World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2017(4)
Mouhannad Makhlouf is Senior Director of Environmental Services at Abdul Latif Jameel Energy. He has held this post since September 2014 and is based out of Abdul Latif Jameel's international headquarters in Dubai, UAE.
Mr. Makhlouf oversees the Environmental Services division, where he evaluates market opportunities, manages a pipeline of prospects and works with potential partners and clients to devise optimal engagement strategies and market entry opportunities. As part of his role, he is responsible for identifying new revenue-generating business opportunities that enhance Abdul Latif Jameel’s diversification initiatives within the renewable energy and environmental services sectors.
Mr. Makhlouf is also accountable for identifying opportunities to bid for and acquire new businesses in key target markets across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region, Asia Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa and Latin America. As part of his efforts to expand the business, Mr. Makhlouf plays a key role in executing and closing transactions, identifying potential customers and market opportunities and delivering revenue growth through sales of services offered by Abdul Latif Jameel Energy.
His role includes active participation in managing merger and acquisition activities that further strengthen Abdul Latif Jameel Energy’s position as an independent power producer (IPP) in the renewable energy sector.
Prior to joining Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, Mr. Makhlouf was Project Developer at ACWA Power, a water and power projects operator. He previously held the position of Director of Corporate Development at the Olayan Group where he led the group’s diversification strategy into multiple new business segments.
He began his career in the telecom and high-tech industry in the U.S. in 1995, where he concluded major wireless carrier network deployments. In early 2009, he moved to the Middle East.
Mr. Makhlouf holds an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, Washington DC, and a Master of Science in Telecommunications and Computer Science from The George Washington University, where he also received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Bio-medicine.
Roberto de Diego Arozamena is the Chief Executive Officer of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, a position he has held since September 2012. Based in Dubai, UAE, he also serves as Abdul Latif Jameel’s Special Projects Officer.
Mr. de Diego Arozamena is responsible for driving the growth of Abdul Latif Jameel’s international energy business, leading its strategy to strengthen its position as an independent power producer (IPP), in the renewable energy sector. Following the acquisition of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) in April 2015, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy is now the largest GCC-based solar PV developer and one of the leading solar PV developers in the world. The business has a geographical footprint that extends beyond the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region to include solar projects in Asia Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, and Latin America. Mr. de Diego Arozamena also oversees Almar Water Solutions, Abdul Latif Jameel’s new water offering.
In his role as Special Projects Officer, Mr. de Diego Arozamena supports Abdul Latif Jameel’s diversification into new business activities, leveraging his broad business background as a senior executive working across diverse sectors and international markets. He has more than 30 years of high-level corporate management and business development experience, during which he has taken an active role in delivering international best practice, multinational workforce management, and helping raise standards of corporate governance.
Mr. de Diego Arozamena has considerable expertise in the international renewable energy sector, having established an advisory services company focused on renewable energy, prior to which he held the position of President of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Solfocus, a solar technology developer and manufacturer of solar energy systems.
He previously held several leadership positions across a number of telecommunications and technology companies, including British Telecom as President of BT Europe, a €6.4 bn international business, and CEO of Jazztel Group, a publicly listed company.
A Spanish National, Mr. de Diego Arozamena holds an MBA from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Southern California.
Formed in 2012, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy an independent entity of Abdul Latif Jameel. It is the largest GCC-based solar PV developer and one of the leading solar PV developers in the world.
In April 2015, the business acquired Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (‘FRV’), a leading global developer of large-scale solar power plants. Today, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy 100% ownership of FRV’s 4.8 GW pipeline of projects across 15 countries and a global footprint which includes operations and solar projects in the MENAT region, Asia Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, North America and Latin America. Through FRV, the business currently manages, operates and maintains 299 MW.
Abdul Latif Jameel Energy brings a depth of knowledge, operational excellence, and strong financial capability to the domains of sustainable energy creation, alternative resources management and energy efficiency. Specifically, Abdul Latif Jameel recognizes that water security is one of the most pressing issues in the world today, and recently announced Almar Water Solutions as an expansion of our service offering.
It seeks to form strategic partnerships in the renewable energy space to further develop opportunities in the areas of wind energy, waste-to-energy, waste management, desalination and water services, and oil recovery and cleaning services. It also actively collaborates with energy experts and organizations, and works in alignment with progressive government initiatives, to deliver on the significant opportunities in power production and conservation that exist around the world.
In line with the guiding principles of Abdul Latif Jameel, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy strives for local job creation and vocational training in the countries where it establishes operations, with the intent of building local capacity and a lasting legacy of capable energy sector expertise. For example, Abdul Latif Jameel runs a university scholarship program called Young Talented Leaders which supports eligible students with training and education costs, including tuition fees.
Abdul Latif Jameel Energy 2017 brochure
A new low-cost handheld device that tests the quality and safety of milk is being developed by the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
MIT mechanical engineering PhD candidate visited milk collection centers in Maharashtra, India, and discussed collection practices with dairy farmers and center operators during a 2017 research trip. J-WAFS-funded technology being developed by Jain in mechanical engineering professor Sanjay Sarma’s MIT lab will allow users at village-level milk collection centers like the one pictured to easily test milk for quality and nutritional consistency on site.
Image courtesy of Pranay Jain
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, has been awarded a 55 MWac solar project in Armenia that will power more than 21,400 homes in Armenia with clean energy.
Tristan Higuero, COO East, meets Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan.