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Abu Dhabi seeks proposals for new desalination plants

By Pramod Kumar
EWEC Abu Dhabi desalination plants WAM
Abu Dhabi islands RO projects will become the seventh and eighth RO plants for EWEC, said CEO Othman Al Ali

State-owned Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to develop the new Abu Dhabi islands reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants.

The Abu Dhabi Islands RO independent water project consists of two standalone greenfield low-carbon seawater desalination plants on Saadiyat and Hudayriat islands.

Both plants will provide a combined 100 million imperial gallons per day.

Abu Dhabi islands RO projects will become the seventh and eighth RO plants for EWEC, said CEO Othman Al Ali.

The RFP was issued to bidders who passed the qualification process following the expressions of interest (EOI) stage in September 2022. A total of 41 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 19 companies and consortiums qualified for the RFP stage after submitting statements of qualification.

The project will involve developing, financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and owning the plant and associated infrastructure.

The successful developer or consortium will own up to 40 percent of the entity, while the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government.

The responses to the RFP are expected by the end of Q4 2023, following which EWEC will announce the name of the bidders.

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