Related Articles

• 
  Abu Dhabi extends battery storage bid deadline

  14 March 2025

  Prequalified bidders were given a three-week extension to submit their proposals for a contract to develop and operate a battery energy storage system (bess) plant project in Abu Dhabi.

  The project client, Abu Dhabi-based utility offtaker Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec), expects to receive bids by 24 March, three weeks from the previous tender closing date, according to a source familiar with the project.

  Called Bess 1, the 400MW project will closely follow the model of Abu Dhabi’s independent power project (IPP) programme, in which developers enter into a long-term energy storage agreement (ESA) with Ewec as the sole procurer.

  The first plant will be in Al-Bihouth, about 45 kilometres (km) southwest of Abu Dhabi, and the second plant will be in Madinat Zayed, about 160km southwest of the city.

  Ewec issued the request for proposals to prequalified companies in July last year and initially set 30 November 2024 as the last day to submit proposals. 

  MEED previously reported that up to four consortiums comprising infrastructure investors, developers and contractors have been formed and are preparing to submit their proposals for the contract.

  Ewec prequalified 11 managing partners that can bid either individually or as part of a consortium with other prequalified bidders. These are:

  • Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)
  • China Electrical Equipment International (China)
  • EDF (France)
  • International Power (Engie)
  • Jera (Japan)
  • Jinko Power (China)
  • Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco, South Korea)
  • Marubeni (Japan)
  • Sembcorp Utilities (Singapore)
  • SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Company (China) 
  • Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)

  Ewec prequalified 18 other companies that can bid as part of a consortium. These are:

  • Abrdn Investcorp Infrastructure Investments Manager (UK)
  • AGP Capital (US)
  • Al-Masaood (UAE)
  • Al-Fanar Company (Saudi Arabia)
  • Alghanim International (Kuwait)
  • Aljomaih Energy & Water Company (Jenwa, Saudi Arabia)
  • Amplex-Emirates (local)
  • ATGC Transport & General Trading (local)
  • Amea Power (local)
  • China Electric Power Equipment & Technology (China)
  • China Machinery Engineering Corporation (China)
  • GE Capital EFS Financing (US)
  • Itochu (Japan)
  • Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo, South Korea)
  • Pacific Green (US)
  • Samsung C&T (South Korea)
  • Swift Energy (Malaysia)
  • X-Noor Energy Equipment Trading  (UAE)

  The planned facility is expected to provide up to 800 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity.

  The ESA will be for 15 years, commencing on the project’s commercial operation date, which falls in the third quarter of 2026. 

  According to Ewec, the bess project will provide additional flexibility to the system and ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage regulation.

  Global bess market

  The overall capacity of deployed bess globally is expected to reach 127GW by 2027, up from an estimated cumulative deployment of 36.7GW at the end of 2023, according to a recent GlobalData report.

  The report named Chinese companies BYD and CATL and South Korean companies LG Energy Solutions and Samsung SDI among the top battery technology providers globally.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13484751/main.gif

  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  Indian and Spanish team wins Ras Mohaisen EPC package

  13 March 2025

  A team of India's Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Madrid-headquartered Lantania has won the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Ras Mohaisen independent water project (IWP) in Saudi Arabia.

  State utility offtaker Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) signed the water-purchase agreement contract for the project with a consortium comprising Riyadh-headquartered utility developer Acwa Power, Hajj Abdullah Ali Reza & Partners and Al-Kifah Holding Company in February. 

  According to L&T,  its Water and Effluent Treatment business division will execute the EPC contract for the desalination facility.

  The state water offtaker received two bids for the contract in April last year. The other bidder was Spain’s Acciona.

  The Ras Mohaisen IWP will be able to treat 300,000 cubic metres of seawater a day (cm/d) using reverse osmosis technology.

  It will also include storage tanks with a capacity of 600,000 cubic metres, equivalent to two operating days, intake and outfall facilities, process units and pumping stations.

  The build, own and operate project will also include electrical, automation and instrumentation systems and a solar photovoltaic plant. 

  The project is expected to reach commercial operation by the second quarter of 2028.

  The plant will be located in Al-Qunfudhah Governorate, about 300 kilometres south of Mecca, on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia’s Western Region.

  The project is expected to enhance water supply chains and is intended to serve the Mecca and Al-Baha regions.

  Netherlands-headquartered KPMG acted as SWPC’s financial adviser, with UK-based Eversheds Sutherland acting as the legal adviser for the project.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13485233/main.gif

  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  Egypt faces complex economic reality

  13 March 2025

  Download the PDF

  

  ---

  MEED’s March 2025 special report on Egypt includes:

  > COMMENT: Egypt battles structural issues
  > GOVERNMENT: Egypt is in the eye of Trump’s Gaza storm
  > ECONOMY: Egypt’s economy gets its mojo back
  > OIL & GAS: Egypt gas project activity collapses amid energy crisis
  > POWER & WATER: Egypt’s utility projects keep pace
  > CONSTRUCTION: Coastal city scheme is a boon to Egypt construction

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13483136/main.gif

  MEED Editorial
• 
  LIVE WEBINAR: GCC Projects Market 2025

  13 March 2025

  Register now

  Topic: GCC Projects Market 2025

  Date & time: 11:00 AM GST, 20 March 2025

  Agenda:

  • Introduction and overview of the GCC projects market
  • Data-driven historical and current performance
  • Top clients and contractors
  • Assessment of main market drivers
  • Summary of the Saudi gigaprojects programme
  • Market overview by country and sector
  • Market pipeline and outlook for 2025 and beyond
  • Key trends, opportunities and challenges
  • Selected major projects to watch
  • Q&A session

  Hosted by: Edward James, head of content and analysis at MEED

  A well-known and respected thought leader in Mena affairs, Edward James has been with MEED for more than 19 years, working as a researcher, consultant and content director. Today he heads up all content and research produced by the MEED group. His specific areas of expertise are construction, hydrocarbons, power and water, and the petrochemicals market. He is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the Mena projects market. He is a regular guest commentator on Middle East issues for news channels such as the BBC, CNN and ABC News and is a regular speaker at events in the region. 

  Click here to register

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13483162/main.gif

  MEED Editorial
• 
  Dubai property market rebounds in February

  13 March 2025

  Property prices in Dubai rebounded in February following a decline in January. Average property prices hit a record high of AED1,505 ($410) per square foot, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 1.41% or a rise of AED20.94 compared to January 2025, according to a statement from property agent Better Homes.

  The report also said there was a 17% increase in sales volume, reaching AED41bn across 14,929 transactions, marking a 15% month-on-month rise. This resurgence underscores Dubai's resilience and enduring appeal as a global property investment hub.

  The rebound comes just a month after a slight decline in property prices, which had marked the first decrease in over two years.

  In January, average prices fell by 0.57% to AED1,484 per square foot, raising concerns about market stabilisation. The February figures indicate that the market has quickly regained its momentum, driven primarily by a surge in off-plan properties, which accounted for 59% of all sales.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13483150/main.jpg

  Colin Foreman