Wetex 2012 opens with new scopes

The 14th Water, Energy, & Environment Exhibition 2012 (Wetex), organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) under the umbrella of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (SCE), opened in Dubai on Tuesday. The Exhibition lasts for three days from March 13 to 15 at Zabeel Hall and Halls 1, 2, 3 and 4 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of DEWA, opened the Exhibition in the presence of top figures and officials in Dubai. After the opening ceremony with Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, top officials accompanied by Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of Dewa, and Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD and CEO of Dewa, explored the Exhibition and viewed the displays and equipment being showcased by companies from 28 countries from over the world participating in the Exhibition. Sheikh Hamdan listened to an overview from Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer about the Exhibition and the wide participation of national and international companies, whose number has reached 1,055 this year. Sheikh Hamdan also listened to a summary of Dewa’s projects, achievements and updates in this year’s Exhibition, specifically the participation of the oil and gas sectors and their related activities for the first time this year. The exhibition opens up new scopes, and attracts cutting-edge technologies and major international companies to Dubai. This enhances Dubai’s position as the preferred regional hub for finance, trade, business, and tourism. The number of companies and organisations participating in this year’s Exhibition reached 1,055 in comparison with 715 in last year’s Exhibition. Also, Wetex 2012 is characterised by the expansion of SmarTech, which showcases state-of-the-art technologies that conserve and reduce power consumption by incorporating the most eco-friendly designs and materials,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised Dewa and the significant developments it has made for all its facilities in addition to the excellent services Dewa provides, which has made it one of the best utilities in the world. Sheikh Hamdan also praised the exhibition and the developments it has made every year and its global profile to date, which has become an important landmark in Dubai’s international exhibition map. Sheikh Hamdan also praised the continuous efforts of Dewa to protect the environment through green technologies and renewable energy projects and its applications of best practices in this field, which support resources sustainability and the green economy in Dubai. This model of the park is on display at the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy booth, and forms the foundation and benchmark for our strategy to utilize clean and renewable energy, which plays an important role in our sustainable development. The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy will present the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, as new sources of energy will be provided and, consequently, shares of different sources of energy will be changed to 71 per cent gas and the remaining 29 per cent comprising nuclear energy, coal and renewable sources of energy. In this way, electricity from solar energy will constitute 5% of our electricity needs in 2030,” Sheikh Hamdan added. Sheikh Hamdan also said: “The participation of fossil fuel, including oil, gas and related activities, in this year’s Exhibition is of significant importance as fossil fuels are one of the sources of energy used at on a wide scale. Therefore, the Exhibition has become integrated and includes different sources of energy.” He mentioned about the huge turnout, which reflects the great position of the United Arab Emirates in general, and Dubai in particular, as the preferred hub for finance, business and other activities. This global economic event is a milestone, which adds to Dubai’s record of varied economic and commercial activities, organized all the year round. This Exhibition includes important displays and addresses critical issues, all of which help the UAE’s efforts to implement sustainable development within different economic sectors and protect the environment as a strategic objective.