Construction of Hatta's new hydroelectric power station is about 30 per cent complete.
The hydroelectric power station will use water from both Hatta Dam and an upper dam that is being built in the mountain to create clean energy for Dubai.
Saeed Al Tayer, the chief executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), visited the station to review progress of the project, where the service tunnels and excavation site for the generators are already complete.
This will achieve the 'Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050' [directive] to provide 75 per cent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050
Saeed Al Tayer,
chief executive of Dewa
The hydroelectric power station has a proposed production capacity of 250 megawatts, storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours, and lifespan of up to 80 years.
Water stored in the upper upper dam will flow through a 1.2km underground tunnel, rotating turbines. The mechanical energy from the rotating turbines is then converted into electrical energy and sent to the Dewa power grid.
In order to reuse the water, clean energy generated by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is used to pump the water back through the tunnel and return it to the upper dam. This means the project is 100 per cent 'renewable'.
"The pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta helps achieve the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to comprehensively expand sustainable development in Dubai," said Mr Al Tayer.
"We have a clear strategy and specific objectives to increase the use of clean and renewable energy in Dubai’s energy mix.
"This will achieve the 'Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050' [directive] to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050."
Dewa's efforts to diversify its energy mix include photovoltaic solar panels, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), green hydrogen production using renewable energy, and studies on wind power generation in Hatta.
The hydroelectric power plant is one of Dewa's projects to provide job opportunities for the people of Hatta and increase tourism in the area.
The construction of the power plant uses the latest and safest drilling techniques to preserve Hatta's geological features and the Hatta Natural Reserve, said Mr Al Tayer.
The service tunnelling operations are complete, with each tunnel measuring 500 metres.
More than 95 per cent of the excavation operations for the 1.2km subterranean water canal have been completed.
The 60-metre-deep excavation site for the area where the generators are due to be installed is also complete.
The project has so far passed 4.6 million safe working hours with no reported injuries.
Dewa is also implementing two other projects in Hatta. These are Dubai Mountain Peak and Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls. Both were announced last month by Sheikh Mohammed as part of six new projects included in the Hatta development plan.
The five pillars of Islam
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
