Largest desalination plant in Capital soon
abu dhabi — Abu Dhabi will build the world’s largest water desalination plant to serve the emirate and other parts of the UAE.
The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) on Tuesday announced the launch of the desalination plant, slated to produce 200 million gallons of water per day using the reverse osmosis technology.
The announcement was made at the World Water Summit and World Future Energy Summit, which are part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, on until January 20.
Construction on the Dh2 billion project in Al Taweelah area — located approximately 45 kilometres north of Abu Dhabi — will start in 2019 and is scheduled to be completed by 2021. The desalination plant is aimed at boosting water supply in the emirates to meet increasing demand, serving Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.
Officials said the project will be in two blocks, each producing 100 million Imperial Gallons per Day (MIGD).
Dr Saif Saleh Al Seairi, acting director general of ADWEA, said at the launch of the project: “The desalination of water will be done using reverse osmosis technology, which is cost effective. The production cost will be Dh10 per gallon.”
He added: “The Project is important to secure the potable water supply in the emirate and play a key role in the ongoing cost reduction initiative in the sector by procuring competitive and efficient RO water desalination technology.”
ADWEA aims to have a 60 per cent stake in the project while the private sector developer will own 40 per cent. The project will include the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the plant.
Abu Dhabi’s current water production capacity is around 960 million gallons per day, from 10 desalination plants.
The ADWEA had on Monday announced the completion of the world’s largest reserve of high quality desalinated water, with a 5.6 billion gallon storage capacity. This Dh1.6 billion-worth plant can provide sufficient drinking water to one million people for up to 90 days.
The water is secured in a network of 315 recovery wells, lying up to 80 metres below the Liwa Desert. The wells are fed by one of UAE longest water pipeline networks, which runs the water from Shuweihat desalination plant at a rate of seven million imperial gallons (approximately 32,000m3) per day.
The desalination will be done using cost effective reverse osmosis technology, at Dh10 per gallon. The project is important to secure potable water supply in the emirate and play a key role in the ongoing cost reduction initiative.” Dr Saif Saleh Al Seairi, acting director general,ADWEA