EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), a prominent entity in the integrated planning, procurement, and distribution of water and electricity throughout the UAE, has announced the receipt of four proposals from Acciona Agua, Engie, GS Inima Environmental, and a consortium of FCC Aqualia and Orascom Construction Industries for the development of the Saadiyat Island Reverse Osmosis (RO) Independent Water Project (IWP).
The Saadiyat Island RO initiative features a cutting-edge greenfield RO seawater desalination facility strategically located on Saadiyat Island. Employing advanced, low-carbon-intensive RO technology, the independent plant will desalinate around 60 million imperial gallons per day of seawater, which is nearly 273,000 m³/day. Saadiyat Island RO will mark the seventh RO desalination project in EWEC’s portfolio.
Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, remarked: “EWEC is dedicated to transitioning to a reverse osmosis-focused infrastructure, and with this significant project, we move closer to our strategic aim of generating 90 percent of water through reverse osmosis capacity by 2030, while ensuring nearly carbon-free water production by 2031.
Our mission aligns with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, ultimately aiding in the achievement of the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. We anticipate collaborating with the selected partner to further enhance Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s status as a leading center for sustainable development.”
Low-carbon-intensive RO technology achieves over an 85 percent reduction in emissions compared to traditional thermal desalination. By 2031, EWEC aims to cut carbon emissions related to water desalination in Abu Dhabi to under one kilogram per cubic meter.
The RFP was issued to bidders who successfully completed the qualification process following the expressions of interest (EOI) phase. A total of 41 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, with 19 qualifying for the RFP stage after providing statements of qualification.
After the submissions, the proposals will undergo a comprehensive technical and commercial evaluation process to identify the best proposal.
The awarding announcement and execution of the Water Purchase Agreement are anticipated in Q4 2024, with commercial operations expected to commence in Q3 2027.
Source :Emirates Water & Electricity (EWEC)
