Masdar committed to UK despite Brexit, says CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi

In the UK, Masdar is a partner in three offshore wind farms, with a combined generating capacity of more than 1GW: London Array, the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm, and Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating wind farm.

While in September this year, Masdar and the UK Government invested £70 million ($86.3 million) to bolster Britain’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Al Ramahi told Arabian Business: “We are a major investor in the United Kingdom and we will continue to be a major investor there.”

This is despite the turmoil caused by the UK’s turbulent divorce from the European Union.

Since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, it has taken two prime ministers, 1,274 days, three deadline extensions and two general elections before an exit deal was considered acceptable by the UK Parliament.

On Friday, MPs voted 358 to 234 – a majority of 124 – in favour of the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, which now goes on to further scrutiny in Parliament.

Recently elected Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to complete a deal to leave the EU by the end of January.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government’s “mishandling of Brexit” had “paralysed the political system,” divided communities and was a “national embarrassment”.

However, regardless of what happens, Al Ramahi has reiterated his commitment to the country, through a relationship that stretches more than ten years.

“We are a long-term investor, so these cyclicality’s or the impact on potentially Brexit or maybe other related activities, does not impact us, because we are a long-term investor, we don’t think short-term, we think long-term,” he said.

“We like the United Kingdom and we don’t believe these Brexit discussions and actions will have a negative impact on our position.”

Al Ramahi was speaking ahead of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2020, which is being held from January 11-18 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.