Ahmed bin Fahd Al Muhairi, CEO of Dubal Holding Company, confirmed that the UAE's industrial strategy has come a long way in its journey towards achieving its goals, and that it is now poised to continue the journey with more success, following the initiatives of the industrial country, including the project (300 billion), which is a huge step to support vital projects and attract major investments to the state.
Bin Fahd said in an interview with "Al-Bayan", that "Dubal" has a major role in the industrial strategy of the UAE, with its diverse and rich industrial portfolio, serving important sectors in the country, as it owns 50% of the Emirates Global Aluminum Company ( EGA), and 60% of (OSE) Industries, and participates in a huge investment, which includes a consortium of 6 international strategic partners; To build one of the largest and most modern individual facilities in the world, to convert waste into energy, by treating about 5,600 tons of waste per day, with investments of approximately $1.3 billion (4.8 billion dirhams).
Dubal also plans to establish the largest titanium plant in the region, in a tripartite partnership, and intends to make acquisitions of a number of emerging industrial companies, to expand in the global market during the coming period. Bin Fahd called for additional legislation to protect the waste of raw materials in the Emirates. To recycle it, considering it a mine that can be used and converted into value-added products that are in the interest of the country.
He explained that the company is keeping pace with the "Industry 4.0" program, which aims to promote the adoption of advanced technology and the applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in all its projects and investments. The following is the text of the interview:
Industrial future
What is Dubal Holding's plan for the future of industry in the UAE?
The company aspires to contribute more to the main initiatives in Dubai and the UAE, including the "300 billion project", "Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030" and "Dubai Energy Strategy 2050", in support of economic diversification, industrial technological innovation, and sustainable growth. in the UAE. Hence, our participation in several industrial, transformational and other projects, the latest of which was the "Dubai Waste Treatment" project and its conversion into energy.
In addition, Dubal Holding plans to study and launch other projects, including a project to recycle electronic waste, such as computers, televisions, and other electronic equipment. These wastes contain high-quality minerals such as copper, gold, and others, albeit in very small quantities, and when collected, they produce valuable commercial quantities.
Within the recycling industry, we also have a project to convert plastic waste into products that can be used, such as diesel fuel, as well as another project to convert plant waste or food waste into so-called organic or biofuel free of polluting gas emissions, for the use of interested companies. By reducing the carbon footprint of its vehicles, and upgrading its social responsibility. This is part of the projects that we can disclose now, and the list goes on. We have many projects that we will announce in the near future, God willing.
In general, DUBAL Holding will continue its approach of investing in sustainable strategic companies and projects that contribute to economic diversification, add value to the industrial and business sectors in the country, and increase their competitiveness, in support of the future directions proposed by the UAE, within the fifty-year plan. development, through which it works to support vital initiatives and projects, and attract foreign investments. The company plays a pivotal role in the UAE's strategy for industrial development, and we appreciate the support of the UAE government for the industrial sector, especially in terms of developing investment-motivating legislations, in addition to financial support, facilities and important incentives other.
Supporting sustainable projects
How do you see the ambitions of «Dubal» Holding to develop its business in 2022?
The company invests in companies and initiatives that can make a tangible difference. Our goal is to combine positive impact with positive returns, by launching and supporting sustainable projects, especially those that represent a qualitative and knowledge-based addition that serves the industrial sector and increases its competitiveness, thus contributing to the diversification and economic transformation of the UAE.
Within this framework, the development of our business is through investing in distinguished projects in the sectors of industry, energy, commodities and mining, with a special focus on the requirements of sustainability and technological innovation. The mining sector and the production of raw materials, especially aluminum, is one of the most important areas that we focus on, given its role in providing the necessary materials for several other important industries. Aluminum metal contributes to making the world more sustainable, as it is able to support the efficiency of transportation, reduce energy consumption and global warming, in addition to prolonging the life of products and reducing the demand for natural resources. At the same time, it is one of the most demanded metals from huge sectors, such as construction, aircraft and automobile industries, and many others. From this standpoint, DUBAL Holding continues to invest heavily, in various value chains, in this sector.
We have two mines for mining aluminum ore or bauxite, the first is in Guinea in Africa, and the second is under construction in Brazil. The Guinea mine works to supply Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA), in which Dubal Holding owns a 50% stake, with aluminum ore, and the surplus is sold to other companies in the global markets.
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Our interest in aluminum includes all of its production activities, from mining to its manufacturing industries, which supply aircraft, automobiles, the health and technological sectors, and others, with special components. We are looking for opportunities related to aluminum, as it is one of the strengths in our expertise, and we have the required competencies, in addition to the availability of land and support from the government.
a better world
What are the areas that Dubal Holding puts at the forefront of its priorities?
The company's vision and mission revolve around building a better world for all, through rational investments, capable of enhancing sustainability in the sectors of industry, energy, commodities and mining. Some may not understand the true meaning of the term "better world" and sustainable, but for me, it is a world free of waste, and in all its forms, we all throw food waste in the garbage, and we do the same thing with everything that is damaged or old, such as tires, car batteries and electronic devices and others. The question here is, where does this waste go, and can we benefit from it all by recycling it? It, apart from the types of waste that are traditionally recycled, contains many recyclable elements, such as copper, aluminum and iron, that can be extracted in commercial quantities.
new markets
What about the new markets that the company intends to expand in, and what is the volume of demand for its products locally and globally?
The volume of demand for Emirati products from abroad is very huge, more than some people imagine, and not only for manufactured products, but also for mineral waste. For example, a large part of the aluminum waste produced by the UAE is exported abroad, and this constitutes a waste of resources. We seek to end it or limit its export outside the country. Today, there are international laws and regulations that oblige aluminum and other metals companies that have mines not to expand into new mines, for environmental reasons, and to put pressure on these companies to find alternative solutions, such as recycling metal waste.
As part of our endeavors to innovate, and to find additional or alternative solutions in this field, we launched a pilot project at Emirates Global Aluminum Company, to establish a unit for the production of "green" aluminum, that is, in which renewable energy is used, as we used solar energy in manufacturing, starting with forty thousand tons. The surprise was that the demand for "green" aluminum exceeded the supply. This experience also revealed that there is a demand for recycled aluminum, and we will seek to expand that.
Diverting waste
What about the most prominent projects and investments of "Dubal Holding", as it is part of the parent company, "Dubai Government Investments", during the coming period?
Our focus now is on one of the most prominent and largest projects in the Middle East and the world, represented by the Dubai Waste Treatment Company. Today, the Emirate of Dubai produces ten thousand tons of solid waste, which is collected by the Dubai Municipality. This project recycles 5.6 thousand tons of it and converts it into electric energy. We hope to implement similar projects in other places, which would protect the environment and society from waste, and allow the land that is currently used as a landfill to be eventually used for the development of residential or commercial projects.
Among other prominent projects expected, which are currently under study, is a project to convert plastic waste in Dubai into diesel fuel and other chemicals used in the manufacture of dyes, oils and others. The cost of the project is about 100 million dirhams, and production will start within 3 years from the date of approval of the project. There is no doubt that projects of this kind, being based on technological innovations, need a period of study, development and modification.
Facing the sector's challenges with acquisitions and smart technologies
The CEO of “Dubal” Holding said that the company has a plan to acquire several companies subsequent to its latest acquisition, which is (OSE) Industries, a leader in the electric vehicle supply chain, established in the UAE in Dubai Industrial City. The company uses its raw materials from Emirates Global Aluminum Company to manufacture battery components, cooling materials, and spare parts used in electric cars. It is a future and expandable opportunity, as it deals directly with the largest electric car factories in the world. We are considering expanding the company's business, to become global, and to be closer to auto factories in Europe, America and Asia in the coming years.
On the contribution of artificial intelligence technologies to changing manufacturing systems, as one of the biggest challenges facing the sector, Ahmed bin Fahd Al Muhairi said: “We are keen on leadership in the areas of knowledge, technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence technologies, and this is evidenced by our portfolio of projects. For example, artificial intelligence technologies were adopted at Emirates Global Aluminium, where they proved their worth in several respects, whether at the level of savings in time and effort, or ensuring high quality, or reducing pollution to the lowest level.
And about the company's initiative to keep pace with the "Industry 4.0" program and the applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution? He added: «The keenness of the wise leadership of the UAE to keep pace with and adopt advanced technology is an essential part of the company's strategy, and we are keen on this approach, and on protecting the interest of the company and the state, and «Dubal» Holding, promotes the use of advanced technology in all its projects and investments.
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