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• 
  Firm wins Al-Nouf IWP technical advisory role

  27 January 2025

  Abu Dhabi-based offtaker Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) is understood to have awarded the technical advisory contract for its next independent water project (IWP) in Al-Nouf.

  According to sources familiar with the project, the planned Al-Nouf seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) IWP will have a design capacity of up to 170 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD), or approximately 772,835 cubic metres a day (cm/d).

  Austria-headquartered ILF Consulting Engineers has won the contract, industry sources tell MEED.

  MEED understands that the legal and financial advisory packages for the Al-Nouf IWP will be tendered and awarded separately.  

  Al-Nouf will be Abu Dhabi's second-largest IWP after the 909,218-cm/d Taweelah SWRO plant, which reached full commercial operations in April 2023. It will be the UAE's third-largest, slightly behind Dubai's 818,280-cm/d Hassyan 1 SWRO project, which is under construction.   

  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 Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company (Transco), sources told MEED last year.

  This latest development follows a revision of the scope and capacity of Abu Dhabi's fourth IWP scheme. The Saadiyat Island IWP will have a capacity of 60MIGD.

  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.

  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 IWP contracts 

  Ewec and Spain's Acciona, the lowest bidder for the Saadiyat IWP that was tendered last year, have yet to sign a water-purchase agreement.

  In comparison, Ewec awarded the contracts for two IWPs in 2023. 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 of the same year. 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.

   

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  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  Masdar eyes Q2 financial close for $6bn project

  27 January 2025

  Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) expects to reach financial close for the contract to develop the $6bn solar plus battery energy storage system plants in Abu Dhabi in the second quarter of the year.

  The project comprises 5,200MW solar photovoltaic (PV) and 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery energy storage system (bess) plants, which will supply 1GW of round-the-clock renewable energy.

  Masdar and Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) aim to reach financial close for the project by Q2, Mohamed Alobaidli, Masdar's chief operating officer (COO), told MEED.

  MEED understands the renewable energy developer, which aims to achieve 100GW in gross capacity by 2030, is undertaking discussions with several banks to supply long-term project finance.

  Obaidli said the project will be structured as a classic PPP to be funded by equity and syndicated debt. 

  The project is being fast-tracked, with the signing of the power-purchase agreement announced on 14 January and the selection of preferred engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors and battery and solar photovoltaic (PV) module sub-contractors three days later.

  The project will help power advancements in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, supporting the delivery of the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan announced in a social media post on 14 January.

  Masdar selected India’s Larsen & Toubro and Beijing-headquartered PowerChina to undertake the EPC contract for the project.

  Masdar also picked Shanghai-based Jinko Solar and Beijing-headquartered JA Solar to supply solar PV modules.

  Another Chinese firm, Fujian-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), will supply the bess for the combined solar and bess project.

  Jinko Solar and JA Solar are the preferred suppliers for solar PV modules amounting to 2.6GW each, with maximum efficiency and production for 30 years.

  CATL, as a preferred supplier for the bess, will supply its TENER technology for the 19GWh bess component of the project.

  MEED first reported on the planned project in October, when Masdar started approaching potential codevelopers and investors.

  Abu Dhabi currently has close to 2,500MW of solar installed capacity. Its third utility-scale solar independent power project (IPP), the 1,500MW Al-Ajban solar PV, is under construction. The bid evaluation process is under way for the 1,500MW Al-Khazna solar PV and bids are due imminently for the emirate’s first bess IPP, which has a capacity of 400MW.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13341378/main.jpg

  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  Palm Jumeirah district cooling plant talks under way

  27 January 2025

  Dubai-based property developer Nakheel is understood to be holding talks with a district cooling plant firm for a contract to develop or build two new district cooling plants in Palm Jumeirah.

  According to an industry source, the new district cooling plants will each have a capacity of 25,000 refrigeration tonnes (RT).

  Abu Dhabi-based National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) is understood to be engaged in the talks.

  Tabreed acquired an 80% stake cent stake in Emaar Property's Downtown Dubai district cooling business at a cost of AED2.48bn ($675m) in 2020.

  The following year, Dubai-based Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) signed an acquisition agreement with Nakheel Properties for 19 district cooling plants with a capacity of 110,000 refrigeration tons (kTR). The transaction was valued at AED860m ($234m).

  It is understood Empower has eight district cooling plants in Palm Jumeirah.

  District cooling is commonly deployed by mixed-use developments across the region. The process involves using a central chiller plant to cool water, which is circulated to multiple buildings to provide cooling.

  It is considered more energy-efficient, consuming at least 20% less electricity, compared to conventional air-cooled air conditioning systems or individual water-cooled air conditioning systems.

  Photo credit: Pixabay, for illustrative purposes only

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13340767/main.jpg

  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  Seven prequalify for Zatca water and sewerage PPPs

  27 January 2025

  Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax & Customs Authority (Zatca), in collaboration with the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), has prequalified seven of the 54 firms that expressed interest in bidding for a contract to develop water and sewage treatment plants at 10 land ports in the kingdom.

  The public-private partnership (PPP) projects will be tendered under a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer model with a contract duration of 15 years, including the construction period, according to the NCP.

  The 10 land ports at which the water and sewage treatment plants will be built are:

  • Al-Batha
  • Salwa
  • Al-Khafji
  • Al-Raqi
  • Jadidat Arar
  • Al-Hadithah
  • Halat Ammar
  • Al-Durrah
  • Al-Wadiah
  • Empty Quarter

  According to industry sources, the prequalified bidders include:

  • Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting 
  • Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies
  • Civil Works Company
  • International Water Distribution
  • Lamar Holding
  • Miahona Company
  • Mowaih Company 

  Zatca issued the expressions of interest request for the contract in June last year.

  The project encompasses the design, construction, expansion and refurbishment of plants and related assets, including networks.

  It will include the supervision of construction activities, in addition to overseeing the daily operations of the plants and related assets, and the management of network operations.

  It will also include the performance of preventive maintenance for plants, networks and related assets; cleaning of civil structures and plants; and provision of spare parts and replacements.

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  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  GCCIA evaluates Oman-UAE grid link bids

  27 January 2025

  The GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) is understood to be evaluating bids that it has received for a contract to build a direct interconnection between Oman's national transmission network and the regional electricity grid.

  MEED reported in May 2023 that design work was under way for Oman’s second GCCIA link.

  Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), in its five-year capability statement published last year, said the GCCIA has agreed to construct the project.

  "The new link will enhance system reliability and resiliency by increasing the total transfer capability up to 1,600MW between the Oman and GCCIA networks," OETC said.

  The new direct interconnection comprises a 528-kilometre (km), 400-kilovolt (kV) double circuit overhead line between the existing Ibri independent power producer (IPP) 400kV grid station in Oman and the 400kV grid station in Al-SIlaa in the UAE.

  MEED understands that the project includes two intermediate substations: one near Madinat Zayed in the UAE and the other adjacent to the Ibri substation in Oman.

  Local contractor Bahwan Engineering Company is understood to be among the firms that have submitted proposals for the contract, which is valued at an estimated $1bn.

  OETC said the principal technical benefits of connecting Oman directly to the GCCIA grid include the integration of spinning reserve requirements and the optimisation of generation dispatch. It also encourages renewable energy development and reduces fuel gas or diesel use by power generation and generation capacity requirements.

  OETC noted that power exchange between Oman and its existing interconnection to the GCCIA amounted to 93,029.56 megawatt-hours (MWh) of exports and 85,089.46MWh of imports in 2023.

  Oman’s first link with the GCCIA became operational in November 2011.

  It comprises a 200kV line connecting the Mahadha grid station in Al-Wasit in Oman to the Al-Oha grid station in Al-Ain, UAE.

  It is the third known project that aims to improve or expand linkages with the GCC grid. Projects are under way for interconnection with Kuwait, as well as with Iraq.

  The GCCIA Al-Fadhili high-voltage direct current converter station in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a major upgrade, which will enable the GCC states to exchange up to 1,800MW of electricity daily using the grid.

  OETC manages the grid in northern Oman and Dhofar at voltages of 400kV, 220kV and 132kV. One of the major OETC capital expenditure programmes is the execution of the first phase of the 400kV North-South Interconnector project.

  In December 2020, Nama awarded State Grid Corporation of China the contract for the privatisation of OETC. Nama divested 49% of its shares in OETC to State Grid, which raised $1bn in capital.

  Photo credit: OETC

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  Jennifer Aguinaldo