Dr Shahzad Nasim says Meinhardt’s goal of becoming a net zero engineering group is intrinsically linked to partnership with SKion
Singapore engineering group Meinhardt and SKion Water of Germany have formed a partnership to build net zero water infrastructure and harness carbon from water in markets such as India which is working on environmental projects with an ambitious Co2 carbon capturing targets.
Meinhardt has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SKion to explore opportunities in markets and help countries battle environmental challenges to capture carbon from water and to translate it to various other uses including calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a crucial component of the cement industry.
Announcing the partnership on Tuesday (Mar 8), Meinhardt Group CEO Omar Shahzad said the partners aim to develop the utilities infrastructure that will enable cities to decarbonize and transform. “It will be a big step towards building a resilient and circular economy.”
Citing challenges of managing water resources, he pointed out that India has 16% of the world’s population but only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources.
Meinhardt has been in India for more than two decades, undertaking engineering projects and understands the market where challenges are turned into opportunities, added Omar.
India emitted 2.8 billion tonnes of Co2 in 2016, an increase of almost one billion tonnes over a decade, according to information in public domain.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuously reiterated his government’s commitment to reduce one billion tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030, experts project that emissions could double by 2030 in the country.
SKion Water CEO Dr. Reinhard Hübner said the company is committed to ambitious sustainability targets and is piloting and acquiring innovative water technologies and solutions to help accelerate the net zero water and carbon transition.
“SKion Water and Meinhardt are both committed to providing net zero outcomes for clients and will collaborate to decarbonize the utilities sector.”
Added Meinhardt Group Executive Chairman Dr Shahzad Nasim, “Meinhardt’s goal of becoming a net zero engineering group is intrinsically linked to this partnership.”
With its advisory services arm, MGI Capital, the group is also setting out how it can assist countries in delivering their net zero commitments and developing new decarbonization strategies, he said.
SKion Water is a global water and wastewater technology solution provider to municipal utilities as well as industrial and commercial water users. fiinews.com
