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As Managing Director of Tandeef, Rafael Sanjurjo Lopez provides his technical and general management expertise to Tandeef (Bee’ah’s public cleansing and waste collection division). A vastly experienced, committed and enthusiastic environmental professional, Rafael has over 17 years of international experience in the waste and recycling industry in Europe and the Middle East, with a special interest in waste and environmental management projects.

Within his current role, Rafael has consolidated Bee’ah’s leadership in waste management by regulating a large portfolio of clients which includes renowned entities such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai World Trade Center, TECOM and Marina Mall. He is responsible for developing strategic plans, which include the assessment of business opportunities with local, regional and international collaborators, as well as optimisation of current operational procedures.

Prior to joining Bee’ah, Rafael was the Regional General Manager for the GCC at BLUE, the Environmental Division of the Alserkal Group. He was responsible for the regional growth of the company, and led its transition from a family-owned business, to a corporate organisation promoting environment sustainability under 3 business units: Waste Management, Technology & Products, and Services. In addition to facilitating the achievement of the IMS certification and the CSR Label, and developing energy saving solutions and eco-friendly products, he introduced new technologies for the conversion of food waste into water. During 2017, Rafael undertook several high-profile projects including the inception of Waste Collection and Transportation Services, and the establishment of a Material Recovery Facility in Dubai. Under his leadership, 2 major initiatives were executed: the first was the expansion of the unique Grease Trap Waste Recycling Plant, in partnership with Dubai Municipality. The second initiative, which was launched through an agreement with Tadweer- The Center of Waste Management in Abu Dhabi, sought to build and operate a first of its kind, Used Cooking Oil to Biodiesel Plant in the emirate, including the UCO collection.

In his role as General Manager at Star International Waste Management, Rafael was in charge of three major projects for Tadweer-The Center of Waste Management in Abu Dhabi. For the first project, he managed the delivery of street sweeping & cleansing services, as well as MSW collection and transportation in the Al Ain South Zone, for a period of seven years. The second project involved the operation and maintenance of a Clinical Waste Incinerator Plant & Fallen Stock Incinerator Plant, in addition to the collection and transportation of medical waste in the Al Ain region. The third project catered to the operation and maintenance of the sanitary landfill, and setting up of a C&D waste plant, under a BOT contract of 20 years.

He has also held several leadership roles at Urbaser, overseeing waste management projects in countries ranging from Spain to the UAE, and several other GCC countries. In his various positions, Rafael has consistently used cutting edge technology, as well as processes and procedures benchmarked in the global waste management industry, to expand market quota, introduce new business lines and drive organisational expansion.

Rafael holds a Master’s degree in Forestry, Environmental & Natural Resources Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, in addition to a Master’s degree in Renewable Energies from the European Quality Formation. He also has an Environmental Management Technician certification from the Instituto de Perfeccionamiento Universitario in Madrid.