WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT-

Taqa Water Solutions — formerly known as Sustainable Water Solutions — awarded an AED 150 mn (USD 40.8 mn) wastewater management contract to Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Contractors, according to a press release. Announced at the World Utilities Congress, the project aims to serve four communities in Abu Dhabi: Al Bahia, Al Sader, Al Shaliela, and Taweelah.

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The details: The project entails building a 9.5-km gravity-driven pipeline and shutting down existing pumping stations to boost energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. This upgrade will increase wastewater capacity, raising it to 120k cubic meters per day.

ENERGY STORAGE-

The newly established Apex Energy and Enercap JV signed MoUs to manufacture 35 GWh of energy storage capacity across its facilities, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf). The companies had set up the JV last week, with plans to build a 10 GW manufacturing plant and acquire and develop another 6 GW one in Dubai Industrial City. Apex Energy holds a 65% stake in the joint venture, while Enercap controls 35%.

SUSTAINABILITY-

Oman partners with GGGI on green initiatives: Oman's Environment Authority has signed a five-year cooperation program with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to enhance efforts in environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation, Oman Daily reports. The program will focus on nature-based solutions, land restoration, and green finance.

In context: The initiative aims to facilitate access to the Green Climate Fund for sustainable projects, focusing on innovative financing mechanisms. The GGGI will collaborate with Oman to develop and implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

Jordan launches hydrofluorocarbons phase out plan: Jordan’s Ministry of Environment has launched the first phase of its national strategy to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to preserve the environment in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and with funding from the Montreal Fund, Amman Jo reports. The plan aims to reduce HFCs by 54% by 2030 by providing industries that use the gasses with sustainable alternatives. Jordan has committed to the Kigali Amendment which aims to reduce emissions mainly from the refrigeration industry.

What are hydrofluorocarbons? Traditionally used in industry and retail cooling, HFCs are 1k times more damaging than CO2. An investigative report released earlier this year found that around 20-30% of legally traded volumes of the chemicals were illicitly traded and smuggled into the EU via Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine.

Other countries have already taken the step: The 1987 Montreal Protocol targeted the control of ozone-depleting substances and has led to the first reduction of HFCs. The EU has revised its F-gas Regulation which provides additional tools for law enforcement to crack down on the trade of the gasses. The UAE’s Climate Change and Environment Ministry issued a decree regulating the use and distribution of hydrofluorocarbons in the country under a bid to control their distribution and curb their emissions.

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