EWA sign "Kafa'a" initiative implementation agreements
The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) signed implementation agreements for the first phase of the national programme 'Kafa'a', aimed at improving energy efficiency in government buildings.
The agreements were signed with Saudi-based Quantum Energy Solutions and ESTA Middle East, both specialised in energy efficiency services.
Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of EWA, emphasised that the initiative represents a strategic step in national efforts to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. He noted that the first phase targets energy efficiency upgrades in 12 government buildings, as part of a wider plan to cover 20 buildings during the current year.
He added that the initiative is expected to save approximately 308 gigawatt-hours of electricity and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 154,000 tonnes by 2040, making it one of the Kingdom's flagship projects supporting the goal of carbon neutrality.
The current phase includes buildings belonging to several ministries, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA).
EWA will oversee all stages of project implementation and monitor the outcomes to ensure the intended targets are met. This will be carried out in collaboration with specialised companies delivering the programme, to enhance energy efficiency in both public and private sector facilities, while achieving sustainable operational savings and reducing carbon emissions.
Launched in December 2023, the 'Kafa'a' programme is a national initiative designed to reduce electricity consumption in both public and private sector buildings and consequently lower carbon emissions. The initial implementation phase targets 20 government buildings.
BNA(R)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
11 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Trade war cuts global economic growth outlook, warns OECD
AFP | Paris The OECD slashed its annual global growth forecast yesterday, warning that US President Donald Trump's tariffs blitz would stifle the world economy -- hitting the United States especially hard. After 3.3% growth last year, the world economy is now expected to expand by a 'modest' 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said. In its previous report in March, the OECD had forecast growth of 3.1% for 2025 and 3.0% for 2026. Since then, Trump has launched a wave of tariffs that has rattled financial markets. 'The global outlook is becoming increasingly challenging,' said the OECD, an economic policy group of 38 mostly wealthy countries. It said 'substantial increases' in trade barriers, tighter financial conditions, weaker business and consumer confidence, and heightened policy uncertainty will all have 'marked adverse effects on growth' if they persist. The OECD downgraded its 2025 growth forecast for the United States from 2.2% to 1.6%. The world's biggest economy is expected to slow further next year to 1.5%. Trump, who has insisted that the tariffs would spark a manufacturing revival and restore a US economic 'Golden Age', posted on his Truth Social platform before the OECD report's publication: 'Because of Tariffs, our Economy is BOOMING!' The OECD holds a ministerial meeting in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday. US and EU trade negotiators are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the gathering after Trump threatened to hit the European Union with 50-percent tariffs. Rising risks The OECD slightly reduced its growth forecast for China -- which was hit with triple-digit US tariffs that have been temporarily lowered -- from 4.8 to 4.7% this year. Another country with a sizeable downgrade is Japan. The OECD cut the country's growth forecast from 1.1% to 0.7%. The outlook for the eurozone economy, however, remains intact at one-percent growth.
Biz Bahrain
19 hours ago
- Biz Bahrain
Vatel Bahrain Showcases Premier International Hotel Management Education at Alumni Club Expo in Dammam
Vatel Bahrain took part in the Bahraini-Saudi University Expo, held in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Organised by the Alumni Club in collaboration with Asas Al-Elaqa for Exhibitions. The event welcomed the participation of a wide array of universities, colleges, institutes, and educational and training academies from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and across the Gulf region. Vatel Bahrain's participation at the expo attracted substantial attention from prospective students and visitors, who engaged directly with the college's representatives to gain insight into its distinctive academic offerings. The spotlight was on its flagship bachelor's programme in International Hotel Management, which integrates rigorous academic instruction with immersive, real-world training. This comprehensive curriculum is purposefully structured to develop advanced competencies across the hospitality, tourism, and hotel management sectors—equipping graduates with the skills, versatility, and global perspective required to thrive in today's competitive international hospitality landscape. Commenting on the participation, Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Director of Vatel Bahrain, underscored the college's commitment to participating in educational exhibitions to introducing prospective students to its programmes, and noted that such engagements are pivotal in raising awareness of Vatel Bahrain's role in enhancing academic and professional opportunities within the hospitality industry. Sheikh Khaled commented, 'We are particularly eager to participate in exhibitions held in Saudi Arabia, as Vatel Bahrain is among the institutions officially recommended for Saudi students pursuing studies abroad. Our participation in the Expo underscores Vatel Bahrain's ongoing commitment to advancing regional academic collaboration and broadening access to quality education across the Gulf.' Sheikh Khaled further emphasised that the expo served as a valuable platform for engaging directly with prospective students expressing interest in Vatel Bahrain's International Hotel Management programme. 'Our objective is to support students by addressing their queries, providing tailored academic guidance, and highlighting the unique advantages of pursuing higher education within an internationally recognised and forward-looking academic environment,' Sheikh Khaled stated. 'Vatel Bahrain continues to solidify its position as a premier regional centre of excellence in tourism, hospitality, and hotel management education—and we warmly welcome aspiring students to be part of this transformative journey.'
Biz Bahrain
19 hours ago
- Biz Bahrain
UiPath Appoints Sara Al-Alsheikh as Regional Vice President for Saudi Arabia To Accelerate Agentic Automation Adoption Strategy Across the Gulf
UiPath (NYSE: PATH), a global leader in agentic automation, today announced the appointment of Sara Al-Alsheikh as Regional Vice President (RVP) and Managing Director for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, amid rising demand for AI-powered automation adoption across the Gulf. Based in Riyadh, Al-Alsheikh will lead UiPath's go-to-market and customer success strategy across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain and act as Managing Director of the UiPath regional hub, headquartered in Riyadh. Al-Alsheikh will focus on accelerating growth in key sectors such as government, banking, oil and gas, and others, strengthening UiPath's partner ecosystem, and driving customer success across large-scale digital transformation initiatives. Agentic Automation Momentum Across the Gulf The Gulf region is experiencing a significant surge in digital transformation initiatives, with organizations increasingly adopting advanced automation technologies to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. UiPath is at the forefront of this evolution, enabling local businesses and governments to develop and orchestrate complex AI-powered automation deployments through seamless integration of AI agents, software robots, and human collaboration. Thanks to her exceptional track record of proven success having worked closely with UiPath customers in the region since joining in 2023 as Director of Public Sector and Public Investment Fund (PIF), Al-Alsheikh's appointment aligns with this momentum. Furthermore, it is placing UiPath in a solid position to further support the Gulf's ambitious Vision 2030 objectives by fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth across key sectors, while also supporting gender inclusion goals. Sara's appointment reflects the Kingdom's ongoing transformation and growing emphasis on empowering women in leadership as part of Vision 2030. With over a decade of experience at global technology firms including HP, IBM, and SAP, she represents a new generation of Saudi leaders driving innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth across the region's technology landscape. 'I could not be more thrilled to step into this leadership role at such a pivotal time when the Kingdom is accelerating its digital transformation roadmap and making AI a cornerstone of its strategy. At the same time, UiPath has reached a pinnacle of innovation through the recent relaunch of the UiPath Platform as the first enterprise-grade platform for agentic automation on the market' said Sara Al-Alsheikh, Regional Vice President and Managing Director for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain at UiPath. 'My mission is to help our clients reimagine how work gets done faster, smarter, and more autonomously thanks to agentic automation, with UiPath at the core of their innovation journey.' 'Sara's leadership is a strategic asset for UiPath and a symbol of what's possible when talent, vision, and inclusion intersect,' said Zakaria Haltout, Area Vice President Middle East and Africa at UiPath. 'She brings not only invaluable regional insight but also the drive to execute at scale, and we are excited to see her lead our next chapter of growth.'
