INDIA – VA TECH WABAG has secured major projects in Tunisia, Nepal, and Oman, highlighting its technical expertise and commitment to sustainable solutions. In Tunisia, WABAG won a $36.9 million design, build, and operate a 36,000 m3/d wastewater treatment plant in Sousse Hamdoun II, with funding from the French Development Agency, European Investment Bank, and the EU. In Nepal, WABAG secured a $49 million contract to design, build, and operate three wastewater treatment plants in Kathmandu, aiming to treat 69,000 m3/d of wastewater and generate biogas, funded by the Asian Development Bank. In Oman, WABAG obtained a five-year, $10.16 million O&M contract for the Al Duqm Desalination Plant, ensuring essential water supply for the Al Wusta Governorate. These projects reinforce WABAG’s leadership and long-term partnerships in the respective regions. (Smart Water Magazine)
EGYPT – Egypt is ramping up its desalination efforts to address increasing water stress, primarily due to the strain on the Nile River from population demands and the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. With an annual water need of 114 billion cubic meters and only about 55 billion cubic meters sourced from the Nile, the government is expanding seawater desalination projects. Egypt, now the largest owner of desalination plants in the Middle East, has around 100 plants with a capacity of 1.2 million m3/d. The country’s strategic plan aims to achieve 9 million m3/d by 2050, starting with 21 plants costing $3 billion. Investment bids for additional plants near Ras El Hikma are also planned, with total investments and partnerships involving global consortia to secure sustainable water supplies. (Egyptian Streets)
OMAN – Nama Power and Water Procurement Company in Oman has signed new power and water purchase agreements with four power and desalination plants, ensuring continued supply amid increasing demand. These agreements were made following the 2024 Electricity and Water Procurement Tender, allowing existing plants to secure new contracts. The contracts collectively provide over 1500 MW of electricity and 200,000 m3/d from Barka 1, Barka 2, Al Rusail, and Manah Power Plants, with durations up to nine years. These agreements support Oman’s renewable energy initiatives and its Vision 2040 goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. (Smart Water Magazine)
PORTUGAL – The Association of Horticulturists, Fruit Growers, and Floriculturists of Odemira and Aljezur (AHSA) has conducted a feasibility study for a desalination plant in the Mira Irrigation Perimeter region to address severe water shortages. The project explores three potential locations between Odemira and Sines to ensure the survival of local agricultural projects, given the deteriorating water supply from the Santa Clara dam, which has only four to five years of guaranteed water left. The study by ADAN recommends an onshore desalination plant and a reservoir linked to the Mira Beneficiaries Association network. One option is to build the plant along Odemira's coast within the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, ensuring environmental care and robust licensing. Due to legal and cost issues, the study suggests a third scenario of placing the desalination plant near Odemira, three kilometers inland from the coast. (The Portugal News)
U.A.E. – The UAE's Naqa’a desalination plant, one of the world's largest seawater reverse osmosis facilities, supplies safe drinking water to about 2 million residents in the northern regions. Built through a collaboration between Etihad Water and Electricity, Mubadala, and ACWA Power, the plant has a production capacity of 681,913 m3/d. Located in Umm Al Quwain, it extends its water distribution to Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Dibba Al Fujairah, Ajman, and Dhaid in Sharjah. The plant supports the UAE's National Water Security Strategy 2036, providing a consistent and reliable source of freshwater to meet the demands of a growing population and reducing reliance on limited groundwater sources. (Khaleej Times)
ISRAEL – The Israeli Environmental Protection Ministry has unveiled a plan to raise the Dead Sea's water levels, desalinate Mediterranean seawater for Jordan, and generate hydroelectric power for desalination. This project, requiring approval from both Israeli and Jordanian governments, aims to become operational around 2045, addressing the Dead Sea's significant water loss and providing a reliable water source for Jordan. It involves channeling Mediterranean water to a desalination plant and then transporting the brine to the Dead Sea. The project, estimated to cost $2.7 to $4 billion, offers a cheaper alternative to a previously considered Red Sea project. Despite its potential, the plan faces skepticism due to its long timeline and the urgent need to address the Dead Sea's rapid decline. (The Times of Israel)
SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia's desalination plants currently produce 9.4 million m3/d, with a goal to increase this to 16.2 million m3/d. The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) has developed a comprehensive geospatial database for all water supply assets and is implementing modern technologies and AI for management and planning. The Kingdom aims to extend its desalinated water transmission lines from 14,000 to 18,000 kilometers and increase its distribution network capacity from 78% to 100% by 2030. Additionally, the storage capacity is set to rise from over 24 million cubic meters in 2023 to 120 million cubic meters by 2030. Saudi Arabia is also focusing on water reuse, planning to build transmission networks with pipelines exceeding 5,000 kilometers using advanced technologies and global best practices. (Argaam)