Dubai: Panasonic expects 120 per cent growth in eco-friendly products that cuts energy consumption in the booming construction sector in the Middle East, a top company executive told Gulf News.
Quoting the World Economic Outlook, Anil Roshan Castelino, senior manager of eco solutions at Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa, said that 60,000 construction projects are underway across the Middle East valued at above $2 trillion.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the Middle East Electricity and Solar Middle East show, which opened in Dubai on Tuesday.
Castelino said energy consumption is growing so fast in the region and some countries are finding it difficult to meet the demand during summer.
Average energy use
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) data from 1990 to 2008, the average energy use per person increased 10 per cent while world population increased 27 per cent.
Regional energy use also grew from 1990 to 2008: the Middle East increased by 170 per cent, China by 146 per cent, India by 91 per cent, Africa by 70 per cent, Latin America by 66 per cent, the USA by 20 per cent, the EU-27 block by 7 per cent, and world overall grew by 39 per cent.
A UAE resident consumes 8,271 kilogrammes of oil equivalent energy (kgoe) per annum, much lower than some of its neighbours, such as Qatar which has a per capita energy consumption of 12,799 kgoe and 12,204 in Kuwait.
In comparison, the per capita energy consumption in the United Kingdom and the United States are 3,254 kgoe and 7,164 kgoe, respectively
“Growth in consumption is going to increase further and the investments needed will lead to an even wider gap between demand and supply,” said Anita Mathews, Director of Informa Energy Group, organisers of Middle East Electricity.
Castelino said that by moving to LED bulbs, consumers can save 70 per cent of the energy when compared to incandescent light bulbs and 50 per cent by compact fluorescent lamp.
“LED lamps are the future in terms of lighting. Right now, the consumption is very small but it is expected to more than double in the next couple of years,” he said.
“The industry is set to experience an unparalleled activity over the next decade, Expo 2020 and Fifa World Cup 2022 in Qatar, and the economies are paving their way towards gaining international recognition. In line with this robust development plans, we aim to tap this booming industry and offer products that can effectively meet the needs of this growing sector,” Castelino said.
The two events — Expo 2020 and Fifa World Cup 2022 — will fuel more housing projects in the region and the push by the regional governments to provide homes for nationals “will fuel more sales for the suppliers.”
