Ewec plans new independent water project
15 May 2024

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
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Tunisia extends bid deadline for gas pipeline project24 August 2026
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Adnoc plans new offshore-to-onshore oil transport pipeline20 August 2026
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Dubai’s annual inflation rate slowed to 5.3% in July, down from 5.7% in June, as a decline in transport costs eased pressure on consumer prices, according to Emirates NBD.
The bank said the slowdown supported its view that price growth peaked at mid-year, and it expects inflation to continue easing through the rest of 2026. Monthly price growth slowed to 0.1% in July, from 0.4% in June, the weakest pace since February.
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Libya oil project on track for 2027 completion24 August 2026

The project to develop a workers’ camp at Libya’s Erawin oil field is on track for completion next year, according to industry sources.
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The Libyan company was awarded the contract in February 2025.
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The client on the project is Zallaf Libya Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Company.
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Tunisia extends bid deadline for gas pipeline project24 August 2026
State-owned Tunisian Company of Electricity & Gas (Steg) has extended the bid deadline for a project to develop gas pipelines in the North African country.
Earlier this year, the project was tendered with a bid deadline of 15 July. The new deadline is 30 September 2026.
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Contractors confirm $683m Oman power plant contract21 August 2026
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China-headquartered Shandong Electric Power Construction No. 3 Company (Sepco 3) and South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility have confirmed their involvement as contractors on the 1,700MW Misfah combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) project in Oman.
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Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
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Adnoc plans new offshore-to-onshore oil transport pipeline20 August 2026

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Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to build an oil pipeline network that will transport oil from its main offshore oil processing islands in the Gulf to its onshore crude export terminal in Jebel Dhanna, Abu Dhabi.
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West-East oil pipeline
In May, Adnoc said it was accelerating work on the West-East crude transport pipeline project from Jebel Dhanna to Fujairah, upon directions from its board.
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Adnoc awarded Egyptian contractor Engineering for Petroleum & Process Industries (Enppi) an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) contract for the project in February 2024.
Adnoc’s total spend on EPCm works could be as high as $3bn, MEED previously reported.
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