Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar’s total investment in Uzbekistan has reached $4 billion, with 1.4 gigawatts of clean energy from its projects now connected to the national grid in the country.
The company on Thursday signed an implementation agreement to develop a two-gigawatt wind farm announced in May.
The new agreement also includes the deployment of 1,150 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery energy storage capacity, up from the 500 MWh announced in May, across five of the company's projects in Uzbekistan, Masdar said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the projects connected to the country's grid include the Zarafshan wind farm and three solar projects located in Jizzakh, Samarkand and Sherabad, which represent the largest solar development programme in the region.
“The historic UAE consensus achieved at Cop28 sets out an ambitious climate agenda to keep 1.5°C within reach by transitioning to clean energy projects and reducing harmful emissions,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, chairman of Masdar, and Cop28 President.
Delegates at the UN summit in Dubai agreed to a deal this month that would, for the first time, push nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change.
“These ambitious projects will be an essential contribution to that shared goal, as we partner with Uzbekistan to support its clean energy objectives and strengthen the already powerful bond between our two nations,” Dr Al Jaber said.
“The world has come together to set a target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, and that means delivering projects at a scale greater than we ever reached before.”
Uzbekistan is targeting seven gigawatts of solar and five gigawatts of wind capacity by the end of this decade as part of its plans to generate 25 per cent of its energy from renewables.
Masdar has been active in Uzbekistan since 2019, with the development of the nation’s first successfully financed independent power producer solar project, the 100MW Nur Navoi Solar Project, operational since 2021.
At the end of last year, Masdar was also awarded Uzbekistan’s Bukhara Solar PV project, the first of its kind in Central Asia, with a 250MW solar capacity and a 126MWh battery energy storage system.
In June, Masdar was awarded the country’s Guzar Solar PV project with a capacity of 300MW and 75MWh storage capacity.
Meanwhile, the new two-gigawatt wind farm it will develop will produce enough electricity to power around one million homes, while displacing approximately 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, Masdar said.
“Uzbekistan is a key strategic destination for Masdar. The connection of these great projects demonstrates our long-term commitment to Uzbekistan and our capability to fast-track projects, taking them from inception to implementation,” said Masdar chief executive Mohamed Al Ramahi.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Ponti
Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
