Ewec to integrate power generation, water supply

abu dhabi — A new UAE law has been passed to establish the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec), a “public shareholding company” that will replace the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (Adwec).

The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, issued Law No. 20 for 2018 to form Ewec, which would be under the Abu Dhabi Power Corporation. Being a public firm, Ewec can then be joined by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa), thus consolidating water production and power generation efforts in Abu Dhabi and the emirates that Fewa caters to.

Ewec’s establishment was part of the recommendations from the UAE Government Annual Meetings, held in Abu Dhabi.

Work is currently under way to finalise the integration of Ewec and Fewa. Once agreements are completed, Ewec will be covering the water and power needs of the majority of the UAE, distributing more than 80 terawatts of electricity and 1.2 billion cubic metres of water in the country annually. It will also be taking over current projects in the pipeline.

To be based in Abu Dhabi, Ewec will be the single buyer of all power generation for water and electricity for the Capital and the rest of the areas where Fewa operates. By using the latest technologies, diversifying sources and employing best practices, Ewec will be working towards cutting down carbon emissions from water production and power generation by over 40 per cent.

Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fewa, said: “This partnership will cover most of the country’s emirates and cities, providing services to a large percentage of water and electricity consumers in the UAE. This, in turn, will contribute to the company’s ability to open new avenues and opportunities. —