|
Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) and its project partners, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and Abu Dhabi-based global energy company TAQA, today celebrated the groundbreaking of the US$200 million expansion project for the Fujairah 1 Independent Water and Power Plant (IWPP) in the UAE. Once complete, the expansion will increase the plant’s seawater desalination capacity by 30 million imperial gallons per day (MiGD). This additional output will be produced using reverse osmosis technology.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Consul-General of Singapore in Dubai, His Excellency Cheong Ming Foong, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Regulations and Supervision Bureau (RSB), Nick Carter, as well as senior management representatives from Sembcorp and its project partners ADWEA and TAQA.
The expansion, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015, will increase the capacity of Fujairah 1 IWPP from 100 MiGD to 130 MiGD, of which 67.5 MiGD will be produced using reverse osmosis process. The remaining 62.5 MiGD is produced using multi-stage flash technology. This combined reverse osmosis desalination capacity will make the Fujairah 1 IWPP the largest reverse osmosis desalination facility in the Middle East, and will be essential to help meet the expected increase in water demand in Abu Dhabi and the northern Emirates in the coming years.
The 30 MiGD water output from the expansion will be sold to the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Company (ADWEC) under a 20-year water purchase agreement, signed in January this year. This is in addition to the existing 22-year power and water purchase agreement with ADWEC for the plant’s current water and electricity output.
The Fujairah 1 IWPP, one of the world’s largest operating hybrid desalination plants, is owned and operated by Emirates Sembcorp Water & Power Company (ESC), a joint venture between TAQA (54%), Sembcorp (40%) and ADWEA (6%).
Tang Kin Fei, Group President & CEO of Sembcorp, said, “The expansion of our seawater desalination capacity will play an important role in meeting the increasing water demand in the UAE. Our plant, strategically located in Fujairah, will enable us to produce desalinated water more economically for our customer. The expansion project also enables the use of uncontracted surplus power from the existing plant, hence allowing excess generation capacity to be gainfully utilised to produce the additional water at a competitive cost and enhance our income at the same time.”
Commenting on the project, Mr Carter said, “This additional expansion is part of an integrated approach to provide high quality drinking water to the northern Emirates and to satisfy the increasing demand in Abu Dhabi. It is an excellent example of joint co-operation between the UAE’s Federal Electricity & Water Authority and ADWEA, in collaboration with a first-class private sector operator, Sembcorp. RSB has licensed this facility at Fujairah, having been satisfied of the need for a further 30 MiGD of drinking water production and the operational skills and financial standing of the project company, ESC.”
Frank Perez, TAQA’s Executive Officer and Head of Power & Water, said, “The expansion of the Fujairah 1 power and water plant marks a significant milestone in TAQA’s journey towards water sustainability. The reverse osmosis desalination technology used at the plant is one of the most economical and efficient ways to produce drinking water.
“At TAQA, we are committed to helping the government of Abu Dhabi address the UAE’s water desalination challenges. Thanks to the support of our trusted partners, the expansion will help provide reliable water supply to the northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi.”
William Chang, Executive Managing Director of ESC, said, “One of the most innovative aspects of this expansion project is its ability to recover seawater discharge from the existing multi-stage flash facility for reuse as part of the seawater feed for the entire Fujairah 1 IWPP. The expansion will also include the installation of a new Dissolved Air Floatation system, which will improve the quality of the seawater feed. This system will enhance the reliability and availability of the reverse osmosis facility.”
Sembcorp has been operating in the Middle East since 2006, starting with the Fujairah 1 IWPP. Sembcorp also owns and operates the Salalah Independent Water and Power Plant, the largest and most energy-efficient power and water plant in Dhofar, southern Oman. The Group is embarking on its third project in the Middle East with a joint venture with Takamul Investment Company to develop centralised utilities facilities for the Duqm Special Economic Zone in Oman – the first ever centralised utilities model to be implemented in Oman.
|
New
Review
Abu Dhabi International Airport - 41°F
