Daily Archives: August 29, 2012
HH the Emir to Participate in NAM Summit
Doha, August 29 (QNA) – HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will head tomorrow, Thursday, to the Islamic Republic of Iran to participate in the 16th session of the Non-Aligned Movement NAM Summit, due to open in the Iranian capital, Tehran, tomorrow and continue for two days. HH the Emir will be accompanied by a high-level official delegation including HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, and a number of Their Excellencies ministers.(QNA)
Qtel Retires US$3.0 billion Facility
Doha, August 29 (QNA) – Qatar Telecom (Qtel) on Wednesday announced that it has retired its US$3.0 billion syndicated term loan facility. Existing funds were used to repay the facility, the company said in a statement. The Qtel Group is a leading international communications company, with a significant presence in the MENA region and Southeast Asia, and having a consolidated customer base of 83.7 million as of 30 June 2012. Its businesses operate under various names, including Qtel, Indosat, Asiacell, Wataniya, Nawras, Nedjma and Tunisiana.(QNA)
HH the Emir Issues Laws on Civil Defense, Business Advisory Services
Doha, August 29 (QNA) – HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Wednesday issued Law No. (9) of 2012 to amend some provisions of Law No. (13) of 1977 on civil defense. HH the Emir also issued Law No. (10) of 2012 on the organization of business advisory services. The two laws are effective from the date of their issue and are to be published in the Official Gazette. HH the Emir Issues Ratification Documents
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani issued a ratification document approving the agreement between the governments of the State of Qatar and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria on exemption of holders of a diplomatic, service or special passport from the requirement to obtain an entry visa, which was signed on 24 January 2010 in Algiers.
HH the Emir also issued an instrument of ratification approving a draft agreement between the governments of the State of Qatar and Ireland on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital gains as well as the attached draft protocol, which were signed on 21 June 2012 in Doha.
HH the Emir Issues Two Decrees
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Wednesday issued Decree No. (54) of 2012 to approve the joining of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, and to have the force of law according to Article (68) of the constitution.
HH the Emir also issued Decree No. (55) of 2012 to approve the joining of the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, and to have the force of law according to Article (68) of the constitution.
The two decrees are effective from the date of their issue and are to be published in the Official Gazette. (QNA)
Msheireb Properties Inaugurates On-Site Concrete Batching Plant
Doha, August 29 (QNA) – Msheireb Properties announced that it has introduced more environmentally responsible concrete in the construction of its flagship development, the QR20bn Msheireb Downtown Doha project. A company statement released on Wednesday said “the project now operates an on-site concrete batching plant, which is one of the most environmentally efficient of its type in the region, using cement mixes that consume significantly less energy and produce fewer harmful emissions”.
The ‘green concrete’ produced at Msheireb’s now fully operational batching plant reduces emissions by using recycled materials as a substitute for cement.
Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag, known as GGBS or ‘fly ash’, a by-product of iron and steel making, replaces up to 70% of conventional cement in the concrete mixing process. GGBS-based concrete is also stronger than ordinary concrete and emits less heatwhile curing.
With construction of Msheireb Downtown Doha now well underway and concrete being poured around the clock, the environmental benefits of the new batching plant are considerable.
“Msheireb Downtown Doha aims to be sustainable both in its construction and operation. That is why we are prioritising investments in the most advanced and environmentally friendly building techniques,” said Mohammed Al-Marri, Chief Officer Design and Delivery at Msheireb Properties.
“The project’s new batching facility is another example of the stringent environmental standards we are applying to the development of one of the world’s largest urban sustainable regeneration projects,” he added.
Cement manufacture is generally energy intensive producing large amounts of carbon dioxide. Cement production globally is responsible for around five% of all greenhouse gas emissions, a figure set to rise in line with dramatic population growth and urban development.
Locating the new batching plant at the Msheireb Downtown Doha construction site also saves fuel in the transportation of labour and raw materials, and reduces the need for cooling to maintain concrete at a stable temperature during summertime transportation and pouring.
Compared with making 100 round trips per day to the nearest concrete batching plant, located 25 kilometres from Doha, the new facility will slash the distance travelled by supply trucks by nearly half, from 3.9 million kilometres per year to 1.4 million kilometres per year, and reducing vehicle CO2 emissions by 4,551 metric tonnes per year or equivalent to 750 passenger vehicles consuming 1,759,470 litres of gasoline.
Preliminary calculation indicate that upon completion, expected energy and water reduction in the Msheireb Downtown Doha project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 110,000 metric tons of CO2 per year compared with the carbon emissions of a conventional urban development of a similar size.
That is equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 18,277 passenger vehicles consuming 42,877,121 litres of gasoline. (END)
Abdullah Bin Zayed meets German FM
BERLIN: The foreign minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Germany’s foreign minister Guido Westerwelle on Tuesday discussed bilateral relations between their two countries, matters of common concern as well as regional and international issues, in the Middle East in particular.
In attendance at the meeting were ambassador of the UAE to Germany Mohammed Ahmed Al Mahmoud and director of the foreign minister Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Khaja.
UAE envoy presents credentials to Sultan Qaboos
Muscat: UAE Ambassador to Oman Abdul Redha Abdullah Khouri today submitted his credentials to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed of Oman. The UAE Ambassador conveyed to Sultan Qaboos greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his wishes of further progress and prosperity to the brotherly people of Oman.
Sultan Qaboos asked the UAE Ambassador to pass on his greetings and best wishes to Sheikh Khalifa and to the people of the UAE.
ENOC and Aldrees sign joint venture to establish service stations in Saudi Arabia
Dubai/Riyadh: Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Dubai’s leading petroleum retailer with a significant footprint in lifestyle and consumer retailing, has signed a joint venture agreement with Aldrees Petroleum ‘&’ Transport Services Company (Aldrees), one of Saudi Arabia’s largest petroleum retailers and commodity hauling companies, to set up service stations in different locations across the Kingdom.
Burhan Al Hashemi, Managing Director of ENOC Retail, the specialised retail business of ENOC, and Eng. Abdulelah Saad Aldrees, Chief Executive Officer of Aldrees, signed the agreement today.
As per the 50:50 joint venture, the service stations will feature all the specialised and popular brands operated by ENOC including ZOOM, Pronto, Super Lube and Super Wash. The first station under the partnership is expected to open early next year, followed by the progressive roll-out of the rest in due course.
Saeed Abdullah Khoory, ENOC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “ENOC is focused on expanding its business presence regionally and internationally, and Saudi Arabia is a strategic market that offers perfect market synergies for our growth. Over the past years, we have established our competencies in retail operations through our service stations which offer convenient options not only to motorists, but also to general consumers as well.
“The addition of several lifestyle brands as well as specialised automobile-related retail services has further underlined our credentials in value-added offerings. We are honoured to partner with Aldrees, a leader in petroleum retailing, to support the opening of service stations in the Kingdom and extend our capabilities in retail. This joint venture will also create new jobs for young Saudis and we will focus on strengthening their job competencies through our training programmes, thus serving as an effective partner in the Kingdom’s Vision.” Eng. Abdulelah Saad Aldrees of Aldrees said: “With a network of more than 450 service stations in the Kingdom, Aldrees is an industry leader in petroleum retailing in Saudi Arabia. In line with our commitment to add value to our stakeholders, we are continuously exploring expansion opportunities that bring clear differentials to the market.
“ENOC has a tremendous breadth of retailing experience that is a perfect fit for our core strengths. We are confident that the joint venture will create a new history in petroleum retailing in the GCC region and offer enhanced services for the convenience of our customers. The stations will also be of immense value to travellers, especially during the Hajj season.” ENOC Retail will offer its full breadth of expertise in retailing to Aldrees in developing the service stations. In addition to showcasing a choice of fuel retailing products, the stations will also have other lifestyle choices such as restaurants, fresh food and coffee, and convenient automotive services. A number of environment-friendly products and services that are offered by ENOC, such as the waterless car wash and green lubricants, will also be made available at the stations in the Kingdom.
Burhan Al Hashemi added: “The success of our retailing operations is led by a commitment to offer our customers value added and superior lifestyle experiences. In addition to operating convenience stores that meet the varied needs of our customers, we will continue to expand our portfolio of world-class cafes and dining concepts across the region. Our partnership with Aldrees marks a true milestone in the operations of ENOC Retail. This is a perfect example of two organisations drawing on their strengths to offer value to customers.” ENOC Retail has established itself as a petroleum retailing leader in the UAE. Operating across a network of service stations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, ENOC Retail, over the years, has come to symbolise speed, convenience, service and value.
With more than 70 million customer transactions annually, ENOC Retail, today, has over 4,000 employees who spearhead the retailing of fuel, petroleum products and an array of products and services, most of them targeted at the everyday requirements of motorists. The retail business also has many brands in the food ‘&’ beverage sector, providing management services and franchising the brands across the Middle East and North Africa region.
One of the largest petroleum retail and commodity hauling companies in Saudi Arabia with a network of more than 450 petrol filling stations, Aldrees has a fleet of 1,032 tractor heads with 1,376 cargo carriers ranging from chemical/lubricant tankers, trailers, bulkers, to flat beds. The company serves a majority of the transport market and supply fuel to key accounts in both private and government sectors.
UAE’s 16th NASA Intern helped to assure Astronaut life support
Abu Dhabi, UAE: August 28, 2012 – Under an historic agreement between the UAE’s not-for-profit Arab Youth Venture Foundation and NASA, the 16th elite Emirati research fellow, Hayam Al Blooshi, an Abu Dhabi female engineering graduate, has returned home from four month mission internship at the U.S. Space agency where she conducting specific activities in the design, construction, and testing of advanced spacecraft water recycling. to assure precious resource sustainability in space.
At NASA Hayam was partially responsible for design of mechanical systems, fabrication and assembly, pressure safety documentation, and controller performance optimization to address the need to supply drinking water to astronauts in flight. Such technologies will be integrated into NASA’s next generation life support systems.
According to Hayam Al Blooshi, “Working with leading scientists at NASA was a unique opportunity and I gained so much knowledge in the field of my studies while adding further skills in other key areas such as resource scarcity and sustainability. While at NASA I participated in a panel discussion. An Introduction to the UAE’, in order to give the NASA research community an insight into our culture and economic diversity. I hope my achievement will be a motivation for younger female Emirati to work hard and fulfill their dreams.” In addition to Hayam’s work in Silicon Valley’s NASA Ames Research Center other dynamic Emirati university engineering students’ have worked on NASA missions related to nano/phone sats, Mars rovers, wind-turbine research for use in avionics, gray water recycling, remote sensing analysis, green building renewable energy infrastructure, and more.
Lisa LaBonte, CEO, Arab Youth Venture Foundation commented, “Like with much of NASA’s ground-breaking space research, what emerges are ancillary terrestrial applications -in this case, water recycling methods and technologies that have direct relevance for green building infrastructure and other sustainable water recycling systems to be used here on earth. The UAE nationals engaged and excelling in such leading edge research and engineering design provides yet further evidence as to the world class intellect, motivation, and abilities of our Emirati youth.” Envisioned by AYVF in UAE in 2007, the NASA-AYVF Innovative Partnership Program was signed in 2009 and launched in 2010. The immersive program selects only the most dynamic minded Emirati university engineering students to spend up to four months at NASA in USA. In 2011 NASA began using the UAE/AYVF model for its international internships.
