Trash talk TAQA plans for groundbreaking waste-to-energy project

Transcription

1 03 The magazine from taqa cover story Trash talk TAQA plans for groundbreaking waste-to-energy project Electrifying Morocco energy Jorf Lasfar expands to meet the country s rising demand Black gold dreams oil & gas Kurdistan embarks on a new era of oil wealth Ghana s growth story power Helping the country develop with Takoradi 2 expansion Creative energy art TAQA s Serena Staples shares her passion for fine art

2 IT S HAPPENING a great basis for expansion and diversification taqa today Carl Sheldon Chief Executive Officer TAQAWORLD is the global magazine from TAQA, distributed to our employees, partners and friends across 11 countries. dear reader, TAQA s businesses are all capital intensive, regulated and strategically important to the host governments of the countries in which we work. This gives us a great opportunity to expand and diversify through the energy chain within our existing geographical footprint, because we have built and we maintain strong, trusting partnerships with the governments in the countries where we work. As you will read in this issue, the scale of the Jorf Lasfar power plant is matched by its economic importance to Morocco. The facility is the largest coal-fired power plant anywhere in the Middle East and North Africa, and accounts for more than 40% of Morocco s electricity output. Now it is about to become even more important, with an expansion plan which will increase capacity by 50%. But we are not only growing inside our existing footprint. We have placed a focus on making market entries in the Middle East and North Africa region. Here, we believe we can make the most of the rising profile of the UAE as a force for positive development across the Arab world. In the Kurdistan region of Iraq, a major oil and gas development is under way under the operatorship of TAQA. This will not only increase our oil and gas footprint in the Middle East, it will also help improve the lives of ordinary people in Iraq. In Ghana, we are expanding our power plant to help fuel economic growth and broader prosperity. As you will see in this edition of TAQAWORLD, more than a million people in Ghana will benefit from our expansion of the Takoradi 2 power plant in the southwest of the country. We are also strengthening our alignment with the 2030 vision of Abu Dhabi, where we already provide 98% of the power and water. Our aim is to build a state-of-the-art waste-to-energy plant in the emirate, which will generate enough electricity for 20,000 households and also cut greenhouse gases. This marquee project will not only process one million tonnes a year of rubbish that would otherwise be dumped in landfill sites, but it will also improve the quality of life in Abu Dhabi. As you turn these pages, you will see a celebration of our most important asset: our people. We feature Malcolm Greenslade, who plays international rugby for the UAE, and Canadian Serena Staples, an emerging artist, whose work has been bought by private collectors. The diversity and talent of our staff is also highlighted in our feature on TAQA Talent. I am delighted to present the third edition of our magazine and look forward to presenting more stimulating stories from our global business later in the year. Kind regards, Across our global footprint the roll out of the TAQA Talent Leadership Programme (TLP) is underway. Right now, Carl Sheldon, our CEO, and his Global Leadership Team are half way through the programme. In the coming months, every one of our 300+ leaders will take part. Many have already started. We re developing our leaders by championing a one TAQA approach to leadership behaviours. Soon, the results will be evident. The magazine from taqa 03

3 letters expansion in india requires experience and understanding India s growth in the past 10 years has been phenomenal and the country will continue to be a key global economic power as we look to the future. Expansion at such speed, however, does not come without its challenges. There are a number of critical uncertainties : volatile energy prices, the climate framework, an energy-water nexus and currency concerns, all of which affect the energy sector. The negative environmental impact of importing oil and coal to meet the energy demand of India s continuously growing economy has raised a number of questions around the country s responsibility towards climate change. Energy poverty is another problem; despite steps taken by the government in recent years, approximately 50 million citizens in rural India are still without electricity. One of TAQA s responses to these challenges has been its recent acquisition of an interest in a hydroelectric plant in northern India and it is good for us to see the company taking such a positive and constructive role in India s energy sector. It takes a good understanding of how the country works for a company to be active and successful in it. TAQA s experience of existing projects and its efforts to gain the trust of the people and businesses there puts it in a strong position. In October, Indian representatives including ministers, CEOs and industry experts will attend the 22nd World Energy Congress in Daegu, South Korea and it will be a great opportunity to discuss how India s energy needs can be safely and responsibly met. Dr Christopher Frei Secretary General World Energy Council north sea oil production still has potential I read with interest Shape of things to come the article in the previous issue of TAQAWORLD about decommissioning installations in the North Sea. TAQA is not alone in hoping to extend its decommissioning deadline. Record levels of field investment are taking place in the North Sea; in 2012 they amounted to 11.5 billion and it looks like this figure will grow this year. All this investment should ensure that the rather rapid decline in production that has taken place during the last two years We welcome your comments on this issue, and your suggestions for future articles. us at taqa.world@taqaglobal.com could be reversed good news for TAQA. I believe that over the next 30 years the UK can produce a cumulative total of between 15 and 17.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent. To realise this potential, the exploration effort needs to increase above recent levels, production efficiency needs to be enhanced, and third-party access to infrastructure needs to be streamlined. But the potential is there. Professor Alex Kemp Professor of Petroleum Economics and Director of Aberdeen Centre for Research in Energy Economics and Finance University of Aberdeen first for taqa on sustainable development TAQA has published its first annual Sustainable Development Report. It reinforces TAQA s commitment to creating value for the longterm future while acting responsibly. This means protecting its employees, being active in the community, minimising the impact on the environment and remaining the partner of choice in its chosen markets through trusting relationships with business and government partners. The report is available for download from in English and Arabic. Stephen John Head of Sustainable Development TAQA, Abu Dhabi overseas investment in us wind energy benefits rural communities In 2012 the US installed more wind power than any other form of generation, including natural gas. Interestingly, most of the wind build was driven by economics the availability of inexpensive wind-generated electricity has increased significantly in recent years rather than state mandates for renewable energy. In fact, of the 13.6 gigawatts (GW) of wind installed in 2012, roughly 10GW was built outside of the states that need wind-build to meet clean energy mandates. Instead, strong wind resources in the Midwest and Great Plains regions, federal incentives for renewable generation and declining wind turbine prices have allowed long-term power contracts to be signed for as low as US$27 per megawatt hour (MWh) (with the benefit of a US$22/MWh Production Tax Credit). This compares to an estimated levelized cost (the cost of electricity generated by different sources) of new natural gas build at US$61-US$68/MWh. The strong wind resources and long-term power contracts are attracting international investors like TAQA, which purchased 50% of the Lakefield wind farm in Minnesota earlier this year. The international investment is bringing significant economic opportunities to rural areas in the US. Lakefield, for instance, is a small farming community with a population of approximately 1,600. It relies on local wind for jobs, rent payments from the wind farms and tax revenue. Combined, lease payments and tax revenue will result in nearly US$1.4 million of revenue for the county each year. Amy Grace Wind Analyst Bloomberg New Energy Finance towering glory big picture In the rural heartland of North America, these giants stand like prehistoric trees. Generating megawatts, the 137 turbines at the Lakefield wind farm in Minnesota produce enough electricity to power around 68,000 homes. TAQA has now signed off on the deal to acquire 50% of the wind farm from a subsidiary company of France s EDF. 04 issue 03 The magazine from taqa 05

4 contents What you think TAQAWORLD is the global magazine from TAQA, distributed to our employees, partners and friends in 11 countries. We want to offer readers a true industry perspective, demonstrating how TAQA generates energy and growth for the communities in which it operates, and a sense of identity, opportunity and excitement for the people it employs. We welcome your comments on this issue, and your suggestions for future topics and articles. taqa.world@taqaglobal.com TAQA is a global energy company with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi and a footprint spanning four continents. Our name TAQA means energy in Arabic. Our vision is to deliver Energy for Growth: growth within our business; social and economic progress in the communities in which we operate; and increased value for our shareholders. We aim to run our company not only profitably but also sustainably, operating to the highest ethical standards. Corporate Communications Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC TAQA PO Box: Abu Dhabi, UAE T: F: E: info@taqaglobal.com Photography: Corbis, Getty Images, PA Images and TAQA. Cover illustration: Selena Cardwell 12 talent show Why TAQA s Talent Acceleration Programme is crucial to fostering fresh talent and sustaining long-term growth 08 our world A round-up of the latest developments across TAQA s global operations 24 a place in a hurry Kurdistan is joining forces with foreign investors to realise its oil potential 16 waste-to-energy cover story TAQA plans to enter the wasteto-energy market by building one of the largest plants in the world in Abu Dhabi 30 platform for safety How TAQA s critical safety procedures and training were recently put to the test in the North Sea 20 powering up How Jorf Lasfar s expansion will help to boost Morocco s economic growth and meet rising demand for electricity 26 power for the people TAQA s role in expanding the Takoradi 2 power plant is helping to shape economic reform in West Africa TAQAWORLD is printed in the UAE on paper sourced from sustainable forests, and approved by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). PEFC/ PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources 14 creative energy Serena Staples explores the relationship between her work as an emerging artist and her role as a Human Resources Advisor at TAQA 32 having a ball Newly launched on the international rugby scene, Malcolm Greenslade finds that his sporting career has parallels with his role at TAQA 06 issue 03

5 Power & Water Oil & Gas Energy Solutions taqa news A round-up of the latest developments across TAQA's global operations north sea middle east UK government approves TAQA s North Sea development plans The British government has approved TAQA s plans to develop the Cladhan field in the North Sea. The initial phase will consist of two producer wells and one injection well. Cladhan is expected to produce more than 17,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) initially with first oil expected in early The production will be tied back to TAQA s Tern Alpha platform, which lies 17.5km northeast of the Cladhan field. The Cladhan development is the third field that TAQA has developed and the largest project to date, said Leo Koot, former head of TAQA s UK business and now Managing Director at its operations in Iraq. Developing Cladhan as a tieback to Tern supports TAQA s strategy to invest in our infrastructure as we recognise the crucial part it plays in allowing us to maximise recovery from the northern North Sea. TAQA wins Forbes magazine award TAQA is rated as one of the leading listed energy groups in Forbes Middle East magazine s Top 500 Companies in the Arab World. The company was also the highestranked energy company in the UAE. We are honoured to receive this prestigious award from Forbes, which is one of the best known business media brands in the world, said Dr Saif Al Sayari, TAQA s Executive Officer, Head of Energy Solutions, after receiving the award from the UAE Minister for Culture, Youth & Community Development, HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, in Abu Dhabi. I would like to share this recognition with our teams providing energy for growth around the world, he added. Forbes Middle East s in-depth study into listed companies and subsequent ranking of The Top 500 in the Arab World is based on revenue, net profit, assets and market capitalisation. In 2012, Forbes ranked TAQA as the sixth-largest company in the UAE. 30m Once the expansion plans are complete at TAQA s Fujairah 1 water and power plant, an extra 30 million imperial gallons per day will go through the desalination process % TAQA s plants supply 98% of the power and water in Abu Dhabi The Takoradi 2 power plant in Ghana will generate 50% more electricity by 2014 Forbes Middle East magazine rated TAQA as the highestranked energy company in the UAE 17,000 The barrels of oil equivalent per day that Cladhan in the North Sea is expected to produce once TAQA has developed the field united kingdom ghana A licence to thrill and attract talent The name is TAQA TAQA UK. Taking its autocue from the James Bond movie Skyfall, TAQA s UK operation filmed its latest recruitment video on the same type of camera that was used to shoot the blockbuster franchise. The production company behind the TAQA feature [Casual Films] used the Arri Alexa camera, the same model used by the Bond film-makers, TAQA Talk, the UK publication, reported. There are only a few in use in the UK. TAQA s recruitment video was filmed in Aberdeen, Scotland and had an ambitious brief. The idea was to produce a stunning film which would attract the industry s smartest, brightest and most passionate individuals, TAQA Talk added. uae TAQA report highlights our goals for the future TAQA has released its first annual Sustainable Development Report. It outlines the company s approach and performance in 2012 as well as goals for workplace health and safety, staff development, environmental protection, community relations and industry partnerships. The report reinforces TAQA s commitment to creating value for the long-term future. This means acting responsibly, protecting employees, being active in the community, minimising the impact on the environment and remaining the partner of choice in chosen markets. The report is available for download in English and Arabic at: Power plant in Ghana to generate 50% more electricity One million people in Ghana will benefit from TAQA s US$330 million expansion of the Takoradi 2 power plant outside Aboadze on the southwest coast of the country. The facility will eventually generate 50% more electricity by the end of The plant will produce 15% of Ghana s power capacity. The Takoradi 2 expansion project reflects our energy for growth programme aimed at increasing investments in the energy sector to build capacity for the future, said John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, at the plant s groundbreaking ceremony. The role of independent power producers has become vital and the partnership of TAQA and VRA, [the country s main generator of electricity], has demonstrated that Public-Private- Partnerships (PPP) work in Ghana. Khalid Al-Ghaith, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs, highlighted the close ties between the two countries. We are encouraging investments in Africa and will continue to back our sovereign companies such as TAQA, he said. We look forward to strengthening the relationship between Ghana and the UAE and look forward to seeing more official visits and further agreements. The project supports the Ghanaian government s efforts to develop the electricity sector and promote the use of the country s natural gas reserves. When completed, the expansion will increase the plant s output from 220 megawatts (MW) to 340MW without requiring extra fuel or producing additional emissions. In 2011, TAQA and VRA upgraded the plant from burning imported oil to natural gas. For more, see Power for the people on page issue 03 The magazine from taqa 09

6 north sea Pete Jones appointed UK MD as Leo Koot takes on Iraq challenge Pete Jones has taken over as Managing Director for TAQA s UK Oil & Gas business. Based in Aberdeen, he is responsible for the company s operations in the North Sea. Mr Jones joins TAQA from Marathon Oil Corp., where he was Regional Vice President Wyoming. During his career at Marathon, he also held various roles including Managing Director UK, responsible for the company s British operations, which included the Brae field and Devenick tieback. Mr Jones has a master s degree in Operations Research (Eng) from the University of Birmingham. taqa news uae TAQA unveils plans for UAE waste-toenergy plant TAQA plans to build a US$850 million waste-to-energy plant in Abu Dhabi. When the facility is up and running by 2017, it will generate enough power for 20,000 households and cut CO 2 emissions, reducing the UAE capital s carbon footprint. This project is expected to reduce CO 2 emissions by more than one million tonnes per year, says Dr Saif Al Sayari, Executive Officer and Head of Energy Solutions at TAQA. That is taking into account the emissions that would be released if the waste was dumped in a landfill site, transportation to the dumps and the size of the plant if it was powered by fossil fuels. Once it is built on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi near the Mussafah Sea Port, the 100 megawatt plant will be one of the world s largest waste-to-energy facilities. It will stretch across an area of 100,000 square metres. Overall, the project size is around 200 metres by 500 metres, says Ed Atkinson, Head of Waste-to-Energy at TAQA and part of Dr Al Sayari s team. For more, see Trash and burn on page 16. Pete Jones brings highly relevant skills and leadership experience to TAQA, where he will be leading the next phases in the evolution of TAQA s North Sea business, said David Cook, TAQA Executive Officer and Head of Oil & Gas. We have already been successful in redevelopment of northern North Sea assets and look forward to further expansion through exploration, development and the newly acquired BP assets. Mr Jones succeeds Leo Koot who has been appointed Managing Director of TAQA in Iraq. He is responsible for all of TAQA s operations in the country. Mr Koot joined TAQA in Leo Koot has successfully built our UK business from scratch, and we are now a leading North Sea oil and gas operator, said Mr Cook. I am proud to have such a successful leader taking on the task of building our new operations in Iraq. TAQA s proposed waste-toenergy plant in Abu Dhabi would generate enough electricity to power 20,000 homes 85% The percentage of people living in rural areas of sub-saharan Africa who lack access to electricity, according to US reports US$50 20,000 By 2020, the price of crude oil could fall to around US$50 a barrel, according to a Puma Energy report 100,000 The area in square metres of the waste-to-energy plant that TAQA plans to build in Abu Dhabi. It will be one of the largest in the world US$ 25bn ê 2020 The amount the UAE plans to invest in gas development projects during the next five years uae Expansion moves on track at Fujairah water and power plant The US$200 million expansion plans at the Fujairah 1 water and power plant in the UAE are gathering pace. TAQA along with Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) and its project partners, including Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), have held a ground-breaking ceremony. Once complete, the project will increase the plant s seawater desalination capacity by 30 million imperial gallons per day (MiGD) by using reverse osmosis purification technology. The expansion will increase the capacity of Fujairah 1 Independent Water and Power Plant from 100 MiGD to 130 MiGD. Around 67.5 MiGD will be produced using the reverse osmosis process. The remaining 62.5 MiGD will be produced using multistage flash technology. At TAQA, we are committed to helping the government of Abu Dhabi address the UAE s water desalination challenges, said Frank Perez, TAQA s Executive Officer and Head of Power & Water. Thanks to the support of our trusted partners, the expansion will help provide reliable water supply to the northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi. Ahmed Bin Abbood Al Adawi has been appointed to lead the Water division s expansion plans in the Middle East and North Africa. With more than 13 years of experience in international energy, Mr Al Adawi will take up the post of Vice President, Water Development and Projects. He was previously responsible for developing TAQA s Power business in the Middle East and North Africa. In his new role Mr Al Adawi will report to Mr Perez. With a proven record in the energy industry, Ahmed brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, said Mr Perez. TAQA is the majority owner of eight power and water plants in the UAE. industry news plugging africa into the grid of the global economy Barack Obama, the US President (right), made energy for life his keynote speech during his tour of Africa. Pledging US$7 billion to help combat frequent power blackouts in sub-saharan Africa, he spelt out his vision in Cape Town. Access to electricity is fundamental to opportunity in this age, Mr Obama said. It s the light that children study by, the energy that allows an idea to be transformed into a real business. It s the lifeline for families to meet their most basic needs, and it s the connection that s needed to plug Africa into the grid of the global economy. Around two-thirds of the population of sub-saharan Africa lacks access to electricity, including more than 85% of those living in rural areas, according to the US reports. A light where currently there is darkness the energy to lift people out of poverty that s what opportunity looks like, Mr Obama said. uae plans major gas development projects Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE s Energy Minister (above), has outlined plans for the Emirates to invest nearly US$25 billon on gas development projects in the next five years. Speaking at the second summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow, Mr Al Mazrouei said that the UAE aims to explore new gas fields and increase output. Gas, as a clean and environmentally friendly source of energy, will remain a major factor in the world energy supply equation and a driving force for world economic growth, he was quoted as saying on the UAE s official news agency WAM. find us at: taqaglobal.com twitter.com/taqaglobal flickr.com/photos/taqaglobal linkedin.com/company/taqa vimeo.com/channels/taqa crude prices predicted to slide in next decade Oil prices could slide in the next 10 years, a report quoting the former forecasting head of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has predicted. Dr John Llewellyn has described the shale oil and gas revolution in North America as a game changer in The Times, the London-based newspaper. In a report written with Puma Energy, Dr Llewellyn believes the price of oil could fall around $50-a-barrel between now and Brent crude has been hovering around the $100-a-barrel mark since the start of the year US$ US$50 10 issue 03 The magazine from taqa 11

7 human resources In a move to meet the challenges of the future, TAQA has rolled out a new series of initiatives for employees. The TAQA Talent Acceleration Programme will help develop expertise within our business, says Carl Sheldon, Chief Executive Officer talent show The concentration is etched on their faces. As Ken Boyle, Group Vice President, Human Resources, starts his opening address, the anticipation is so visible you can nearly touch it. Clustered around a table, the group of young achievers listens intently as Mr Boyle outlines the latest initiative in the TAQA Talent road show. This group sitting here could be the leadership team of the future, he tells them in a conference room on the 25th floor of the company s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. It is up to you to seize the opportunity. Mr Boyle opened the five-day forum and workshop for the TAQA Talent Acceleration Programme (TAP) by offering a glimpse of the future while anchoring his comments in the present. This is very exciting, he says about the initiative designed to help the career prospects of high-performing employees who are prepared to live and work across our global business operations. First of all, I want to congratulate you all on getting into this programme. This is the one that everyone is going to be watching. In the next few days, you are going to see what TAQA is all about. In the next few months, we are going to have career conversations with you, which might open your eyes a little in terms of future options. One person who attended the forum certainly had an eye-opening experience. I felt I was surrounded by a great deal of talent. We all have high expectations for this programme and we all know it will push us to our limits. I feel very privileged to be involved in this and I look forward to future workshops. Another participant was also impressed and delighted to be part of the group. It was great to be involved in the first sessions of the Talent Acceleration Programme. This was the ideal opportunity to meet colleagues from all around TAQA, and to understand and experience what is required to fill a leadership role. We have the privilege to work on an exciting assignment that will discover TAQA s identity. top-quality staff The acceleration programme is part of the TAQA Talent initiative that was launched in the spring by Carl Sheldon, Chief Executive Officer. TAQA Talent will help us develop the abilities and expertise of everyone within our business, says Mr Sheldon. The TAQA Talent initiative offers opportunities to focus on our ambitions, learn new skills and shape behaviours that can lead us to new levels of performance. Carl Sheldon, Chief Executive Officer, TAQA In a move to help create the distinctive One culture theme, a global team from the company s human resources division worked for several months to come up with the TAQA Talent plan, which is designed to develop the skills of our employees. For every employee, the initiative offers opportunities for them to focus on their ambitions, learn new skills, and shape behaviours that can lead us to new levels of performance and achievement, says Mr Sheldon. Not only will this be a focal point for professional development across the company, but it will play a larger role in helping us create our distinctive One TAQA culture that is rooted in value-based leadership. leadership forums In January, the TAQA Talent Leadership Programme (TLP) was rolled out globally in Calgary, Canada. That was followed in March by a two-day forum in Abu Dhabi. Executives from the UAE, Morocco, Iraq and Ghana gathered at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Hotel to sharpen their management skills. In the first of four workshops spanning a year, key areas covered were Mastering Emotional Intelligence, Essentials of Leadership and High Impact Feedback. Illustration by: Lyndon Hayes It was a great opportunity to develop my leadership skills, focus on best practice and meet colleagues from around the world, says Stuart Cooper, Vice President, Business Development, Oil & Gas. Susan Poulson, Associate General Counsel for TAQA s North American operation, found the experience refreshing. Ms Poulson took part in the pilot TLP forums in The Hague and loved every minute of it. To have the time to think about what I really can, and do, contribute to TAQA has made a difference in how I approach my work, she says. I have no doubt you ll see an impact in performance and leadership from those who attend. Back in the UAE, a TLP forum for the global leadership team was also held in Abu Dhabi. Managing directors and senior executives from across the group, including Mr Sheldon, attended the two-day event in April at the Park Hyatt Hotel on the resort island of Saadiyat. This programme will continue into This 12-month TAQA Talent programme will focus on advanced leadership skills and behaviours, says Mr Sheldon. This is an important development in the company s future. open doors At the TAQA Talent Acceleration Programme, Mr Boyle echoed those views when he pointed out that the doors were open for people to succeed. But he made it clear that hard work, dedication and team spirit were vital ingredients to being a future leader. The programme will help this group challenge for all the senior roles in TAQA, he says. But it does not guarantee them a senior job. If they don t perform or if they show arrogance, which bedevils other programmes like this around the world, they will not get their shots. What we have done is open the door for them. Looking ahead, TAQA Talent will continue throughout 2013 and beyond as more development initiatives are launched. Together we can discover new talents and reach new horizons, says Mr Sheldon. 12 issue 03 The magazine from taqa 13

8 01 taqa people Outside of work, Serena Staples, a Human Resources Advisor in TAQA s Calgary office, is an emerging artist. She says the human condition provides a link between her passion and her profession Stinger (16" x 16", oil on canvas, 2009) 02 Artist and TAQA Human Resources Advisor Serena Staples 03 Cognition (Token Bee) (6½" x 4½", mixed media with gold leaf on cedar, 2007) There is serenity in Serena Staples s abstract work. While the triptych Saturation (2005) focuses on the bold use of primary colours and exudes a primal energy, there is a sense of stillness in the acrylic on canvas piece. I created the painting entitled Saturation during a period when I was particularly focused on the idea of the development of consciousness, says Ms Staples, a Human Resources Advisor based in TAQA s Calgary office. I was exploring this concept from a variety of different perspectives, including scientifically and philosophically. I was also interested in visual impressions. I wanted to present an image that inferred an emotive sense of transcendence transformation, she adds. I am aware that a certain amount of ambiguity can be raised by images that are spare abstractions that don t represent anything specifically, but that is actually part of the point. I hoped to evoke a mood or impression in the viewer not tell a story or represent an object. fine art student Raised in Alberta and British Columbia, Ms Staples studied fine art at the University of Calgary. Technically, she uses mostly traditional materials such as oil and acrylic paint on canvas. But she also incorporates materials that will enhance her work such as gold leaf or burnt wood. Her last exhibition, Aporia, was in 2010 at a Vancouver gallery. Before that, Ms Staples held several shows in Calgary, including Sublimantics: An Exploration of the Sublime at the Little Gallery in 2005 and Mandala en Xylem at the CAAF Art Central gallery in Throughout my previous work and introspection I have been compelled with the development of consciousness, says Ms Staples, 36. My inclination is to consider this in a personal manner, but I am also interested in the way that evolution occurs physically, metaphorically, spiritually and socially. passion for art During the past 15 years, Ms Staples has sold her work to private collectors and the University of Calgary. I ve sold about 15 or so paintings, some of which are sets composed of multiple panels, she says in a modest tone that masks her passion for art. As a child that passion was evident. At primary school, she was enrolled in an enhanced arts programme that included music and theatre. By the time she was in her teens, Ms Staples was grappling with the ultimate question of what makes good art. Dipping her brush into the kaleidoscope colours of modernism, she found an affinity with the surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, who is best known for her haunting self-portraits. Born in Mexico in 1907, Ms Kahlo is considered one of the most influential modern painters to come out of Latin America. I didn t really understand modern art but could discern that some art was highly valued even if it didn t seem that good, says Ms Staples, who worked in TAQA s Abu Dhabi headquarters for four months earlier this year. Then there was art that seemed intrinsically good but it didn t always seem to correlate with realistic representation. So I wondered what this distinction was and how it developed. In my mid to late teens, I started painting beyond whatever activities may have been happening in school. Painting provided me with an element of selfexpression, she adds. At this point, I felt an affinity with Frida Kahlo. Her work portrayed a very explicit personal narrative of her feelings and experiences. After university, Ms Staples decided against a career in art as it was not a vocational goal at that stage of my life. Instead, she went into the healthcare sector before switching to human resources with TAQA. To many, that might seem a strange decision but there was a link between her passion and her profession. Both deal inherently with the human condition. In HR, it is obviously in the context of the workforce. And while at first that may sound rather dry, I find it interesting in terms of all the variables and dilemmas that we humans get ourselves into. I guess this appeals to my practical side. Both art and human resources inherently deal with the human condition. Serena Staples, Human Resources Advisor, TAQA Art, on the other hand, appears to be about all sorts of other things but it is always about being human, whether it intends to be or not, she adds. Art cannot escape the fact that it is a form of human expression. It is by its very nature indicative of something about the person and culture that created it. The beauty of art still touches nearly every aspect of her life. Apart from Ms Kahlo, the modernist Georgia O Keeffe and the American post-war artist Mark Rothko, famous for White and Greens in Blue (1957) and Ochre and Red on Red (1954), have been major influences on Ms Staples s work. I don t really have a single favourite artist but there are artists I feel a strong affinity with and their work has inspired me, says Ms Staples. As far as famous historic artists, I would include Georgia O Keeffe, Mark Rothko, Frida Kahlo and Gustav Klimt. Other critically acclaimed artists that have influenced my work include Ross Bleckner and Agnes Martin Cerebellum Study (36" x 56", acrylic on canvas, 2005) 05 Large Cell Arch (36" x 36", acrylic on canvas, 2009) issue 03

9 waste-to-energy Turning rubbish into energy is big business, with the global industry expected to grow to at least US$29.2bn by TAQA plans to move into the market with one of the biggest waste-to-energy plants in the world in Abu Dhabi The garbage trucks wind their way through the empty streets of Abu Dhabi in the small hours of the morning. Only the occasional roar of engines from the white and green Ivecos punctuates the eerie sound of silence. As the trucks rumble towards their final destination at landfill sites dotted in the desert, a city sleeps, cocooned in the cooling breeze of air-conditioning. But in the not-too-distant future, the power that generates those air-conditioning project will help Abu Dhabi shrink its carbon footprint. Overall, the project size is around 200 metres by 500 metres, says Ed Atkinson, Head of Waste-To-Energy at TAQA and part of Dr Al Sayari s team. That, of course, includes the roads to access the plant and the bunkers to store the waste before it s burnt. But when this facility comes online it will operate 24/7 and 365 days a year, so you could argue that it is more efficient than solar or wind power. TAQA has linked up with the Center of Waste Management Abu Dhabi in the groundbreaking project and hopes to announce construction contracts towards the end of the year. The plant will also have stringent anti-pollution controls and employ between 65 and 100 employees. The emissions will fall well within globally recognised guidelines such as the Waste Incineration Directive, which applies to all European plants, says Dr Al Sayari. Looking at the bigger picture, he hopes the move into waste-to-energy will underline the company s, and the country s, commitment to alternative power sources. This offers us one of the most efficient ways to treat municipal solid waste, says Dr Al Sayari. The problems with landfill sites are that they emit methane, a greenhouse gas that is 18 times more harmful than CO 2, and is already the second-biggest This facility will operate 24/7 and 365 days a year, so you could argue that it is more efficient than solar or wind power. Ed Atkinson, Head of Waste-To-Energy, TAQA units could partially come from TAQA s planned waste-to-energy plant in Abu Dhabi, turning the contents of garbage trucks into pure electricity. Our proposed plant would be up and running by 2017, generating enough power for 20,000 households in Abu Dhabi as well as cutting greenhouse gases, says Dr Saif Al Sayari, Executive Officer and Head of TAQA s Energy Solutions, about the US$850m project. In fact, it is expected to reduce CO 2 emissions by more than one million tonnes per year. That is taking into account the emissions that would be released if the waste was buried in a landfill site, transportation to the dumps and the size of the plant if it was powered by fossil fuels, he adds. leading by size Once the 100 megawatt (MW) plant is built on the outskirts of the UAE capital near the Mussafah Sea Port, it will be one of the biggest waste-to-energy facilities in the world. Stretching across an area of 100,000 square metres, the alternative power contributor to climate change. Plants such as the one we are planning will help us deal with that challenge. Hopefully, it will also solve a major problem in the waste-to-energy sector. During the past decade, the industry has been pushed into the shadows with the emergence of solar and wind power as alternative energy solutions. But that is starting to change as major countries in the Middle East, Asia and South America look for new options to fuel rapid economic expansion. predicted growth According to a report released by clean technology consultants Pike Research, the global market for the waste-to-energy sector is expected to grow from around US$7bn in 2012 to at least US$29.2bn by With many countries facing dramatic population growth, rapid urbanisation, rising levels of affluence and resource scarcity, waste-to-energy is re-establishing itself as an attractive technology option to promote low carbon growth in the crowded 16 issue 03 The magazine from taqa 17

10 renewable energy landscape, says Mackinnon Lawrence, senior research analyst at Pike. China is already in the midst of scaling up capacity, and growth there is expected to shift the centre of the WTE [waste-toenergy] universe away from Europe to Asia Pacific. Mr Lawrence s views are reinforced by a report rolled out in April from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and entitled No time to waste global waste primer. Bank of America has calculated that the industry, including municipal and industrial waste management, recycling, waste-to-energy and sustainable packaging, is worth US$1trn a year. The report also predicts that the market could double in size to around US$2trn in the next seven years. We believe that the global dynamics of waste management mean that the sector offers numerous growth opportunities for those with exposure to the value chain, Bank of America points out in the report. By 2020, we estimate that the waste industry could be worth up to US$2trn, with Europe facing the toughest strategic challenges, and Asia and South America seeing the fastest growth. world s biggest oil exporter, is looking at alternative energy solutions. There will be huge growth potential in countries such as India and China, says Mr Atkinson. The Chinese government has earmarked a US$50bn budget for waste-toenergy projects. China is looking to ramp it up and there is a massive opportunity there for energy companies. If you look at where we are in the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region, there is only one plant and that is in Doha, the capital of Qatar, he adds. If you consider the growth potential just in Abu Dhabi and Dubai alone, we can use our waste-to-energy expertise to help benefit the rest of the Emirates. We could also export it to countries such as Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. In Saudi Arabia, the government there has announced US$130bn for renewables, so there is huge potential within the region. As technology in the industry continues to evolve, the garbage trucks crawling their way in crocodile-like lines to landfill sites could one day be a thing of the past. Instead, they would drop off their dirty cargo at state-of-the-art plants to be turned into enough clean energy to power the cities of the future. Waste-to-energy is actually one of the cleanest sources of power in the world, says Dr Al Sayari. Advances in technology will certainly fuel growth in the industry, and this will have an impact on the region and emerging economies in Asia. 03 seven steps to turning waste into energy once the mix is right, it is then burned in a state-of-the-art chamber. metals filter through at the burning stage and they can be recycled. bottom ash is also produced, which can be used in the process of making cement or building roads. it can also be used to cap landfills. 2. it is tipped into a bunker and then mixed by operators using cranes and grabs. the mix is important. it s like making a fruit cake you don t want all the nuts and raisins together. 02 A waste collector at work in Abu Dhabi 03 A desert landfill site 4. the heat produces steam and that drives a turbine, generating power. 6. the emissions that are released are more than four times less than if the waste was left in landfills. 7. around 20,000 homes in abu dhabi will have their electricity generated by the wasteto-energy plant. waste-to-energy: in numbers 18 issue potential emissions go through a gas clean-up system, where they are filtered and scrubbed to levels that will meet global pollution standards. that is a crucial part of the whole operation, cutting down on greenhouse gases. 01 A garbage truck new players Traditionally, the United States and Europe, where there are more than 400 waste-toenergy plants, have dominated the market. But in the next decade new players will emerge. Already China and India are moving into the sector, while Saudi Arabia, the TAQA s proposed 100MW plant will process one million tonnes of waste a year. During the plant s lifespan, it will process 40 million tonnes of waste. 1. rubbish is thrown away and picked up by center of waste management abu dhabi trucks. 01 When the plant in Abu Dhabi is operational, it will employ between 65 and 100 staff. Around 50% of the waste at the plant will be either plastic or organic, such as leftover food. The rest will be made up of paper, cardboard and wood. Europe has around 400 waste-to-energy plants and has been a major player in the industry along with the United States. The magazine from taqa 19

11 morocco s energy sector TAQA s Jorf Lasfar plant already supplies 40% of Morocco s electricity and is expanding to meet rising demand Amid the green fields of Morocco s Atlantic coast, sit 12 coal mountains, each one the size of a football field. Between them they contain one million tonnes of coal but they still have to be continually replenished to feed the Jorf Lasfar power station. Located next to the coal mountains, Jorf Lasfar needs 10,000 metric tonnes of coal a day to generate electricity. And that will rise to 15,000 metric tonnes after expansion. Arriving from the US, Russia, Colombia and other far-flung places into the nearby port, giant grabbers move the coal onto a 3km-long conveyor belt. At the power plant itself, the 6-metre wide chimney stacks tower 135 metres up into the air. The physical scale of Jorf Lasfar is matched by its economic importance to Morocco. The plant, which is owned and operated by TAQA s subsidiary, the Jorf Lasfar Energy Company, is the largest coal-fired power plant anywhere in the Middle East and North Africa, and accounts for around 40% of Morocco s electricity output. Now the site is about to become even more important, with an expansion project to add two units, which will increase the plant s capacity by 700 megawatts (MW), from 1,356MW to 2,056MW. We have agreed with the government of Morocco to expand the Jorf Lasfar power complex, says Frank Perez, Head of Global Power & Water at TAQA. With the Jorf 5&6 expansion TAQA will supply approximately 45% of Morocco s power, making Jorf Lasfar a key part of the infrastructure for the country. expansion plans In 2009, TAQA signed an agreement with the Office National de l Electricité et de l Eau Potable (ONEE), the government body responsible for Morocco s electricity sector. The following year an engineering, procurement and construction contract was awarded to Japan s Mitsui & Co and South Korea s Daewoo Engineering & Construction. Construction work began that September. The project is running within the budget of US$1.6 billion. The two 350MW units are scheduled to be brought online in December 2013 and April 2014 respectively. We are 80% complete on the construction project and are focusing our energies on commissioning of the Unit 5 works, says Mr Perez. It s a very exciting time with lots of activity to achieve our commitment of December It is not just the physical scale of the plant that is impressive. Other aspects of the project have also been challenging the perceptions of what is possible in the current market, not least in terms of financing. a financing first TAQA provided interim funding for the project, but in January this year it finalised a US$1.4bn project financing deal. This was the largest international project financing in Morocco in more than a decade. It also marked the first time that Japanese and South Korean export credit agencies had taken part in a project finance deal in Morocco, with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export & Investment Insurance (NEXI) and Export- Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) all involved. 20 issue 03 The magazine from taqa 21

12 At the time the financing was announced, Majid Iraqui, Managing Director for TAQA in North Africa, said: The expansion of Jorf Lasfar [ ] is vital to enabling growth and creating jobs in the economy. Jorf Lasfar is just one part of a wider scheme to expand Morocco s electricity sector. The government is planning to raise installed capacity from 6,350MW in 2010 to 14,500MW by 2020, through a mixture of conventional and renewable sources. Coal will remain the most important research firm Frost & Sullivan. That is down from the 8% annual growth seen between 2005 and 2010, but the fast expansion has still meant that demand has at times come uncomfortably close to Morocco s total generating capacity. The reserve [power-generating] margin plummeted in 2007 and 2008 compared to previous years, says Mr Van der Waal. The international consensus is to have a reserve margin of between 10% and 20% of normal capacity as an insurance against breakdowns morocco in numbers population (million) gdp (us$bn) gdp growth (%) sources: World Bank, Haut-Commissariat au Plan. GDP figures for Population for 2012 morocco s installed generating capacity ,499.7mw ,377mw sources: ONEE, Frost & Sullivan The expansion of Jorf Lasfar is vital to enabling growth and creating jobs in Morocco s economy. Majid Iraqui, Managing Director for TAQA in North Africa energy source in the future, but the government also has ambitious plans to develop alternative energy. In November 2009, Morocco initiated a strategy to develop 2,000MW of wind power and 2,000MW of solar power by Hydroelectric will also play an important role in the country s energy mix. domestic demand rises All this is necessary if Morocco is to keep pace with rising domestic demand for electricity, which is estimated to be growing by around 5% a year at the moment, according to Cornelis van der Waal, business unit leader for energy and environment at rural electrification rate (%) sources: ONEE, EBRD or sudden increases in energy demand. However, with the pipeline of new generation capacity that was commissioned in 2009 and 2010, this problem has been solved. The strong rise in demand is partly because of overall economic growth, with gross domestic product expanding by a healthy 4% to 5% a year in recent times according to the World Bank. That trend is expected to continue in the coming years, with the Economist Intelligence Unit forecasting that the economy will expand by an average annual rate of 4.8% from 2014 to But other factors are also at play. According to the government s Haut- Commissariat au Plan, the population has been expanding, from million in 2006 to 32.6 million by 2012, which is helping to push up demand for electricity. More significant still is a rural electrification programme, launched in 1996, which has added almost two million households to the grid, taking the rural electrification rate up to 98% (see chart, left). With all that in the background, the new capacity at Jorf Lasfar and other sites around the country will provide a welcome addition to the country s electricitygenerating capacity. As Morocco continues to see its economy grow and the need for power grows, maintaining a high plant availability is critical to our success and heritage as a dependable and reliable operator, says Mr Perez. By Dominic Dudley, a contributing writer to TAQAWORLD. 22 issue 03