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Four-way race expected for Saadiyat IWP

9 July 2024

 

Four teams are understood to be preparing to bid for a contract to develop and operate the Saadiyat Island independent water producer (IWP) project in Abu Dhabi.

The planned seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) IWP is expected to have the capacity to treat 60 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD) of water.

According to sources, the following companies lead or are part of the teams that are preparing to bid for the contract:

  • Acciona (Spain)
  • Aqualia (Spain)
  • Engie (France)
  • GS Inima (South Korea/Spain) 

Abu Dhabi-based offtaker Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) expects to receive bids for the contract by 12 July. 

The Saadiyat SWRO plant is the emirate’s fourth IWP, following Taweelah, Mirfa 2 and Shuweihat 4.

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

The project’s scope was eventually changed, resulting in the cancellation of the Hudayriat Island IWP.

According to industry sources, Ewec is considering procuring a new IWP, which is expected to have a capacity of 90 MIGD.

The proposed location for the new projects is either Al-Nouf or Taweelah in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

As in previously tendered IWPs, the successful developer or consortium will own up to 40% of a special-purpose vehicle that will implement the Saadiyat IWP project, while the Abu Dhabi government will primarily hold the remaining equity indirectly.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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