Federal Electricity and Water Authority Signs MoU With ‘Rubu Qarn’ to Collaborate on Raising Awareness Around Rationalisation

The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) – the government entity tasked with developing electricity and water services in the Northern Emirates – has signed an agreement with Sharjah’s ‘Rubu Qarn’ foundation to raise public awareness around the importance of rationalising the consumption of energy and water.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on the sidelines of the Authority’s participation at the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), taking place at the Dubai International Convention Centre on October 21-23, 2019.

FEWA’s Director General His Excellency Mohammed Mohammed Saleh signed the agreement, along with Sheikha Aisha Khalid Al Qasimi, Board Member at the ‘Rubu Qarn’ Foundation. The MoU’s main objectives include setting a joint work strategy and specific coordination procedures to promote a culture of rationalisation among community members. The two parties will work together to raise public awareness about the importance of conserving energy and water sources and reducing wastage. Furthermore, they will cooperate to launch and adopt initiatives and technologies that guarantee the conservation of resources, as well as to promote alternative energy sources and best practices in the sector.

“We are working according to a clear plan,” said H.E. Mohammed Saleh. “Our plan aims to implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE and ensure the sustainable supply of electricity and water services, meet the sector’s highest standards, and enhance the UAE’s position on global competitiveness indexes.”

“Spreading this culture of rationalisation among consumers of all segments is an essential part of our ongoing efforts to conserve our natural resources, reduce emissions, and ensure the security of the energy and water sector in the country,” H.E. added. “We look at this partnership with ‘Rubu Qarn’ as another milestone and a step forward in our strategy, which will see us forge a series of strong partnerships with government and private entities. We are confident that all the efforts undertaken by our partners at ‘Rubu Qarn’ will wield a positive impact, raise the community’s awareness about the importance of rationalisation, and promote it as an everyday habit.”

Meanwhile, Sheikha Aisha Al Qasimi, Director of Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, said: “We have formed this constructive partnership with an objective to create an innovative, efficient, and capable generation that can create new solutions to enhance energy and water efficiency; a generation that is aware of the importance of rationalising energy consumption, preserving natural resources, and achieving sustainable development in the UAE. We have high hopes for this partnership to bring positive outcomes in the period ahead.”

As per its commitments in the agreement, the Federal Electricity and Water Authority shall install water-saving devices in Rubu Qarn’s facilities, provide technical support for initiatives that seek to ensure a more efficient electricity consumption, and prepare periodic reports documenting the rates of reduction in electricity and water consumption in these facilities. FEWA will commission a team of field technicians to inspect and maintain the installed water-saving devices, and work to promote a responsible consumption of electricity and water among the foundation’s employees by organising workshops, lectures, and awareness campaigns.

For its part, ‘Rubu Qarn’ shall work to establish a culture of responsible consumption of electricity and water among the various segments of the community that it interacts with. The foundation will form a team to follow up on the matter of installing water-saving devices and ensure they are regularly maintained, in addition to cooperating with FEWA to implement any initiatives the two parties would agree on in the future.

‘Rubu Qarn’ – the Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators – was established by Emiri Decree No. (17) of 2017, and under directives from Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. It is the first institution of its kind in the UAE and the Arab region; it seeks to empower a generation of Emiratis capable of leading and influencing the future, all while remaining loyal to their national identity.