ACWA Power consortium preferred bidder for UAE desalination plant

The UAE’s Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) has selected a consortium led by Saudi’s ACWA Power as the preferred bidder for Umm Al Quwain’s first independent desalination plant.

The reverse osmosis plant will have a capacity for 45 million gallons per day.

FEWA said it would begin a final round of contract discussions with ACWA and its partner Tecton Engineering and Construction and aimed to close the deal in the third quarter.

“This is the first FEWA’s desalination plant in cooperation with the private sector and the Authority intends to commence three other desalination plants following the same model which will be tendered before the end of this current year,” said FEWA director general Mohammed Salah.

Through these plants, FEWA aims to be independent in meeting the water demand of the emirates under its jurisdiction by 2022.

Authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have also awarded and invited bids for contracts for desalination plants this year.

Read: Dubai’s DEWA awards $237.1m contract for desalination plant

Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority invited international firms to bid for one of the world’s largest desalination plants in January with a capacity of 200 million gallons per day.

Read: Abu Dhabi invites bids for huge water desalination plant