Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has issued request for qualifications (RFQs) for the development of an independent water project at Shuweihat some 250km west of capital Abu Dhabi. 

 

A leading company in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing and supply of water and electricity across the UAE, Ewec said a total of 35 companies and consortiums have submitted EOIs.

 

The Shuweihat S4 Project will desalinate seawater using reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology, a low carbon-intensive process, to produce up to 70 million gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water, sufficient to meet the water demand for 125,000 households. 

 

Shuweihat S4 continues its strategic investment in innovative RO seawater desalination technology with Ewec recently issuing Request for Proposals for the 80 MIGD Mirfa 2 (M2) RO IWP. 

 

Combined, these two new projects will provide 150 MIGD of new RO seawater desalination capacity, improving the security of water supply and playing a key role in the ongoing cost reduction initiatives in the sector by decoupling power and water generation capacity in Abu Dhabi.

 

The RFQ is being issued to selected bidders that submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI). Once the qualification process has been completed, the companies or consortia that qualify will be invited to respond to a detailed Request for Proposal that will be launched by Ewec. 

 

CEO Othman Al Ali said: "Increased reverse osmosis desalination capacity is a strategic focus for Ewec. These new low-carbon seawater desalination projects are the key to decoupling power and water production, which will allow us to make significant changes to our water and electricity production portfolio with a focus on decarbonising the energy sector."

 

"Reverse osmosis technology is cost and carbon efficient, reducing carbon emissions from water desalination by up to 95 percent, in addition to enhancing the water security of Abu Dhabi. We look forward to completing the RFQ process and moving to the Request for Proposal stage as quickly as possible," he added.

 

The Shuweihat S4 RO project will be located adjacent to the existing Shuweihat S3 IPP Project, within the Shuweihat power and water complex, approximately 250 km west of the city of Abu Dhabi. 

 

The winning bidder will be responsible for the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of a standalone greenfield RO seawater desalination plant with a capacity of 70 MGD of water output, together with associated infrastructure, stated Ali. 

 

As per the deal, it will own up to 40 per cent of the entity while the remaining equity will be primarily held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government.

 

Ewec aims to achieve financial close by the end of 2022 with a target project commercial operations date by Q3 2025. The last date for submitting the bids has been set at December 31.-TradeArabia News Service