Dubai gets another Guinness World Records entry in the energy sector

The Jebel Ali complex of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has an electricity generation capacity of 9,547 megawatts. (File/AFP)
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Updated 02 March 2021
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Dubai gets another Guinness World Records entry in the energy sector

  • Dubai project recognized as largest single-site natural gas power facility in the world

DUBAI: Dubai has chalked up another Guinness World Records entry — and this time it’s for a gas project.

The Jebel Ali complex of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has been recognized as the largest single-site natural gas power generation facility in the world, state news agency WAM reported.

The complex has an electricity generation capacity of 9,547 megawatts.

The emirate has been a prolific participant in the Guinness Book of Records, which first appeared in 1955 and has since sold more than 143 million copies.

“DEWA has created comprehensive electricity infrastructure development plans based on demand forecast until 2030,” Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer, chief executive of the authority, said.

DEWA provides services to over one million customers.

Located on the southern fringe of Dubai, the plant was extended in 2019 and now has a capacity of 2,885 megawatts of electricity and 140 million gallons of desalinated water per day.

The award comes as the authority undergoes key updates in its operations, including the application of artificial intelligence and other “disruptive” technologies.

“This has resulted in DEWA improving its generation efficiency by 33.41 percent, which also helped achieve considerable financial savings,” Al-Tayer said.

He added: “This improvement has also reduced more than 64 million tons of carbon emissions, which are equivalent to planting 327 million trees. It has also reduced more than 46,000 tons of nitrogen oxide gases and over 3,000 tons of sulfur dioxide.”


G7 countries to release oil reserves in global push to tackle Iran war energy price surge 

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G7 countries to release oil reserves in global push to tackle Iran war energy price surge 

  • IEA expected to recommend the largest oil reserve release in the agency’s history

RIYADH: Germany, the US, Japan and Austria will release part of their oil reserves after the International Energy Agency recommended the release of 400 million barrels of oil ‌from stockpiles, the largest ‌such move in IEA ​history.

Germany’s Economy ⁠Minister ​Katherina Reiche ⁠confirmed on Wednesday the government plans to limit petrol price increases at filling stations to once a day and to introduce more stringent antitrust regulation of the sector.

She did not ⁠give an exact timing for ‌those measures, but added that ‌the US and ​Japan would be the ‌largest contributors to the release of the ‌oil reserves.

The announcements did not stop oil prices rising, with Brent crude up 3.26 percent to $90.66 a barrel at 4:29 p.m Saudi time, and West Texas Intermediate up 3.12 percent to $86.05. Both were some way below the $119 a barrel seen earlier in the week.

“The situation regarding oil supplies is tense, as the Strait of Hormuz is currently virtually impassable,” Reiche said.

“We will comply with this request and ‌contribute our share, because Germany stands behind the IEA’s most important principle: mutual ⁠solidarity,” Reiche ⁠said about the IEA’s request.

According to a statement by Reiche’s ministry, Germany will contribute 2.64 million tonnes of oil. This corresponds to 19.51 million barrels.

Reiche stressed there was no supply shortage in the country, which has a legally mandated reserve of oil and oil products intended to cover 90 days’ demand.

The IEA’s move comes as countries are grappling with ​soaring crude prices amid ​the US-Israeli war with Iran. 

Austrian Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer said his country was releasing part of the emergency oil reserve and extending the national strategic gas reserve, adding: “One thing is clear: in a crisis, there must be no crisis winners at the expense of commuters and businesses.”

Acting ahead of the IEA move, G7 ​member Japan announced plans to release 15 days' worth of ‌private-sector oil reserves and one month's worth of state oil reserves.

“Rather than wait for formal IEA approval ‌of a coordinated international reserve release, Japan will act first to ease global energy market supply and demand, releasing reserves as early as the 16th of this month,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a broadcast statement.