H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar. CEO of Empower

Dubai, UAE: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has issued a press release stating that it will finish constructing the District Cooling infrastructure network of Bluewaters Island, a mixed-use project developed by Meraas Holding, in record time.

The physical activities within Bluewaters Island, the press release said, had commenced at the end of August 2016, while deep excavations and pipe-laying commenced early September. The press release informed that approximately one kilometre-long trench out of three kilometres, within the Bluewaters Island, has been excavated.

H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said: “The contracted company carrying out the construction of the District Cooling network of Bluewaters Island is deploying advanced technologies to build an underground piping network with approximately 3 kilometre-long trenches, which includes micro tunneling under the seabed. The total length of the carbon steel pipes will be six kilometre.” He said that first phase of construction is expected to be completed by February 2017, while the second, that covers the area outside the island, will be finished by June 2017.

Empower, the press release revealed, had signed a contract last October to provide District Cooling services to Bluewaters Island, an AED six billion project approved by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 2013. Bluewaters Island, the press release said, is located off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence, featuring Ain Dubai, reportedly the world’s largest observation wheel, a five-star hotel, and distinctive retail, residential, hospitality and entertainment zones.

According to Bin Shafar, the agreement between Empower and Meraas Holding entails providing Bluewaters Island with 25,000 TR of District Cooling services to chill its residential units, retail stores, commercial buildings and hotels.

Bin Shafar said: “Providing District Cooling services to Bluewaters Island stems from our leading position in District Cooling in the UAE and worldwide. This project is very significant being planned as per the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to contribute in reinforcing the tourism capacity of the Emirate of Dubai.”