SOLAR-

Oman will remotely operate its biggest solar plant: Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) has successfully completed tests to remotely operate the Ibri Solar Independent Power Project (IPP), according to a statement on Thursday. The 500 MW Ibri III Solar IPP is also the first solar plant in the Sultanate to be connected to the transmission grid.

REMEMBER- OETC plans to link as much as 2.6 GW of renewable energy to its transmission grid by 2027 through planned clean energy projects. This will also include a 1 GW solar IPP project in Manah that will be completed in 2Q 2024 and another 500 MW solar IPP proposed in the Al Kamil area by 2Q 2027.

WASTE MANAGEMENT-

KSA’s Tadweeer begins operations in Riyadh: Saudi-based recycling company Tadweeer has begun operating its main production plant in Riyadh’s Industrial Gate City after receiving industrial and operating licenses, according to a disclosure to Tadawul on Thursday. It is not clear which production unit received the licenses, but Tadweeer announced it was launching an iron production facility last May.

Tadweeer has been active lately: The company signed a USD 11.36 mn agreement with KSA-based firms Tebrak Trading & Contracting Company and Mounes Mohamed Alshayeb for Civil Construction for the development of e-waste repurposing plants in the country last January. The electronic waste recycling factories are expected to double Tadweeer’s sales once they become operational in 2Q 2024.

BIOFUELS-

Lootah Biofuels is collecting oil in Maldives: Dubai-based biofuels producer Lootah Biofuels signed an MoU with Maldives' Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts to collect used cooking oil and process it into biodiesel for energy use, Wam reported on Thursday. The expected volume of used cooking oil to be recycled or the operational timeline was not disclosed.

REMEMBER- There’s a biofuels production plant coming: Lootah Biofuels signed an agreement in April with Maldives state-owned utility provider Fenaka Corporation to establish the company’s first biofuel production plant from waste cooking oil overseas. The statement did not provide details on the planned production plant’s capacity, investment ticket, or a timeline for operations.

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Oman’s biofuel startup Wakud is ramping up WtE services: Local biofuels producer Wakud has partnered with Omani service management firm Renaissance Services to increase the recycling of used cooking oil from the company’s industrial-scale kitchens, the company said last week. The biodiesel will be produced at Wakud’s Khazaen Industrial City, which has already converted over 9k liters of Renaissance’s used cooking oil into biodiesel. The biodiesel produced can cut carbon emissions by as much as 93% compared to fossil fuels.

Wakud is on an expansion spree: Wakud plans to establish a plant with a capacity of 250 tons per day at an investment cost between USD 120-150 mn in partnership with Omani-British green energy venture X2E. Wakud is also setting up a fish-waste recycling facility and a vegetable and fruit waste-to-biogas plant, with work expected to begin by 2H 2024.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Neom’s Oxagon breaks ground on research + innovation campus: Saudi Arabia’s Oxagon city in Neom has begun the construction of its research and innovation campus. The campus will span over 200k sqm and will include state-of-the-art labs, prototyping areas, co-working and office spaces, and digitally enabled facilities. (LinkedIn)
• AD Ports and RightShip partner on emissions solutions: The UAE’s AD Ports will begin using ESG-focused maritime platform RightShip’s Maritime Emissions Portal (MEP) to help the port measure and manage its emissions. (Statement)
• Mitsubishi extends maintenance contract for Egyptian power plants: Mitsubishi Power extended its 16-year long-term service agreement with Egypt for the maintenance and management of six gas turbines in the country. The Japanese International Corporation Agency-funded agreement will help improve power supply stability and efficiency, resulting in fuel savings and mitigating the effects of climate change. (Statement)