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The International Atomic Energy Agency has underscored the growing importance of clean energy in shaping the Middle East and North Africa’s evolving power landscape, as electricity demand continues to accelerate across the region.

Long recognised as a backbone of the global oil and gas market, MENA is now experiencing a parallel transformation driven by rapid population growth, urban expansion and higher living standards.

Increased reliance on cooling systems and desalination has further intensified power consumption, placing additional pressure on existing infrastructure.

According to the IAEA’s report, The Future of Electricity in the Middle East and North Africa, electricity demand has risen sharply over the past two decades.

Since 2000, consumption has tripled, climbing by more than 1,000 terawatt-hours. This upward trajectory shows little sign of slowing, with forecasts indicating a further 50% increase by 2035.

As governments respond to these pressures, attention is turning towards building more resilient and lower-emission energy systems.

The report highlights how clean energy technologies can support this shift, offering a route to reliable power supply while also opening up new industrial and economic opportunities.

Both energy exporters and importers stand to benefit, particularly through participation in emerging clean energy value chains.

In parallel with long-term planning, several countries are already taking steps to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

In Algeria, Egypt, Iraq and Libya, collaborative initiatives have focused on curbing methane emissions and strengthening overall energy security.

Algeria, for instance, has launched a new programme in partnership with international stakeholders and domestic specialists.

The initiative aims to expand methane monitoring and mitigation efforts, while also developing local expertise through to 2027.

The IAEA notes that such targeted actions, combined with broader adoption of renewable energy and efficiency measures, will be critical in ensuring the region can meet rising demand without compromising sustainability goals.

Kuwait’s Environment Public Authority (EPA) is strengthening its oversight of water resources through enhanced monitoring systems designed to safeguard public health and ensure environmental sustainability, according to a report by Arab Times.

The authority is deploying advanced tracking mechanisms to assess water quality in line with international benchmarks, aiming to maintain access to safe and clean water supplies amid current conditions.

In a televised statement, Abdullah Al-Yateem, head of the EPA’s Chemical Testing Department, said water quality management is guided by standards derived from Kuwait’s Environmental Protection Law. He noted that a combination of chemical and biological indicators is used to detect contaminants and verify that water remains within safe limits.

Al-Yateem highlighted the critical role of EPA laboratories in analysing both drinking water and seawater samples, ensuring continuous monitoring across the entire water cycle. He explained that inspection teams conduct routine field visits across all governorates, collecting random samples of drinking water for laboratory testing to confirm compliance with regulatory standards.

The monitoring programme also extends to marine environments. Samples are regularly collected from coastal areas across Kuwait, from the northern to southern shores, and analysed to assess seawater quality. This process is supported by coordination with other relevant authorities, which contribute additional testing data to strengthen overall monitoring efficiency.

In addition to water testing, the EPA is carrying out checks on marine life, including fish and other organisms, to ensure they are safe for consumption and free from pollutants. These measures are part of a broader effort to protect ecosystems and maintain public confidence in environmental quality.

Al-Yateem reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to adopting best practices in environmental monitoring and resource management. He also stressed the importance of public awareness, encouraging responsible water use as part of wider sustainability efforts.

The EPA sought to reassure residents that drinking water supplies, as well as marine environments, remain safe, emphasising that ongoing testing has not identified concerning levels of contamination.

The intensified monitoring comes as regional authorities place greater emphasis on environmental protection and resource security, particularly in relation to water, which remains a critical asset in arid climates such as Kuwait.

AESG has expanded its regional capabilities with the launch of a dedicated structural design and engineering division, aimed at supporting increasingly complex construction projects across the Middle East.

The new unit strengthens AESG’s integrated service model, enabling the company to deliver end-to-end engineering solutions from concept through to construction. By embedding structural expertise alongside sustainability and cost consultancy from the earliest project stages, the firm aims to improve budget certainty, reduce delivery risks and enhance long-term asset performance.

The move comes amid rising demand for more coordinated and commercially aligned engineering strategies, particularly in markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where large-scale developments are becoming more ambitious and technically demanding. Developers are increasingly seeking solutions that balance structural integrity with financial efficiency and environmental performance.

AESG said the new division will focus on integrating engineering decisions with broader project considerations, including procurement strategies, material availability, regulatory compliance and lifecycle costs. This approach allows structural systems to be assessed not only for technical strength, but also for their overall value and feasibility across the project lifecycle.

Leading initiatives 

Chief executive Saeed Al Abbar said the expansion reflects the company’s commitment to delivering multidisciplinary solutions that align engineering with commercial and sustainability objectives. He noted that early-stage integration of structural design is critical to achieving design-to-budget outcomes while supporting carbon reduction targets.

The division will provide services spanning feasibility studies, concept and detailed design, as well as construction-stage advisory. By aligning structural strategies with cost modelling and sustainability analysis, AESG aims to minimise redesign risks and ensure smoother project delivery.

Key focus areas include reducing embodied carbon through material efficiency, adopting alternative structural systems, and promoting modular construction techniques to accelerate timelines. The division will also address durability and resilience, particularly in response to the region’s demanding climatic conditions, while improving the adaptability of built assets over time.

To lead the initiative, AESG has appointed Matthew Cross as director of the new division. With more than 25 years of experience, Cross has previously held senior roles at AECOM and Arcadis, overseeing major projects across the region.

He highlighted the growing importance of aligning engineering with commercial realities, noting that developers are increasingly working to compressed timelines and tighter budgets. Early integration of structural design, he said, enables better decision-making and helps manage risks across the project lifecycle.

AESG has also strengthened its technical leadership with the appointment of Dr Gavin Lume as technical director. His experience includes contributions to landmark projects such as the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Frame.

With the new division in place, AESG aims to position itself as a fully integrated partner for developers, delivering projects that are commercially viable, environmentally sustainable and engineered for long-term performance.

Negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council have concluded without agreement on a Mining Code or approval of any deep-sea mining activities, highlighting continued divisions over environmental and regulatory concerns.

Over two weeks of discussions, member states failed to resolve key issues including environmental protections, liability frameworks, inspection mechanisms, compliance procedures and benefit-sharing arrangements. Several countries, including France, Costa Rica, Germany, Brazil and Palau, raised concerns over scientific uncertainties and governance gaps, stressing that these must be addressed before any mining proceeds.

The Council also backed an ongoing investigation by the ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission into potential contractor non-compliance. Preliminary findings indicate that one contractor may have breached its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The inquiry will continue, with further updates expected at the Council’s next session.

The investigation comes amid scrutiny of companies pursuing unilateral deep-sea mining pathways, including Nauru Ocean Resources Inc., a subsidiary of The Metals Company. Concerns have also emerged in countries such as Netherlands and Switzerland regarding potential involvement of national entities in such activities.

Environmental groups and policy experts have warned that deep-sea mining could cause significant and potentially irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. They argue that the lack of comprehensive scientific understanding and regulatory clarity presents substantial risks to ocean health.

Support for a precautionary pause continues to grow, with around 40 countries now backing calls for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. Advocates say this approach would allow time to address knowledge gaps, strengthen governance frameworks and ensure that environmental safeguards are robust before any commercial activity begins.

The outcome of the latest ISA Council meeting underscores the complexity of balancing resource development with environmental protection. As negotiations continue, governments face increasing pressure to establish clear rules that safeguard the ocean while addressing future demand for critical minerals.

Emirates Global Aluminium has issued an initial operational update following the recent missile and drone strikes on its Al Taweelah complex, confirming extensive damage and a prolonged recovery timeline.

The facility, located within Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi, was fully evacuated as a precaution, with all major units placed into emergency shutdown. The affected assets include the smelter, casthouse, power plant, alumina refinery and recycling plant, all of which form a critical part of the company’s global production network.

EGA said restoration of primary aluminium output will require significant repairs and a phased restart of reduction cells, with early estimates indicating that full recovery could take up to 12 months. The restart process is expected to be gradual, reflecting the technical complexity of smelter operations and the need to ensure safe recommissioning.

While the smelter faces a longer timeline, the company indicated that parts of the alumina refinery and recycling plant may resume operations sooner, depending on the outcome of detailed damage assessments currently under way.

Chief executive Abdulnasser Bin Kalban said the company’s immediate priority remains the wellbeing of its workforce. “We are deeply disturbed by this attack on our people, who come from more than 40 nations and were simply doing their jobs. We thank God no one received life-threatening injuries and that those hurt are recovering well.

“Our Al Taweelah site is a foundation of the global economy, and a significant contributor to global supply, making this incident damaging to industries and prosperity worldwide. We will do our very best to support our customers around the world during this difficult period. We are working directly with customers whose deliveries might be impacted by the situation at Al Taweelah.”

The Al Taweelah site is one of the largest aluminium production complexes globally, producing 1.6 million tonnes of cast metal in 2025. It also houses an alumina refinery with annual output of 2.4 million tonnes, supplying nearly half of EGA’s alumina requirements, and a recycling plant with a capacity of 185,000 tonnes per year.

To mitigate supply disruptions, EGA confirmed it holds significant metal inventories, both in transit and at storage locations within the UAE and internationally. These reserves are expected to provide short-term support to customers while recovery efforts continue.

The company is coordinating closely with stakeholders to manage the operational and commercial impact, while maintaining strict safety protocols during the restoration phase.

Industry analysts note that disruptions at Al Taweelah could have broader implications for global aluminium markets, given the facility’s scale and strategic importance. EGA said it will continue to provide updates as assessments progress and recovery plans are refined.

Saudi Global Ports Group has commenced operations at the Jubail Container Terminal under a long-term concession agreement with Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), marking a significant step in the Kingdom’s logistics sector development.

The 30-year agreement covers the management and expansion of the terminal at Jubail Commercial Port, a strategic gateway for exports. The move aligns with broader national efforts to strengthen supply chain infrastructure and improve trade connectivity under Saudi Vision 2030.

With operations now underway, the integration of the terminal into SGP’s existing network along Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast is expected to enhance efficiency and coordination across port and logistics activities. The company said this will enable more flexible and responsive services for customers, while improving cargo handling capabilities.

As part of the concession, SGP has committed to investing SAR2bn over the duration of the agreement. The funding will be directed towards upgrading terminal infrastructure and introducing advanced equipment designed to support higher throughput and accommodate larger container vessels.

The development is also expected to strengthen links between maritime and inland logistics systems, supporting smoother cargo flows and reducing bottlenecks. By improving connectivity between ports and supply chain networks, the initiative aims to boost resilience and reliability across the Kingdom’s logistics ecosystem.

Industry observers note that enhancing port capacity and efficiency remains a key priority for Saudi Arabia as it positions itself as a regional logistics hub. The addition of Jubail Container Terminal to SGP’s portfolio is seen as a strategic move to support growing trade volumes and diversify economic activity.

With long-term investment and operational upgrades planned, the terminal is set to play an increasingly important role in facilitating exports and supporting industrial growth in the Eastern Province.