DUBAI, UAE, 15 February 2022: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) announced a record total revenue of AED 2.464 billion for the fiscal year 2021, with a growth of 9.3% compared to 2020. Making the announcement through a Press release, the company reported a net profit of AED 936 million, resulting in an increase of four per cent, compared to the year before.

Speaking on the occasion of the announcement, Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, said: “The year 2021 was an important milestone in the history of Empower at all levels. The achievements during the past year are unprecedented in quantity and quality, and due to various factors, most notably the strategic business model, which is based on increasing investment in infrastructure and being proactive in adopting and developing modern technologies.

Ahmad bin Shafar

These factors collectively paved the way for the success of our expansion in the district cooling market of Dubai, driven by the significant growth in the distribution networks and the largest diversified projects in the Emirate, which significantly increased the quantity and quality of the projects portfolio and the beneficiaries of Empower.”

Bin Shafar highlighted the global superiority of Empower in providing high-quality and environmentally friendly district cooling services with international standards, noting that the company has succeeded in concluding three historical acquisitions, the biggest of their kind in the world, within a span of three months, last year, which is a strong indicator that Empower will take its performance to unprecedented levels and will record historical financial results in the coming years.

Bin Shafar pointed out that 1,413 buildings were being served by Empower with its district cooling services by the end of 2021, including Marsa Al Arab, One Za’abeel, The Residences Dorchester Collection, Uptown and Al Wasl 1. Connecting these and many other huge developments last year resulted in an increase of 17% in district cooling consumption, compared to 2020, Bin Shafar said.

He also indicated that the company had worked hard in 2021 to provide district cooling services to various regions of Dubai by expanding its network to more than 369.014 kilometres by the end of the year, with an increase of 5.5% compared to 2020, which allowed the company to raise its share to 79.5% of Dubai’s district cooling market.

In 2022, he said, Empower will focus on significantly expanding the number of district cooling plants, and extending service transmission networks to cover all regions in the Emirate of Dubai.

Acquisitions

Empower said the year 2021 will remain a significant milestone in its journey, as it concluded three major acquisitions in three months with a total value of AED 2.040 billion, which it added is a true reflection of its leading position in the district cooling industry.

According to Empower, the process began in August with the acquisition of Nakheel’s district cooling assets for AED 860 million, with a cooling capacity of 110,000 refrigeration tons (RT). This was in addition to the previous acquisition of ‘Palm Utilities’ and ‘Palm District Cooling’ for AED 1.83 billion, the utility said. The second was followed days later by signing a deal with the ‘Meydan City Corporation’, worth AED 100 million, with a total cooling capacity of 382,000 RT to be served, it said. Besides these two deals, Empower acquired the district cooling systems serving Dubai International Airport with a total value of AED 1.1 billion, it added.

Bin Shafar said Empower’s global leadership in the district cooling industry and its remarkable success in adopting unprecedented technology in operation, production and provision of services enabled it to hold unique strategic partnerships with the most prestigious establishments and mega projects. “Today, we intend to take expansion steps during the coming period, including penetrating into new local and regional markets,” he said.

Emiratisation

Empower said that in line with the growth of its operations and its expansions in Dubai, it has succeeded in expanding its workforce base to reach 841 employees in 2021, with the percentage of Emiratisation in the company exceeded 15% of the total employees, while the percentage of citizens in senior positions reached 48%. The utility indicated that the percentage of female citizens has increased to 46%, while the percentage of male citizens has reached 54%. This, it said, reflects its approach to achieving gender balance in the work environment, attracting the best national talents, and enhancing its role in driving economic development, in line with the UAE Vision 2021

Major sectors

Empower said it caters to the demand from various vital sectors in the Emirate of Dubai, as it provides district cooling services to more than 64% of the residential buildings and 15% of the commercial and office buildings in Dubai. The hospitality sector’s share rose to 14%, with an increase of one per cent over the previous year, it said. The health sector accounted for three per cent, while the remaining four per cent is distributed among education, entertainment, retail and other sectors, it said.

Bin Shafar said that the company will continue supporting various sectors in reducing carbon emissions and enhancing Dubai’s endeavours to achieve a green economy and sustainable development.

District cooling plants

In 2021, Empower announced the commencement of operations of its new plant in Dubai Production City, with a capacity of 47,000 RT, which is considered as one of the major plants in the region to serve customers in Dubai Production City. The launch of the new plant, Empower said, came as part of its strategy to meet the increasing demand for its high quality and environmentally friendly district cooling services.

The utility also announced the award of the main contract for the construction of its new plant in Al Khail Gate area, with a total value of more than AED 133 million, whereby the plant will provide district cooling services for a capacity of 32,000 RT.

Empower confirmed that it is moving forward with thoughtful investments to expand its operations in Dubai, as part of its commitment to modernise and develop its facilities and technical staff in order to meet the increasing demand for its services from individuals, establishments and companies. Empower said its share of the total district cooling market in Dubai is about 79.5%.

Awards

Empower spoke of how it won two gold awards from the International District Energy Association (IDEA) in the categories, ‘Number of Buildings Committed’ and ‘Total Building Area Committed’ in 2021. The utility said it has been winning gold awards from IDEA for the past several years, including 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. It spoke of how it has also won multiple awards for more than 16 times in different categories during the past years, in addition to several awards won in various other global conferences and exhibitions.

Empower spoke of how it has received LEED Gold certification for its Barsha Heights district cooling plant. “Empower has a clear vision and effective strategies for expansion, in line with the vision of the wise leadership in the transition towards sustainability,” Bin Shafar said. “We seek to add new production capabilities that contribute to reducing costs and enhancing energy efficiency through the use of the most advanced technologies that we have developed.

“Today, we are very proud to provide our district cooling services to the ‘world’s most beautiful building’ – the ‘Museum of the Future’, in the heart of the commercial district of Dubai, which will be launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on February 22.”