Page 21 - Industrial Plants

In addition to traditional oil&gas markets, this area is
starting to invest significantly in the new renewable
energy projects for the energy transition. This new type
of investments has not slowed down even during the
pandemic.
It is not a coincidence that the headquarters of IRENA
(International Renewable Energy Association, headed
by Francesco La Camera, an Italian top expert), are
located here. IRENA continues the work with a very
clear strategy and policy recommendations to numerous
Governments, in order to achieve the climate-change
goals.
The UAE are quite aware of the new energy paradigm
and they pursue the ‘green’ objectives with focus and
determination: continuation of the traditional
investments until the new carbon-free energy sources
will be ready in sufficient quantities. In particular, they
are lining up significant investments in solar energy and
hydrogen.
It might be important to underscore that the oil
produced in the Emirates is already one of the cleanest
and lowest cost crudes in the world.
Beyond energy, there are significant and growing
investments in water, desalination and power plants,
applying the most modern technologies available on
the market today”.

We also see a growing trend towards mandatory
local content in the area. What are your views?
“Local content is certainly a major and growing
Government objective here, which needs to be factored
in by international companies.
As to SMEs, it can constitute a remarkable challenge
and a further incentive to joint efforts (by merging or
setting JVs or optimizing the Italian supply chain) in
order to reduce their relative impact”.

Your Excellency, first of all, thank you very much
for this interview and for sharing your viewpoints
with us.
The new capex investments in the energy, power
and water sectors in the Gulf countries have been
major and traditional markets for our Companies.
How do you see these markets today, also in the
light of the energy transition?
“Inevitably, we have witnessed a slowdown during the
year 2020, as a direct consequence of the pandemic.
However, today we see interesting recovery signals,
mostly in the UAE and GCC countries. Nicola Lener

IndustrIal Plants - September 2021
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