Abu dhabi: EMSTEEL Group (EMSTEEL), a major integrated steel and building materials manufacturer in the region, has announced progress in its collaboration with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) to decarbonise steel production. This initiative involves sourcing clean, nuclear-generated electricity certified under Abu Dhabi's Clean Energy Certificates Programme, managed by Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC).
According to Emirates News Agency, the Clean Energy Certificates Programme showcases the role of nuclear energy in enabling clean manufacturing and enhancing the UAE's position as a leader in sustainable industrial growth, aligning with TrueGreen, EMSTEEL's strategic sustainability identity. This initiative builds on a decade-long partnership between EMSTEEL and ENEC, during which EMSTEEL supplied a significant portion of the rebar for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.
The purchase of nuclear-generated Clean Energy Certificates allows EMSTEEL to access low-carbon electricity, reducing Scope 2 emissions and the overall carbon footprint of UAE-produced steel. EMSTEEL is the first regional steelmaker to utilise Clean Energy Certificates from nuclear energy, highlighting innovation in the steel sector.
EMSTEEL has integrated 86% clean electricity in its steel operations and 14% in its cement production, with a goal to reach 100% clean electricity by 2030. This is part of its long-term decarbonisation roadmap, which includes significant contributions from nuclear and solar power.
Eng Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL, emphasized that clean energy and technology are crucial for industrial decarbonisation. He noted that the partnership with ENEC strengthens their clean energy portfolio and supports the strategy to scale low-carbon steel production.
Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group CEO of ENEC, highlighted the importance of pairing ENEC's carbon-free electricity with EMSTEEL's industrial demand to demonstrate a practical energy transition. He mentioned that this collaboration provides a model for reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors while ensuring competitiveness and supply-chain certainty.
The agreement underscores the impact of cross-sector partnerships in driving the UAE's industrial transformation and supports the UAE's Net Zero 2050 Strategy.
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, owned by ENEC, plays a crucial role in the UAE's energy landscape, supplying a significant portion of the country's electricity demand and helping avoid millions of tonnes of carbon emissions annually. With decades of operation ahead, Barakah exemplifies how nuclear energy can enhance national energy security and sustainability.