RAK Energy Summit will bring together government, international and local leaders

Munther Mohammed bin Shekar Al Zaabi, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality

RAK Energy Summit will bring together government, international and local leaders and busines leaders from both the supply and demand sides. Experts and academics will discuss industry trends, initiatives and priorities for energy transformation.

H.E. Munther Mohammed bin Shekar Al Zaabi

SUSTAINABILITY IS A BEACON FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

BY/ KHAWLA IBRAHIM

nder the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality hosts the first RAK Energy Summit in October 2022. This event comes with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and more than ten government authorities in Ras Al Khaimah.

“The summit will bring together international and local government and business leaders from both the demand and supply sides. Experts and academics will discuss industry trends, initiatives and priorities for the energy transition. We look forward to hosting insightful discussions and hope that the summit will enhance collaboration between international agencies, local government bodies and the private sector on concrete goals and projects.” His Excellency Munther Mohammed bin Shekar Al Zaabi, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, said.

The event will be a platform to discuss industry trends and enhance regional and international cooperation, and will bring together government leaders, businessmen, exhibitors, researchers, experts and academics to discuss initiatives and priorities for energy transforma-

tion. It is an opportunity for companies and individuals to learn about the sustainability journey in Ras Al Khaimah and find their opportunities to be part of this journey. His Excellency, The Director General, affirms, “Sustainability is not achieved by one-time equipment changes. It is in fact a continuous and ongoing human endeavour, for as long as we have stewardship of our planet. Thus, sustainability also means ensuring future generations are motivated and have the knowledge and tools necessary to continue on this Sustainability is not achieved by one-time equipment changes. It is in fact a continuous and ongoing human endeavour, for as long as we have journey”. Based on the commitment of the United Arab Emirates to implement the use of energy efficiency and renewstewardship of our planet. able energy, the Government of Ras Al Khaimah has launched the Ras Al Khaimah Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040. In this regard, His Excellency Munther Mohammed bin Shekar Al Zaabi said, “As humanity faces the storms of the present and struggles with evolving scenarios on the horizon, we must turn to the beacon of sustainability to reach a better tomorrow. Through the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040, Ras Al Khaimah contributes to the energy sustainability goals of the United Arab Emirates and of the world, while providing concrete benefits to residents and businesses in the emirate”.

RAKBUSINESS magazine met Eng. Andrea Di Gregorio, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables Office (Reem), to learn more about the first RAK Energy Summit, the challenges facing the energy sector, and the importance of energy transformation.

Energy sector emissions make up two-thirds of total greenhouse gas emissions globally. Could you explain why we need the energy transition and how it can be achieved?

The increase in emissions from traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels contributes directly to global warming. This has multiple undesirable effects, such as rising temperatures and sea levels.

The increased frequency of extreme weather events has impacted the environment and humankind. The energy transition is a pathway toward transforming the global energy sector from fossil-based to zero-carbon to limit these effects. It will require a dramatic shift to renewable energy supported by energy storage and a significant increase in energy efficiency.

Fossil fuels will have a crucial role in the coming decades in supporting the shift. For example, natural gas is already emerging as a “transition fuel,” bridging carbon-intensive energy sources like coal with renewable energy.

Meeting the global climate goals requires comprehensive approaches driven by strong political commitment. The UAE has expressed a solid ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040 of Ras Al Khaimah is a comprehensive framework that supports this ambition.

How do we achieve a fair transition, considering environmental protection and access to energy for all people?

Renewable energy technologies support environmental protection by reducing harmful emissions. It also enhances energy access, as renewable energy is more economical than its traditional alternatives and can be adopted by anyone. For example, solar technology, particularly applicable in this region, enables generation from distributed solar installations at a low cost.

In addition, building regulations and other

Eng. Andrea Di Gregorio, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables Office (Reem)

RAK Energy Summit to be held in October 2022 is an opportunity for companies and individuals to learn about the sustainability journey in Ras Al Khaimah and find opportunities to participate in this journey

policies also ensure that the benefits of new energy-efficient technologies such as solar water heating, insulation, efficient appliances, and efficient vehicles be made available to everyone. Barjeel, Ras Al Khaimah’s green building regulations ensure that a minimum efficiency standard is incorporated in every new building so that future occupants will benefit from lower energy and water costs.

How can the business community and people contribute to the energy transition?

Success in the energy transition requires speed and expansion of the transition spectrum; hence, broad community involvement and business communities are essential. As an initial step, businesses and people, in general, need to be more cognizant of the energy transition and its importance. Attending relevant events, participating in workshops, and training courses are relatively simple ways to achieve this. Doing so will facilitate more responsible choices and increase awareness,

providing alternatives to support the transition. In addition, it may unlock opportunities for individuals to use their newfound knowledge in businesses that strive to make a real change. The RAK Energy Summit planned for October 2022 is an opportunity for everyone to learn about Ras Al Khaimah’s sustainability journey and to explore opportunities to participate in this journey.

Businesses and people can also make a tangible contribution through direct investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. They can, for example, purchase highly-efficient equipment, adopt renewable energy, own and rent green buildings, use public transportation, and recycle waste. In this regard, the Ras Al Khaimah Building Retrofit Program supports building owners who wish to make their properties more energy efficient. Similarly, the Ras Al Khaimah Solar Program supports building owners in adopting distributed renewable energy.

Tell us about the challenge of reducing emissions from major industries and powering them with clean energy?

The solution to transforming Ras Al Khaimah’s electricity supply is evident. Investing in clean and renewable energy sources, along with energy efficiency, is the way forward, there are many successful examples in this regard worldwide. However, the transition of large industries presents an even more significant challenge because we have not yet found the appropriate technologies to enable different sectors, such as cement or steel, to continue operating without using fossil fuels.

The most important action now is to focus on research to find and test potential new solutions for these sectors that have historically been difficult to decarbonize.

Ras Al Khaimah Municipality has begun working with these industries to help them prioritize decarbonization opportunities and connect them with qualified local and international suppliers.

What about the challenge of abandoning millions of cars with combustion engines, as well as machines and others, and raising awareness to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions to address the phenomenon of climate change?

Despite the need for urgent action, the transition from combustion engines and vehicles powered by fossil fuels will take years - if not decades - to achieve. The fuels themselves are only one part of the problem. Equally important is the infrastructure and charging capacity of electric vehicles and the energy that must be generated for them. One of the energy transition’s main challenges is ensuring that the appropriate infrastructure is established to allow such alternatives and gradually replace vehicles and machines that reach the end of their life with cleaner options during this period. It is here that government policies, capacity building, and financing mechanisms will be able to prove their usefulness.

The Efficient Vehicles Program in Ras Al Khaimah supports this change by introducing standards related to electric vehicle infrastructure, providing incentives to those who purchase and use electric and hybrid vehicles, promoting green financing offers from banks, and adopting efficient vehicles in government fleets.

What role do current and future technologies play in enabling this transition?

Technology plays a significant role. Deploying efficient and future-proof technologies when designing and constructing new buildings, infrastructure and cities is a crucial determinant of the success of any transition strategy.

In its strategy for energy efficiency and renewable energy 2040, Ras Al Khaimah government has adopted nine major programs to preserve the environment and adopt modern technologies to reduce carbon emissions and the effects of climate change

The technological aspect of Ras Al Khaimah’s Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040 has been included in the nine below-mentioned programs. Barjeel, the green building regulations of Ras Al Khaimah, and Building Retrofit Program support the adoption of efficient lighting and ACs in buildings. The Energy Management program supports the industrial sector’s effective energy monitoring and new process technologies. The Efficient Street Lighting program is based primarily on LED and dimming technology. The Solar Program supports the adoption of efficient solar solutions. The Efficient Vehicles program promotes hybrid and electric vehicles and more efficient conventional cars. The Energy from Waste program looks at technological solutions to ensure an energy outcome for municipal waste. The Efficient Appliances program promotes technological innovation across most types of appliances used at home. In the Green Public Procurement program, the Government supports technological innovation by pursuing higher performance standards in each government entity’s product purchases.

The private sector is considered the main contributor to technological innovation and an essential enabler of Ras Al Khaimah Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040 in capacity building, i.e., supporting the development of a local ecosystem for companies that will use technology in their projects. The Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAKDED) and the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zones Authority (RAKEZ) offer attractive incentives for innovative start-ups and SMEs when they start their operations in Ras Al Khaimah. It adds incentives to our significant business opportunities in sustainable energy.

You mentioned the RAK Energy Summit. Can you elaborate more on this and explain how the industries can participate?

In 2022, the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality will host the first RAK Energy Summit under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

The event will be a platform to discuss industry trends and promote regional and international cooperation. It will bring together government leaders, business leaders, exhibitors, researchers, experts, and academics to discuss initiatives and priorities for energy transformation.

The summit is supported by various local government agencies and federal government bodies such as the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and intergovernmental organizations such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Rights and Duties of Judicial Control Officers and Their Role in the Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah

In our previous article, we explained the rights and duties of judicial control officers. In this part we continue to talk about duties. The judicial control officers must be conversant with the provisions of the legislation entrusted with controlling the implementation and taking into account the procedures stipulated therein when carrying out their duties. They also must be aware of any other obligations set by a government authority or the committee thereof.

udicial control officers must receive communications and complaints regarding violations related to their job in accordance with the procedures adopted. They must verify that the persons addressed by the legislation comply with the duties and provisions imposed thereby.

Procedures of investigation and preparation for the seizure must be completed confidentially. Only those in charge of such procedures must be notified, to the extent strictly necessary, until the violation is verified and the seizure date is scheduled after obtaining the permission of the Public Prosecution, if necessary.

Judicial control officers who are in charge of investigating and collecting evidence related to a violation must duly report such violation. They must draw up the report supported with facts and measures taken. The leaders must be notified of the report incidents on a weekly and monthly basis. Two separate records must be prepared with serial registration numbers and the date of their receipt. The first one is to record complaints in their infancy until being addressed. The other one is to record the report facts that may result from the complaint stated in the first record or the periodic investigations carried out by the control officer. A third record may be established to record seizures and actions taken in their regard.

The seizure report that the judicial officer prepares must be complete before being registered in its specific record. It must mention the date, data of its editor, place of report, seizure procedures, and the data of the defendant or the accused. The report must also state the procedures took place before, during and after the seizure procedures and the seizures and their meticulous inventory. Seizures must be kept with the knowledge of the judicial control officer or placing them in a closed store by a plastic lock with a serial number that is not perishable. This store must be under the guard of a security personnel. Otherwise, a receipt containing an accurate inventory of the seized items must be signed by the owner or holder of the seizure place until it is legally acted upon.

All of this shall be evidenced in the seizure report and, by extension, in the seizure facts record and the third record. A copy of the receipt that the seizures were received must be attached, or the measures or the final disposal measures taken in this regard. All must be entered in the same number of the seizure report in the specific record. The record shall be monitored in the three records on a daily basis. A weekly and monthly report shall be prepared out of these records to be presented to the department leaders.

Judicial control officers must take the necessary measures and procedures to preserve all evidence and seizures related to the committed violation. They must take all necessary measures to present the violators to the Public Prosecution, if necessary, during the legal confiscation period. They must also set the necessary criteria to determine the facts that must be presented to the Public Prosecution, or upon which the judicial control officer must act upon within the limits of his legal competence. That is to quickly act on the seizure facts as per their nature without involving the Public Prosecution in all the facts that the law guarantees to the executive authority, represented in this case by the Department of Economic Development, to act upon.

Finally, I recommend issuing the executive regulations of Law No. 7 of 2016 regarding commercial control and protection of economic establishments in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah to induct the judicial officers’ fundamental standard operating procedures (SOP). Furthermore, this habilitating shall include edifying and preparing these officers by organizing regular training courses to increase awareness and prime them of applicable laws and amendments made, with a supporting statement for issuing legislation and/or its purpose.

As the primary purpose of issuing this legislation is sustainable economic development, increasing economic prosperity, aspiring to higher standards of living for citizens, and underpinning trust between owners of commercial projects and dealers or consumers, hence attracting new investments and consumers to the Emirate for their confidence in the commitment and discipline illustrated in their commercial projects”

Judge/ Walid ElRefai

RAK DED Legal Consultant