntner revealed that Microox technology was its latest condenser system in which only aluminium was used to ensure that the unit was effectively protected against galvanic corrosion. Elucidating on the subject, Adel Kamel, Managing Director, Güntner, said: “You can use a Microox coil in all applications where aluminium fins have been used up to now. The company’s GVHX unit, which utilises the Microox coil, is being actively promoted currently.”

Changing tracks, Kamel said that the company ensured it obtained HACCP certification on most of its coolers, with special emphasis on the food market. Also, all its products and services were certified and supported by the Eurovent standards of certification.

Kamel highlighted that the company had a policy that its equipment was 100% customised and ran on the exact requirement, thus reducing the through‐currents and voltage peaks to ensure a reliable system operation. “This essentially means that the maximum cooling power is harnessed with minimum cooling energy output,” he said.

B Surendar

A recent GE report has claimed that five per cent of the world’s natural gas production is wasted by flaring unused gas each year, which is an amount equivalent to 2.4 million barrels per day of crude oil.

During the 2010 MEGAS Summit, which Climate Control Middle East had the privilege of attending, delegates heard with concern about an estimated 30 bcm of gas being flared a year in the Middle East. This, said the presenter from the Gobal Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) initiative, was enough to feed a 20 MT LNG plant or six medium-size LNG trains. While, a lot of ground needs to be covered, countries like Oman and Saudi Arabia have already taken steps to reduce flaring. During the same MEGAS Summit, a representative of the Ministry of Oil and Gas in Oman said that the country had cut down on flares by 88%. And the GE report described how Saudi Arabia’s master gas system mega-project gathers almost 100 bcm a year of the gas and, effectively, prevents its emission into the atmosphere.

All the same, much more needs to be done, so a greater volume of gas is trapped. On one side is the tremendous potential to generate electricity. To put things in perspective, Saudi Arabia uses three million barrels of oil a day out of the reported eight million it generates in a day, for domestic consumption, a majority of which is used to generate electricity. (There are alternative reports that say the country produces in excess of 10 million barrels a day.) In that context, intensifying efforts to trap larger volumes of flare gas will help generate electricity, thereby freeing more crude oil for export. Plus, gas is needed for re-injection for enhanced oil recovery, gathering and processing in crude oil production.

In addition, the benefits from minimising the flaring of gas will mean a reduction in carbon emissions. According to the GE report, gas flaring at current volumes emits 400 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually. This, the report adds, is two per cent of global CO2 emissions from energy sources, without producing useful heat or electricity. In the context of heightening climate change concerns, any reduction in carbon emissions is a welcome development.

District cooling and co-generation systems have demonstrated similar benefits. Indeed, it has been well profiled how district cooling, if approached in the right manner, and cogeneration systems, can shave megawatts off the grid and by trapping waste heat and, as a result of reducing the need for power generation, can contribute to reducing carbon emissions.

It’s a pretty good case for a concerted effort, about how different industries can in their own ways, help in the drive towards energy security and safeguarding the environment.

B Surendar

Claims that nearly $20 billion in wasted natural gas could be used to generate reliable, affordable electricity

According to a study released by  GE, titled ‘Flare gas reduction: recent global trends and policy considerations’, five per cent of the world’s natural gas production is wasted by burning or “flaring” unused gas each year – an amount equivalent to 2.4 million barrels of oil per day.

The study says that gas flaring emits 400 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, the same as 77 million automobiles and two per cent of global CO2 emissions from energy sources, without producing useful heat or electricity. Worldwide, billions of cubic metres of natural gas are wasted annually, typically as a by-product of oil extraction, it adds.

The study reports that flaring levels in the Middle East are relatively high, with the amount of gas flared increasing from 17.1 billion cubic metres (Bcm) per year in 2000 to 34.6 Bcm per year in 2008. The CO2 emissions from gas flaring, however, reportedly decreased from 98 million metric tonnes per year in 2004 to 87 million metric tonnes per year in 2008, and the flaring share of energy sector CO2 emissions also decreasing from 7 to 5.1 per cent during the same period.

The report records a notable achievement by Saudi Arabia in managing gas flaring. The Kingdom’s master gas system mega-project, which was online in 1982, today gathers almost 100 Bcm per year and is the world’s largest single hydrocarbon network. It claims that approximately half of the gas supply for the system comes from associated gas that was previously flared.

Elaborating on the subject, Joe Anis, GE Energy’s President and CEO for the Middle East said: “The success achieved by Saudi Arabia is one example in the long journey for the Middle East region towards managing gas flaring more effectively, which has long-term environmental and energy sector impact. Eliminating wasteful gas flaring has the potential to be the next big energy and environmental success story, and through better management, the region can benefit not only from direct costs in terms of resource use, but also in social and environmental costs.”

The GE study says that the technologies required for a solution exist today. Depending on the region, these may include power generation, gas re-injection (for enhanced oil recovery, gathering and processing), pipeline development and distributed energy solutions. It believes that nearly $20 billion in wasted natural gas could be used to generate reliable, affordable electricity and yield billions of dollars per year in increased global economic output.

The study highlights the following recommendations to reduce gas flaring:

Strengthen international commitments: The next phase of flare gas eradication requires a coordinated effort from central and regional governments, oil and gas producers, technology providers and the international community. These efforts must include both proper punitive actions and incentives to encourage investment.

Advance local solutions: Local efforts are critical to flare gas reduction. Governments, producers and technology providers across the globe must cooperate to communicate the value of gas, including greater efficiency; highlight the financial benefits associated with gas flaring reduction; secure local government support for monitoring and enforcing flaring regulations; and build capacity that helps local investors and contractors develop, operate and service distributed power generation.

Expand access to financing: Local efforts require capital support, including investments in pipeline, processing and storage, which make it economically efficient to gather and utilise flare gas. Various forms of credit enhancement, including partial risk guarantees, are one option to support investment while policy reforms are under way. Targeted technology funds and carbon partnerships also can facilitate projects, along with carbon financing and expanded eligibility for flare gas reduction within the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism.

Etihad’s special sturgeon fish cargo shipment goes swimmingly from Frankfurt to Abu Dhabi.

In an interesting announcement, Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has revealed that its Crystal Cargo’s latest shipment of precious goods transported live reared sturgeon for the world’s biggest caviar factory, which is being built in Abu Dhabi.

The 22 adult sturgeon fish were flown from Frankfurt Hahn Airport to Abu Dhabi, and then transported to a new 60,000- square-metre farm recently, commissioned for rearing sturgeons and production of caviar in the UAE, the Airline said. It added that Etihad’s clients in the project were the UAE-based Bin Salem Holding and United Food Technologies AG, a German company. Bin Salem and UFT are reportedly working together on the development of the caviar factory.

According to the announcement, each sturgeon was transported in a specially designed container in a temperature- controlled environment, which was set to be constantly between 100 and 150C. At each stage of the process, the pallets were loaded and unloaded within minutes, Etihad claimed, and revealed that the airlines utilised one of its new A330-200 freighter aircraft, which provides temperature- control technology to transport endangered species.

Commenting on the rare feat, Roy Kinnear, Senior Vice President Cargo, Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad is proud of its reputation for carrying precious cargo, and this now includes sturgeon fish which are on the list of global endangered species. The Etihad Crystal Cargo team, working closely with our ground handling colleagues and clients, demonstrated expertise and coordination skills to ensure the fish were shipped safely from Frankfurt to their new home in the UAE.”