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Abu Dhabi Plans To Set Up New plastic recycling facility | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which will lay the groundwork for a new plastic recycling facility in the UAE.
According to the report, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling plant will be set up in Abu Dhabi.
In line with the UAE’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution and boost trade through the export of recycled materials, the plant will recycle PET, a plastic material that is used in food packaging, such as plastic water bottles.
The 40,000-square-meter facility in Abu Dhabi could create 100 jobs and avoid the emission of 18,000 metric tonnes of CO2 annually at full operating capacity, according to a report in WAM.
The MOU to study the feasibility of the project will involve Repeet, BEEAH Group, and Agthia.
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Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, said, "Collaboration is the key driver behind the shift towards a more sustainable industrial sector and a greener economy."
"Accordingly, the ministry focuses on facilitating partnerships among stakeholders, including financial institutions, national industrial companies, and global corporations, with the aim of supporting GDP growth as well as the UAE’s net-zero strategic initiative," he added.
"As we approach COP28, the ministry will continue to amplify the important initiatives that fall under the national industrial strategy." "For instance, we will utilise Make it in the Emirates to attract international investors and companies to engage with the UAE’s industrial sector to help us unlock the opportunities associated with industrial transformation and the circular economy."
"These opportunities will ultimately help to build a more sustainable, efficient, and competitive industrial sector, supporting not only the national economy but also the global climate agenda," Al Suwaidi emphasized.
The MoU was signed by Repeet, a subsidiary of Veolia Middle East, BEEAH Group, a sustainability leader in the UAE, and the F&B conglomerate Agthia.
According to the report, in the frame of the project under study, Repeet would operate the recycling plant, while BEEAH Group would supply a seven-year feedstock of plastics.
Meanwhile, Agthia would provide a seven-year offtake for products. The feedstock will be post-consumer PET bottle bales, while the offtakes will be food-grade recycled PET resin.
Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group, said after the signing, "Aligning closely with the national vision and contributing to the UAE's sustainability targets have been the driving forces for our organisation as we develop and implement circular economy solutions through our waste management business."
"Through this agreement, we can now further support the UAE’s sustainability agenda and accelerate the circular economy." "We are honoured to partner with MoIAT, Repeat, and Veolia to tackle the important issue of plastic pollution and make a positive impact together on a larger scale."
This partnership is in line with a recent ministerial decree from MoIAT that regulates the trade of recycled plastic water bottles.
The report concludes that the move aims to facilitate the manufacturing of water bottles using recycled plastic in line with top public health and food safety standards.
With time, more local water bottlers are likely to get on board with the circular economy and start using more and more recycled plastic in their packaging.
This is expected to save and avoid 50,000 metric tonnes of CO2, increase national in-country value by AED 150 million per year, and create more than 1000 jobs.