SUSTAINABILITY-

Idris Elba partners with ADIO on sustainable food and water initiative: English actor Idris Elba’s impact investment company The Akuna Group is collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to promote Abu Dhabi's vision for sustainable food and water globally, Wam reports. The partnership aims at showcasing Abu Dhabi’s advances in food development, agricultural transformation, and water treatment technology. Elba will engage in initiatives and collaborate with global institutions to help accelerate the transition to cleaner food and water systems using Abu Dhabi as a model.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES-

UAE-based logistics company Aramex has launched a fleet of e-bikes for last-mile deliveries in the UAE, according to a statement. The move looks to curb emissions, enhance efficiency, boost cost-effectiveness through reduced fuel expenses, enhance flexibility, and achieve the company’s goal to operate a 98% EV fleet by 2030. The company rolled out electric vans for last-mile delivery operations in the UAE in October.

KSA’s EVIQ partners with Tawal to boost EV charging capabilities: Saudi's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ) and Saudi Telecom Company (STC) subsidiary Tawal have inked an agreement to strengthen the kingdom’s EV charging network, Al Arabiya reports. The partnership will leverage Tawal’s ICT tech to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and live status updates for EVIQ chargers across the country.

EVIQ has been busy: The company signed an MoU with Saudi Automotive Services (Sasco) to set up fast-charging EV stations and public charging points across the Kingdom last month. EVIQ opened its first fast EV charging stations in Riyadh in January and signed another agreement with Roshn to set up EV charging stations across its properties in the country.

GREEN TECH-

Alat and KACST team up on semiconductor tech: PIF-owned sustainable-tech manufacturing company Alat and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) will partner up to boost research, development, and innovation in the energy and and industry sectors in a bid to localize the semiconductor industry, according to a statement. Alat will provide industrial facilities and will collaborate with KACST on research and training.

WASTE-TO-ENERGY-

Masdar-backed Maryvale gets WtE licence: The Maryvale Energy from Waste project in Australia — developed by Opal, Veolia, and Masdar Tribe Australia — was granted an Energy from Waste licence by Recycling Victoria, according to a statement (pdf). The facility will convert non-recyclable municipal solid waste into energy for the Maryvale pulp and paper mill, aiming to reduce Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 270k tonnes annually, and divert 80% of waste from landfills by 2030.

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