UAE, April 10, 2018 – H.E. Engineer Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Department of Energy - Abu Dhabi, lauded the Emirates CMS Power Company’s (ECPC) initiative aimed at managing and operating Taweelah A2 in Abu Dhabi by UAE Nationals for one month, noting that its success in achieving its objectives further boosts Emirati employees to handle leading roles in the future within Abu Dhabi’s energy sector. 

Al Marar’s statement came after the success of ECPC’s recent initiative to handover the full management and operations of Taweelah A2 to UAE National employees for one month from March 4 to April 4. He emphasized that the initiative supports the directives of the country’s wise leadership towards enhancing the role of Emiratis and their capabilities to assume management in technical and specialized positions in the future.

Al Marar added: “Thanks to the insightful vision of our wise leadership and its huge support for creative and bold initiatives aimed at promoting energy sustainability, we are pleased to announce the successful completion of ECPC’s UAE National initiative of managing and operating the Taweelah A2. This success is a major step towards enhancing UAE Nationals’ competitiveness and enable them to become global leaders in the energy sector, as well as become part of Abu Dhabi’s leadership efforts in engaging Emiratis to participate in a comprehensive and sustainable development. These efforts are in line with the federal government’s ‘Emiratization’ initiative to enhance the role of UAE Nationals and advance cooperation with the private sector to create an ideal environment that encourages Emiratis to excel in their field as well as reinforce a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership.”

Eng. Mohammad Juma Rashid Bin Jarsh Al Falasi, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy - Abu Dhabi, complimented the initiative’s impact in enhancing the ability of UAE Nationals to effectively and professionally address rapid changes and developments, as well as identify and assess the future challenges related to energy sector. The initiative has also helped Emirati employees to fully comprehend the essence of managing and utilizing the country’s resources which could further develop the energy sector and promote UAE’s regional and global leadership in diversifying its energy resources to include clean and renewable ones.

Al Falasi added: “Taweelah A2 plant is a successful example of public-private partnership in line with the privatization program of the energy sector aimed at increasing production capacity in water and electricity. It is one of the most successful development programs in the region that has delivered positive outcomes such as increasing production efficiency, reducing operating and maintenance costs, providing job opportunities for UAE citizens, raising the participation of Emiratis in the private sector, and increasing government revenues.”

Mr. Abdulla Ali Al Sheryani, Chairman of Emirates CMS Power Company, said that the company is keen to continue implementing initiatives and programs that are inspired by the vision of the country’s wise leadership to place human development at the forefront of its strategic priorities. He emphasized that the initiative is a significant step towards enabling UAE Nationals to lead in the global energy sector and prepare them for future challenges, including continuous efforts to increasingly move towards adopting smart and clean energy solutions.” 

Al Sheryani underscored the importance of this initiative in supporting Emiratization in the energy sector which is integral to driving the participation of national human resources in vital sectors that promote the comprehensive and sustainable development of Abu Dhabi. He noted that the ECPC has significantly increased the percentage of qualified Emirati employees to 50 per cent of the total administrative and technical staff working in the company, which reflects the citizen employees’ efficiency and capability to play a key role in exploring and shaping the future of energy.

Eng. Ahmed Bin Abbood Al Adawi, Executive Managing Director of ECPC, concluded: “The team worked throughout the initiative in two shifts which composed of 50 Emirati employees working in the operation, maintenance and support fields for a full month and without any external help. Through the initiative, the company has successfully produced an equivalent of 380,000 (MWh) of electricity, and 1,500 million gallons of water in the same period, while the revenues generated during this period amounted to AED 6 million. The Emiratis working in the plant proved their capability to become future leaders in Abu Dhabi’s energy sector.”