JERA and TAQA enter decarbonisation partnership

February 16, 2023, by Aida Čučuk

Japanese energy major JERA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) that will see them explore opportunities to work together to develop projects in the area of decarbonisation.

The partnership follows JERA’s efforts to develop business in the Middle East.

In October 2021, JERA established JERA Middle East & Africa Management in Dubai, UAE, with a view to developing businesses in a wider range of fields, including large-scale renewable energy projects and green fuel production projects, in addition to the existing gas-fired power and desalination projects.

The company said it has been in talks with partners in the Middle East region with a view to expanding the decarbonization business further.

TAQA and JERA have an already established working relationship. They previously collaborated on the Umm Al Nar Independent Power and Water Plant (IWPP) project in 2003.

According to JERA, this MOU will open up opportunities for collaboration between the two companies through the joint development of zero-emission thermal power projects and other green projects, mainly in the Middle East region, and will contribute to the expansion of business opportunities for both companies.

Yukio Kani, Vice President of JERA, said: “We are very pleased with this partnership. I believe we have the same purpose and culture, which is ‘very open-minded.’ We are always open to new and innovative ideas and challenges, and even if we fail, we can turn around and start again, and then we can grow quickly together.”

Jasim Husain Thabet, Group CEO and Managing Director of TAQA, said: “In line with our commitment to expand our power and water capacity across the UAE and globally, this collaboration with JERA will combine the world-class capabilities of both companies.”

“Together, we will look into the development and operation of utility assets to deliver low or zero-emission power solutions that can meet future energy requirements and support international efforts for decarbonisation. We look forward to working closely with our new partner to discover and realise opportunities across the MENA region and further cement TAQA’s position as a low carbon power and water champion.”

JERA is involved in multiple energy projects across the globe, and over the years, it has formed partnerships with global energy majors. In 2022, it entered a partnership with Chevron to jointly pursue lower-carbon solutions in the US and Asia Pacific.