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District cooling as an industry has taken off rapidly in the Middle East. UME talks to the companies providing services and products to this sector.

The district cooling industry has been growing year-on-year in the Middle East at a frantic pace. Because of this, companies supplying services and products to the industry have prospered along with it. The sector is relatively new in this region and as such, the eagerness to try new ideas is still prevalent.

While it can improve efficiency in a number of ways, the amount of water required in the process of district cooling is high. Regardless of this, the number of projects underway in the Middle East continues to grow and the technology involved in district cooling plants is evolving. UME examines how the companies supplying the district cooling industry are preparing for what looks like a bright future.

Lal Abdul Salam, operation manager, Abu Dhabi Pipe Factory

What do you supply to the district cooling industry?

Manufacturing and installation of GRP pre-insulated pipes for chilled water external piping network in very large scale. Procurement and installation of valves, flange adaptors and other piping accessories. Design of external chilled water piping network including valve chambers design. Flushing and chemical cleaning of external chilled water piping network.

What district cooling projects have you been involved in?

Palm Jumeirah Crescent, Palm Jumeirah Trunk, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Discovery Gardens, Jumeirah Village South Circle, International City Stage-2 and 3 and Waterfront - Madinat Al Arab.

What are your company's goals for the next 18 months?

With our vast experience in district cooling projects, we plan to attract more clients (infrastructure developers) by conveying the benefits of district cooling with use of GRP pre-insulated pipes for chilled water piping network.

We are creating more awareness among potential clients and conducting seminars on district cooling application using GRP pre-insulated piping network. These seminars clearly explain the benefits of GRP pipes over the steel pipes.

Our ultimate goal is to convince the real estate property developers to have the district cooling application with GRP piping in their projects and to make them to realise that they can have the benefit of reduced cost of cooling by 30% and can help in reducing the carbon footprint and achieving the green technology.

How much demand are you working with for district cooling services at the moment and what's the typical lead time?

At the moment, it is much less due to financial crisis and the credit crunch. Many ongoing projects have been suspended because of this. Other wise, we use to have full load capacity of our two manufacturing units, one in Abu Dhabi and other one in Dubai. Typical lead time for a 15 km of piping will be around one month.

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