Sustainable Smart Management of Drilling Products in Dubai

Introduction

"Believe it or not, Sand is a coveted natural resource, one of the most sought after commodities of the 21st century. Thanks to booming construction activity in Asia, sand is in high demand. Modern global economy depends considerably on sand. Most of it pours into the construction industry, where it is used to make concrete and asphalt. A smaller quantity of fine-grade sand is used to produce glass and electronics, and, particularly in America, to extract oil from shale in the fracking industry. No wonder, then, that sand and gravel are the most extracted materials in the world." ²

 Dubai and excavated sand

Dubai has seen exponential growth in the past few decades with a massive construction boom. With a rate of construction that saw the city span over a century of development in just about two decades, there obviously was a major increase in excavations for construction of buildings. Being a desert, the region has abundance of sand, but not all types are useful. Desert sand is too fine for most commercial purposes. Reserves also need to be located near construction sites as transport costs are high compared with the price. However the problem here was not exactly a shortage of supply but management of the sand that came out of excavations.

'Sustainable Smart Management of Drilling Products,' is a recent initiative by the Buildings Department of Dubai Municipality. It focuses on optimal utilisation and recycling of excavation products resulting from drilling and construction work. In the past these used to be dumped as waste in landfills.

Circulation of excavated material

Circulation of sand is regulated through technical monitoring. The sand is transferred from the site under construction to another site or to municipality dumps or to beaches according to the type and quality of sand. It may be moved to another location determined by the municipality for the optimal utilisation and management of this resource for the benefit of society.

 Benefits achieved by recycling of excavated materials 

- Used in filling and leveling of low lying areas to make them suitable for housing purposes. 4 million cubic meters of sand was used thus.

- Used in construction activities for residential and government infrastructure projects, with 1 million cubic meters and 9 million cubic meters of sand respectively.

- Used to cover and bury wastes- hazardous waste, organic waste and other wastes. About 13 million cubic metres of sand has been transferred to the municipality dumps for this purpose.

- Used to fill abandoned sites where work had been suspended, and where leaving the sites unfilled constituted health and environmental constraints. Nearly 5 million cubic metres of sand has been used for this purpose.

- Reduction in the cost of construction by reducing the cost of sand transport. The excavated material is transported and supplied in the same area within the shortest possible distance and time.

- Reduction in Landfills that were earlier filled with drilling products from the construction sites. Three waste dumps on an area of 69 million square feet were thus saved.

- This also means saving land to be used for housing instead using them as dumps.

- The initiative has also contributed to the recycling of sand, with almost 2 million cubic metres of sand being sent to the factories for recycling.

- Preserving coastal sand- 3 million cubic metres of sand has been used to supplement the sand on the beaches.

- Environmental role by reducing the carbon footprint- A major reduction was achieved so far in Carbon Di Oxide Emission by reduction of 56,000 tonnes of CO_2.

Conclusion

The 'Sustainable Smart Management of Drilling Products,' initiative has helped to rationalise expenses and increase revenues. Furthermore it has contributed towards achieving communal, environmental and financial sustainability. Indeed waste is not waste till it is wasted. Dubai Municipality has proved this by turning a waste into a potential resource.

Sources and references:

1

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/sand-reuse-helps-dubai-municipality-save-millions-1.2059657

2

https://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21719797-thanks-booming-construction-activity-asia-sand-high-demand