ABU DHABI // The capital's clean energy company is to collaborate with the Scottish government on renewable power projects under an agreement finalised yesterday.
Masdar's deal with Scottish Enterprise, a non-departmental body that encourages development and innovation, will involve collaborating on renewable energy research and development, including projects involving wind power and carbon capture and storage. Specific projects have not yet been identified.
The agreement, signed at the World Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, also involves the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, which could collaborate with the Energy Technology Partnership, an alliance of 12 independent Scottish universities that are engaged in energy research.
"The signing of this agreement with Masdar is a rapid and valuable outcome of the high-level discussions I held with Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber [Masdar's chief executive] and senior government representatives less than six weeks ago in Abu Dhabi," said the first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond.
"The innovative work being undertaken at the Masdar Institute is further indication that other nations are recognising the need to move to preserve the quality of the natural environment, which is one of the major global concerns facing us today and one of the most critical challenges of the 21st century," he said.
Mr Salmond added that the deal would provide investment and development opportunities for both nations.
Dr Al Jaber agreed, saying: "From wind and solar energy, to the potential of wave technology, Scotland is a strong advocate for the advancement and deployment of renewable energy.
"Our countries share a similar vision where new forms of power will complement and help balance the global energy mix. This partnership further unites our nations."
vtodorova@thenational.ae
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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