The IJGlobal independent panel of judges chose Masdar – Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – to win the ESG developer award for the Middle East, having impressed them as “a global developer with scale”.

One of the IJGlobal ESG Awards 2024 judges said: “Masdar is obviously deeply impressive from a scale perspective, but it also deserves to be recognised for its robust ESG objectives and frameworks.”

Masdar has an ESG management system in place to ensure that projects are de-risked from an environmental and social perspective and that sustainability opportunities are maximised across its portfolio.

It aims through the development of projects and in its investments to align with global sustainability goals, supporting initiatives that promote environmental, social and economic well-being.

The submission states: “All Masdar projects are subjected to an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), in compliance with national law but also with international best practices and Masdar’s internal sustainability objectives.

“Following ESIA process, Masdar has a bespoke HSSE (health, safety, social and environment) management system for construction projects and operational assets, which is aligned with best international practices, Masdar requirements, International Labour Organization standards, UN guidelines for human rights and international security, and IFC performance standards on environmental and social sustainability.

“Masdar’s management system incorporates legal requirements of host countries and measures to address site-specific risks and opportunities identified through the ESIA.

“Our bespoke HSSE management system has 19 management plans that govern the environmental and social (E&S) performance, including not only requirements for Masdar staff, but also for contractor, subcontractor and supplier activities related to our portfolio.

“Masdar’s ESG management procedures play a critical role in streamlining ESG criteria in our portfolio.”

This resulted in changes enacted:

• project location – pipeline windfarm in Kazakhstan
• project site boundaries – solar PV in Angola
• project design – AYG-1 solar PV plant, Armenia
• development of the largest automated stop on demand system to protect bird species – Zarafshan WPP

With its livelihood restoration plan (LRP), Masdar aims to enhance the livelihoods of the project affected people. In Bukhara, Masdar provided livestock management training, agricultural education, provision of saplings and seeds, and supplied essential hand tools for farming.

On the biodiversity action plan, Masdar aims to achieve no net loss and net gain on priority biodiversity features and critical habitats, ensuring that its projects have positive impact on nature.

In Bukhara, Masdar is implementing several biodiversity conservation measures including a dedicated nursery where seedlings of native shrubs are cultivated from collected seeds to be later transplanted for habitat improvements. The nursery area itself will be revegetated to restore its natural condition. Meanwhile, DEWA 6 supports a feeding station for Arabian Oryx and gazelles.

H&S objectives include a labour and working conditions management plan and worker accommodation management plans to ensure that all contractor and subcontractor employees have satisfactory working and living conditions. Compliance with these plans is monitored through inspections and audits.

As to stakeholder engagement plans, Masdar ensure that local communities and interested stakeholders are informed on project progress, ESG mitigation measures and opportunities. It also includes a grievance mechanism to capture and resolve any concern on the sustainability performance.

The community development plan designs/implements CSR measures for local communities and environment. These are designed through a participatory and inclusive approach ensuring meaningful positive impacts on local communities.