Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified developers and developer consortiums interested in developing the new Abu Dhabi Islands Reverse Osmosis independent water project (IWP).

 

The Abu Dhabi Islands RO IWP project consists of two standalone greenfield low-carbon intensive RO seawater desalination plants to be located on Saadiyat Island and Hudayriat Island. 

 

Together, both plants will provide a combined total of 100 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD), equivalent to 455,000 cu m potable water per day, said the statement from Ewec.

 

The RFP is being issued to bidders who have passed the qualification process following the Expression of Interests (EOI) stage that took place in September last year. 

 

A total of 41 companies and consortiums had submitted EOIs of which 19 have qualified for the RFP stage. The deadline for submitting the RFPs has been set for Q4 2023. 

 

The project scope includes the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the plant and associated infrastructure. 

 

The successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40 per cent of the entity, while the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi Government, it added.

 

Ewec CEO Othman Al Ali said: "Low-carbon intensive RO water desalination technology is a key innovation that advances our strategic initiative of decoupling power and water generation capacity."

 

"Once complete, the Abu Dhabi Islands RO project will become our seventh and eighth RO plants, enabling us to significantly shift our fleet to a water production portfolio that actively contributes to the decarbonisation of the sector, support UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, UAE Energy Strategy 2050, and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative objectives. We look forward to receiving competitive bids from the qualified companies as we move forward with the project development," he added.

 

According to Ewec, the low-carbon intensive RO desalination project will also see it collaborate with Modon and Aldar Properties to develop and implement a unique design to cover the two desalination plants in a way that makes them blend with the islands’ distinguished nature and ecosystem. 

 

The design of the two plants will also feature an architectural visual enhancement that reflects the sustainable RO technology model used in the Abu Dhabi Islands RO project, it added.-TradeArabia News Service