SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has received two bids for the 300,000 m³/day Ras Mohaisen Independent Water Plant (IWP) project located on the Red Sea coast. The bidders are Spain's ACCIONA and a Saudi consortium comprising ACWA Power, Haji Abdullah Alireza & Partners Company, and AlKifah Holding. The project includes storage tanks with a capacity of 600,000 m³ and an electrical substation, with a commercial operation date expected in the second quarter of 2028. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in December 2022, with prequalified bidders announced in March 2021. The successful bidder will develop the project and sell the output to SWPC under a 25-year concession agreement. (ZAWYA)
SWPC has completed the Reliability Run Test for the Jubail 3B Independent Water Plant, which has a capacity of 570,000 m3/d. The test, conducted over 30 days, confirmed the plant's ability to operate at full capacity. ACCIONA and Sepco 3, the project's Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors, energized the plant in September 2023. The $693 million reverse osmosis desalination project, developed by a French-Saudi consortium, began construction in May 2022 and achieved financial close in Q4 2022. The Jubail 3B plant is expected to commence operations later this year. (ZAWYA)
KUWAIT – Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (MEWRE) has tendered the contract for the development and operation of the Al Zour North 2 and 3 Independent Water and Power Producer (IWPP) project. The project, combining previously planned phases, will have a total generation capacity of 2,700 MW and a desalination capacity of 545,530 m3/d. Bids are expected by June 30, with the project located about 100 kilometers south of Kuwait City, adjacent to existing facilities. Qualified bidders include international and local companies such as ACWA Power, China Power International, and Abu Dhabi National Energy. The Al Khiran 1 IWPP contract, also to be tendered later this year, will feature a 1,800 MW power generation capacity and a desalination capacity of 150,020 m3/d, and both projects will operate under 25-year agreements with MEWRE. (MEED)
SPAIN – SACYR Agua, a division of Sacyr Group specializing in water management, has commenced improvements on the Carboneras desalination plant under a $32.27 million contract. The four-year project will focus on operation, maintenance, and enhancing energy efficiency, funded by Next Generation funds. The plant, which has been operational since 2005, currently processes 120,000 m3/d using twelve Pelton turbine production lines; upgrades will reduce this to five lines while doubling production capacity. In addition, Sacyr is also upgrading the Drinking Water Treatment Station (ETAP) of the Almanzora Caves System to boost its flow rate to 35,520 m3/d, improving water quality and supply. (EuroWeekly)
AUSTRALIA – Earlier this week, geotechnical and soil investigations were initiated at the Gold Coast desalination plant to assess soil and rock conditions for a potential expansion project. The work, which will last for four weeks is part of Seqwater’s 30-year Water Security Program aimed at ensuring a reliable water supply for South East Queensland. The final business case for the expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. (Seqwater)
Geotechnical and soil investigations were initiated at the Gold Coast desalination plant in Australia to assess soil and rock conditions for a potential expansion project. Credit Seqwater
PHILIPPINES – The 20,000 m3/d desalination plant in Cordova, Cebu, is 61% complete and is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter of 2024. This plant, being the first utility-scale seawater desalination facility in the Philippines, will provide potable water for approximately 20,000 households, addressing Cebu's water crisis. Vivant Infracore Holdings Inc., a unit of Vivant Corp., is leading the project with technical support from Israel-based Watermatic. (Sunstar)
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is set to commission a new desalination plant in Barangay Opao, Mandaue, by May, aiming to improve the city’s water supply. The plant will initially provide 10,000 m3/d, with a maximum capacity of 25,000 m3/d, addressing Mandaue’s water needs for the next 10 to 15 years. The current water supply in Mandaue, which includes imports from other localities, has been affected by reduced source volumes due to El Niño, particularly impacting areas like Looc and Opao. (CDN)