Indian engineers in Saudi celebrate World Energy Day

Indian Engineers Forum Jeddah chapter celebrated World energy day with theme Connecting energy societies. Engr Amir Khan Chairman IEF Saudi Arabia attended the event as Chief Guest, Engr Mohammed Sayeed Uddin Vice Chairman IEF Saudi Arabia as Guest of Honor while Engr Mustafa Khan President IEF Jeddah Chapter presided over the function. Large number of Indian Engineers and community leaders attended the event, technical presentations delivered by Executive committee members of IEF Jeddah chapter were appreciated by audience.

Chief Guest Engr Amir khan appreciated the activities of IEF Jeddah Chapter and congratulated Executive committee for taking lead to celebrate world energy day. 

He congratulated both technical Speakers for delivering informative presentations, he thanked Engr. Ashraf Nawaz Quraishi for highlighting advantages of modern method of construction and appreciated Engr. Anwar Pasha Ansari as he had touched all key points and already updated that World Energy Day, was initiated in 2012 by the World Energy Forum as a time to raise awareness of energy use and promote global decarbonising efforts, falls on 22 October. 

While addressing he elaborated the activities of IEF in detail for the audience, he said we Started IEF in 1998 and 2018 we celebrated our 20 Years at Ritz Carlton Hotel, Last July 2019 I was in Jeddah and November 2019 at Dammam, the trend was to celebrate the IEF events and get engaged at Physical spaces. To me COVID 19 has brought some challenges but many opportunities as well. Many Companies in Technology, IT, Pharmacy, Telecommunications, Services, Food and Beverages, Supply Chain had grown and developed their business several times and they came up with innovative solutions, IEF is among one of them. We took this Challenge as an opportunity and launched IEF Global Network Platform this summer and attracted all IEF Ex members who are various countries, to join us back, to name a few, Canada, Australia, USA, UAE, Bahrain and India. This unique opportunity to connect back across border has propelled IEF activities, just to highlight last three months.

He also informed audience current different activities of all chapters in Kingdom, as recently seminar was conducted on Future of Work in the digital ERA, (15th August) we invited Key note Speaker Mr. Moid Mohammad based in Chicago from Mckinsey & Company by (Dammam Chapter)   

Operational Excellence in Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals Industries, (5th September) we invited Key note Speaker Mr. NC Narayanan Founder Chairman SSA Group of Companies by (Jubail Chapter)

Indian Engineers Day (15th September) We invited HE Dr. Ausaf Sayeed Ambassador of India to KSA and Dr. K Venkata Subbaiah Vice President of IIE (India) , By Riyadh Chapter , This particular event was remarkable on its way as all IEF Founder Members and active Advisory  board members joined the Celebration ( 140+ delegates)

Core Concepts in Construction Chemicals ( 30th September) we invited Keynote Speaker Mr. Samer Al Takroury Technical Manager Henkel Polybit KSA and Engr. Ziad Anis Country Manager at Henkel Adhesive Technologies Construction by ( Dammam Chapter)

Engr Anwar Pasha Ansari Chairman electrical subcommittee IEF Jeddah chapter delivered presentation on connecting energy societies, while delivering the presentation on theme of the day he stunned the audience showing the fact that about 700 million people of the world are still in dark without electricity, interestingly explained giving several examples how can we achieve universal energy access. 

Concluded with the message that one needs to work faster to connect household and it has substantial impact on climate change, whenever possible we should use renewable energy.

Engr Ashraf Nawaz Qureshi,treasurer of the forum delivered power point presentations for the audience with topic Solving the KSA Housing Crises through Modern Method of Construction, he explained in detail the reasons to adopt MMC. He elaborated how the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is important and how this will help in reducing the cost and construction duration, achieving significant cost savings in labour and material due to effective and efficient utilization of resources under factory-controlled environment with enhanced quality. By this way contractors will be able to deliver affordable and sustainable housing. The contractors can be part of this revolution and turn this disruption into an opportunity by adopting modern construction by sharing structured information within all stakeholders in a collaborative environment to deliver affordable and sustainable housing.

Guest of honour Engr Mohammed Sayeed Uddin thanked Jeddah chapter for organizing event with theme, connecting energy societies.

While speaking on theme he said Increase in extreme global temperatures and weather conditions caused by climate change has led nations across the world to step up clean energy efforts, with technological innovations causing prices of solutions such as wind and solar is decreasing and therefore and no of them is installations increasing. However, despite renewables’ growing grasp of the energy market, the industry still faces the problem of universal energy access.

India is currently leading the race, expecting to reach complete electrification by 2020, ten years earlier than the target set under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for universal energy access.

However, we need to do much more work if the target of universal electrification is to be reached by 2030.

The solution to electrifying detached communities lies in the deployment of decentralized, renewable energy networks. Mini- and off-grid systems offer communities agency over their energy consumption and independence from the main grid, while renewables are becoming increasingly inexpensive and thus more viable for smaller, developing sites.

While speaking Advisory board member of the forum Engr Anjum Iqbal said The Covid-19 pandemic has caused more disruption to the energy sector than any other event in recent history, leaving impacts that will be felt for years to come. Further he said This year’s exceptional circumstances require an exceptional approach. The usual long-term modelling horizons are kept but the immediate focus is firmly on the next 10 years, examining in detail the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the energy sector, and the near-term actions that could accelerate Energy efficiency, sustainability and resilience.

President of the forum Engr Mustafa Khan said I am happy that members of different chapters also joined with us to celebrate world energy day. while speaking he said Energy efficiency first shall be the watchword of the future, one Kilowatt of energy saved is equal to one Kilowatt of energy generated.

Minimise wastage, maximise saving of electricity, the future of electrical engineers lies in energy monitoring, energy management. smart grid, reducing transmission losses, switching losses.

Dr Ruksar Fatima Dean Engineering and Technology, Khaja Banda Nawaz University, joined online from Gulbarga appreciated the activities of Indian Engineers Forum in Kingdom, while speaking she suggested to have research and development wings under Indian Engineers Forum in Kingdom which may help young engineers to grow professionally.

Program started with the recitation of Holy Quran by Engr Mohammed Ahtesham IT Coordinator of the forum. Welcome speech was delivered by Vice president Engr Mir Ateeq ur Rahman, he welcomed all the participant dignitaries and guests joining online from different parts of the Kingdom. Program was anchored by General Secretary Syed Nasir Khursheed, online technical support was provided and well handled by Executive Committee member Engr Muazzam Sayeed.

Vice President Engr Abubakar Sher Khan concluded the event with a vote of thanks, he expressed deep sense of appreciation for Chief Guest, Guest of Honor, Presidents and executive committee members of different chapters, community leaders and other dignitaries for joining online and sparing precious time. He also thanked Jeddah executive committee members for their efforts to conduct this event.