DUBAL promotes corporate energy-efficiency at World Energy Forum 2012

Preparations for the World Energy Forum 2012, WEF 2012, held under the patronage of H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and hosted by the government of Dubai, are well underway. The event, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 22 to 24 October, is the first time that the high-level international energy conference will be held outside the headquarters of the United Nations. 

Dubai Aluminium, DUBAL, the wholly state-owned corporation that operates a one million metric tonne per annum primary aluminium smelter, one of the world's largest single-site smelters and the largest using pre-bake anode technology, is a lead sponsor of WEF 2012 and, as such, will also participate actively in the event. DUBAL’s participation is at two levels:

An exhibition stand will be constructed in the exhibition component alongside the conference. This platform will be used to communicate DUBAL’s strong position and stance on energy conservation, illustrated through the company’s on-going efforts to reduce energy consumption through innovation-driven process improvements and enhanced energy-efficiency across its operations.

DUBAL will host a round-table discussion on the third day of the conference itself, focusing on specific energy-efficiency achievements, innovative technologies, successful energy-saving initiatives and on-going investigations into renewable energy sources. 

“Our lead sponsorship of WEF 2012 reflects the depth of DUBAL’s commitment to finding sustainable energy solutions for our country, and the world,” says Abdulla Kalban, President & CEO. “As a member of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (“DSCE”), DUBAL is an active proponent of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 (“DIES 2030”), which has set a dynamic direction for Dubai to secure a sustainable supply of energy and enhance demand efficiency, while ensuring a balanced approach to protecting the environment. DIES 2030 is thus fully aligned with the UAE 2021 Vision, which lays the foundations for a green economy – i.e. a maintaining a sustainable environment which also supports long-term economic growth.” 

Kalban explains that DUBAL has whole-heartedly implemented the initiatives mandated by the DSCE in April 2011 – resulting in energy-savings of approximately 11,000,000 kWh over the initial 15-months since implementing the directives (i.e. to end-June 2012). DUBAL’s overall target is energy-savings of approximately 22,000,000 kWh per year by 2013. 

“As an energy-intensive business, we are acutely aware of DUBAL’s responsibilities towards both energy demand abatement and the development of sustainable energy solutions. Our captive power station strives continually for optimal energy efficiency: thanks to its cogeneration and combined cycle configuration, approximately 36.8 per cent of the power generated at DUBAL is fuel-free; and in 2011 the thermal efficiency of our power plant was 43.4 per cent. On-going innovation in our reduction technologies targets, among other aspects, reduced energy consumption – which declined to 14.71 KWh/kg aluminium in 2011,” Kalban says. “We invite all WEF 2012 delegates to visit the DUBAL stand to find out more about our efforts in energy-conservation – specifically our unique cogeneration installation, and our advanced reduction technologies.”