Post by : Badri Ariffin

EMSTEEL Group, a leading steel and building materials producer in the Middle East, is taking significant strides towards sustainable manufacturing by strengthening its collaboration with Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC).

Under the newly established agreement, EMSTEEL will obtain nuclear-generated power validated through Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Certificates Programme, based on the international I-REC standard overseen by Emirates Water & Electricity Company (EWEC). This initiative allows EMSTEEL to greatly reduce emissions associated with electricity usage, which is a significant factor in the carbon footprint of steel production.

This venture enhances EMSTEEL’s sustainability platform, TrueGreen, integrating its longstanding decarbonization initiatives under a cohesive identity. It also underscores the increasing contribution of nuclear energy in providing clean, dependable power for heavy industries in the UAE.

Expanding a Decade-Long Alliance

This partnership builds on over ten years of collaboration between EMSTEEL and ENEC. While constructing the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first operational multi-unit nuclear facility in the region, EMSTEEL supplied approximately 160,000 tonnes of nuclear-grade rebar, accounting for about 60 percent of the project's total rebar requirement, showcasing their pivotal role in the UAE's civil nuclear initiative.

By procuring nuclear-based Clean Energy Certificates, EMSTEEL accesses low-carbon baseload electricity, which significantly decreases its Scope 2 emissions and lowers the carbon intensity of steel produced in the UAE. The company stands as the first steelmaker in the region to adopt nuclear-certified clean energy, establishing a notable benchmark in an emissions-heavy industry.

Pursuing 100% Clean Power

Currently, EMSTEEL has integrated clean energy sources across much of its operations. Presently, 86 percent of the electricity utilized in its steel production sites and 14 percent in its cement operations is derived from clean energy. This includes more than 1.48 million megawatt-hours powered by nuclear energy and over 650,000 megawatt-hours from solar certificates across its operations.

The company aspires to achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2030, aligning with its long-term decarbonization vision and the UAE’s overarching climate objectives.

Commenting on the advancement, Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL, emphasized the importance of clean energy, technology, and verified data for credible industrial decarbonization. He indicated that the reinforced collaboration with ENEC underlines EMSTEEL’s commitment to scaling up low-carbon steel production and illustrates how national partnerships can expedite industrial transformation.

Nuclear Energy's Role in Industry

From ENEC's perspective, this agreement illustrates how carbon-free nuclear energy can effectively support continuous, high-demand industrial consumers without compromising grid stability. Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group CEO of ENEC, remarked that the partnership serves as a pragmatic model for hard-to-abate sectors seeking to reduce emissions while maintaining competitiveness.

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant currently generates about 40 terawatt-hours of electricity each year, fulfilling up to 25 percent of the UAE’s total power demand, and preventing an estimated 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. With a projected operational lifespan exceeding 60 years, Barakah is poised for a long-term role in enhancing energy security, fostering industrial expansion, and solidifying a more robust national grid.

Supporting Net Zero Goals

The EMSTEEL-ENEC collaboration epitomizes how cross-sector partnerships are driving the UAE’s industrial transformation. By combining clean, dependable nuclear energy with heavy manufacturing, the partnership underpins the nation’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, while positioning the UAE as a global frontrunner in sustainable, low-carbon industrial development.

#Global News #Dubai