DUBAL supports Earth Hour for third consecutive year

A concerned and responsible corporate citizen, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (DUBAL) – whose Jebel Ali complex ranks as one of  the world’s largest single-site primary aluminium smelters – strives continuously to minimize the impact of its operations on the environment by implementing advanced technologies and adhering to strict operating standards. For example, conserving energy is a top priority at DUBAL: the company constantly innovates to identify new opportunities to reduce energy consumption or improve energy efficiency of its operations. The company also supports international, regional and local initiatives and campaigns whose objectives reflect the DUBAL’s own ambition of “Zero Harm to People and the Environment”. 

Accordingly, DUBAL is not only a registered supporter of Earth Hour — the world’s largest community-driven campaign focused on our planet — but will also again participate actively in Earth Hour 2011, which takes place from 20:30 to 21:30 on Saturday 26 March 2011. “For the third year in a row, we will switch off all unnecessary lights, air conditioners, office computers and other non-vital equipment in a united stand with millions of people across the world,” says Abdulla Kalban, President & CEO.

Being a 24-7 operation, the DUBAL plant cannot be switched off on an ad hoc basis. However, certain non-critical items can be turned off temporarily without compromising individual safety and/or plant security; or affecting production and plant efficiencies. Individual operating departments within DUBAL have identified these items, which will be de-activated for the duration of Earth Hour 2011. 

Echoing the Earth Hour organizers’ statement that there’s more to environmental consciousness than switching off the lights for one hour once a year, Kalban adds that staff in DUBAL’s administration areas have also been encouraged to turn off their personal computers, printers, scanners, lights and other equipment for the entire weekend (i.e. from Thursday afternoon through to Sunday morning). In addition, DUBAL’s Residential Area – which is home to some 1,600 bachelor employees – will mark Earth Hour 2011 with 60 minutes of complete darkness by turning off all street lamps, flood lights and recreational facility lights. Residents will also be encouraged to turn off their room lights and air-conditioners for the period. The dining halls in the Residential Area will serve dinner earlier than usual, so as to be completely shut by 20:00. “These actions will reinforce the challenge posed by Earth Hour, namely to rethink how we live our lives in the next hour, the next day, and the day after that,” says Kalban. 

DUBAL’s participation in Earth Hour 2011 has been communicated to the company’s 4,000-plus employees via personalised letters, posters, PC wallpaper, a banner on DUBAL’s corporate website and bulk SMS-messaging. Letters have also been sent to customers, suppliers and contractors to advise them of DUBAL’s participation in Earth Hour 2011 and encourage them to do so, too. 

“By voting for the earth along with hundreds of millions of concerned citizens across the globe, we will stand together to address issues such as global warming,” concludes Kalban. “We hope that through Earth Hour 2011, every member of the greater DUBAL family will be inspired to make a lasting difference to the planet as a whole.”