Emiratis must cut water use, minister tells FNC

Suhail Al Mazrouei says resources must be looked after by the people who use them

The UAE’s water use is a “huge concern”, the Minister for Energy and Industry said as he set out plans for water-saving initiatives in government buildings, schools and hospitals.

Suhail Al Mazrouei yesterday told members of the Federal National Council that every member of society must play their part in cutting the amount of water they use.

The Emirates is one of the world’s 10 most arid states and about 15 per cent of the world’s desalinated water is used here.

Mr Al Mazrouei, who was speaking during a debate on renewables, said that Emirati homes accounted for 44 per cent of the country’s water use. Emiratis constitute an estimated 10 to 15 per cent of the population.

“This is a big percentage and it needs to be reduced to 40 per cent at least,” said Mr Al Mazrouei, who is also the chairman of the Federal Electricity and Water Authority.

He said that work had begun on water-saving programmes that include installing water metering for Emiratis, which he said could cut use by a fifth.

“And we are working on establishing more water desalination stations in the eastern coast,” Mr Al Mazrouei told the council.

Faisal Al Thabbahi, who represents Fujairah, asked the minister what was being done to invest in clean energy.

Mr Al Mazrouei said the federal authorities had been searching for land for a huge solar power station.

He said a federal law was being prepared to speed the installation of solar panels on the roofs of homes and commercial premises. Such a project was under way in Dubai and one would be introduced in Abu Dhabi.

The law will set out how the government will use the solar power generated by these panels, “as we are seeking to reach a point where 44 per cent of our electricity is provided by solar power, and every five years we will go over that strategy”.

FNC member Afra Al Basti, who represents Dubai, said that Fewa made Dh1.14 billion last year and asked: “Why wasn’t that money used to support nationals?”

Mr Al Mazrouei said the authority paid for 70 per cent of Emiratis’ daily use of electricity and 50 per cent of the costs to connect electricity to their homes, at a total annual cost of about Dh1bn.

He said Dh5bn will be spent on expanding the electricity grid over the next five years and Dh15bn to generate electricity, “so what we make is nothing compared to what we spend”.

Also during the session, FNC members voted on a recommendation for a trial that would require all companies to look for a qualified Emirati candidate before they offered a job to an expat.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation last month introduced such a procedure for the private sector, where 400 jobs at 2,000 large enterprises were selected for that procedure.

But member Hamad Al Rahoomi, of Dubai, insisted that this should be followed by all government, semi-government and private companies.

“When I sit in a majlis and find jobless Emiratis, I have to act,” Mr Al Rahoomi told Nasset Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

“We nationals are a priority and we cannot find jobs in our own country.

“This is not normal. Organisations don’t have a database of nationals who are looking for jobs. So there must be a link between those looking for jobs and available jobs.”