Central player: Khalil Issa

Khalil Issa, CEO of Energy Central Company (ECC) in Bahrain
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Impact

The impact on the utility services provider is higher and more unpredictable peaks in consumption, as opposed to the constant loads associated with a ‘green’ building. “This is why we favour the concept of ‘green’ buildings because we will be able to avoid those peaks and troughs,” explains Issa.

In terms of the overall district cooling market in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Issa says it is rated for 300,000 to 500,000 tons over the next three to five years, which means there is plenty of scope for future growth.

For example, ECC has clinched a 22-year Energy Performance Contract (EPC), comprising about 20,000 tons of district cooling, for the Saudi Basic Industrial Corporation’s (SABIC) Hadeed facility based at Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

The district cooling will support both human comfort and process operations. Issa reveals the project is currently under construction, and ECC is expected to be supplying chilled water “within the next year or so.”

Meanwhile, the first modules of the company’s desalination plant at Durrat Al Bahrain “will be operational early next year as well.” The total capacity of the desalination plant, when fully operational is 36,000 cubic metres daily (CMD). ECC has already purchased two temporary SWRO plants having a total capacity of 2,000 CMD. This will meet the initial irrigation demands at Durrat Al Bahrain.

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Biography of Khalil Issa

A civil and environmental engineering expert by education, Khalil Issa brings 18 years’ of extensive industry experience and knowledge to Energy Central Company (ECC) in Bahrain. With proven experience in business management, corporate planning, marketing and engineering, Issa was instrumental in establishing ECC. He has been founding CEO since the company’s inception in 2005.

Beginning his career in the US as marketing engineer for Trane, a global leader in air-conditioning systems, for almost five years, he then progressed to marketing manager for the company’s representative agent in Lebanon. Issa then relocated to Saudi Arabia as marketing manager for leading regional player Zamil Air Conditioners, ultimately advancing to the position of director: planning and business development. Issa has obtained an MS Civil and Environmental Engineering degree from the University of Colorado in the US.

Energy Central Company Fact Sheet

Year of incorporation: 2005.
Location: Zamil Tower, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Business focus: A multi-utility services company.
Company vision: Delivering enhanced communal utility services through process synergies and integrating complex value chains.
Areas of expertise: District cooling/heating, wastewater treatment, seawater desalination, power generation, transmission and distribution systems.
Board of Directors: Abdul Hakeem Yacoub Al Khayat, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Zamil (chairman), Abdulla Al Zamil, Adnan Malik, Khaldoun Tabari (executive committee chairman), Dr. Manaf Hamza, Dr. Mohammed Khalfan Bin Kherbash, Waleed Al Jeri.
General Management: Khalil Issa, CEO; Greg Garner, commercial director; Denver Brown, director: projects and engineering; Maurizio Fenderico, chief financial officer.

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