Abu Dhabi-based offtaker Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) is considering procuring a new independent water project (IWP), according to industry sources.

The planned seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) facility is expected to have a capacity of 90 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD), equivalent to about 409,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d).

Sources have told MEED that the proposed location is either in Al Nouf or Taweelah in Abu Dhabi.

A facility in Al Nouf will require a long pipeline that will connect the plant to Abu Dhabi, and will likely involve the participation of the Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company (Transco), according to one of the sources.

It is understood that Ewec could seek interest from developers for the new IWP by the end of the year. 

This development follows the revision of the scope and capacity of Abu Dhabi's fourth IWP scheme, which is currently in the tendering stage.

The Saadiyat Island IWP will have a capacity of 60 MIGD.

When it was tendered in July 2023, the original scheme – called the Abu Dhabi Islands IWP – comprised two SWRO plants each with a capacity of 50 MIGD, to be located on the Saadiyat and Hudayriat islands in Abu Dhabi.

The current tender closing date for the Saadiyat Island IWP project is 29 June.

"They need this additional planned capacity [in Al Nouf or Taweelah] since the other scheme in Hudayriat has been cancelled," the source added.

Ewec previously said these projects are important to Abu Dhabi’s water security due to their proximity to the load centre of the Abu Dhabi islands, as well as the scheduled decommissioning in 2028 of the integrated power and water desalination plant at Sas Nakhl.

As in previously tendered IWPs, the successful developer or consortium will own up to 40% of a special-purpose vehicle that will implement these projects, while the remaining equity will be primarily held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government.

Awarded contracts 2023

Ewec awarded the contracts for two IWPs last year. Ewec, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) and France’s Engie signed the water purchase agreement for the Mirfa 2 IWP project in February 2023. They reached financial close for the project, which will have a capacity of 120 MIGD, two months later.

Taqa, Ewec and South Korea’s GS Inima reached financial close on the $444m Shuweihat 4 SWRO IWP in December. Located within the Shuweihat power and water complex, the facility will supply up to 70 MIGD of potable water. Commercial operations are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2026.

MEED's April 2024 special report on the UAE includes:

> COMMENT: UAE rides high on non-oil boom
> GVT & ECONOMY: Non-oil activity underpins UAE economy
> BANKING: UAE banks seize the moment
> UPSTREAM: Adnoc oil and gas project spending sees steep uptick
> DOWNSTREAM: UAE builds its downstream and chemical sectors
> POWER: UAE marks successful power project deliveries
> WATER: Dubai tunnels project dominates UAE pipeline
> DUBAI CONSTRUCTION: Dubai real estate boosts construction sector
> ABU DHABI CONSTRUCTION: Abu Dhabi makes major construction investments