Utilities

Wastewater Treatment Veolia Water selected by Doha

Veolia Water has signed a contract with the public works authority of the city of Doha - Ashgal- to run the Operations and Maintenance of two wastewater treatment plants which were recycling and fully reuse for irrigation and agriculture. This 7-year contract -including an option for a further 3-year extension- represents an estimated cumulated total turnover (without option) of 44 millions Euros

Dubai utility Dewa raised $1 bln loan for expansion

The Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) said it had raised $1 billion in a loan backed by European export credit agencies (ECAs), including HSBC, Calyon and Deutsche Bank, ECAs Coface, Hermes and SACE, to fund continued expansion. The utility will launch a tender for construction of a 1,500 megawatt power plant in September and plans to award the contract in early 2010, its chief executive Mohammed al-Tayer said last month.

Suez Environnemenet poised to get EUR 200m hazardous waste deal in Abu Dhabi

French Suez Environnemenet said it had been selected as a preferred bidder for a EUR 200 million (USD 278m) hazardous waste management contract for the city of Abu Dhabi. The contract, which has a duration of 15 years, will be operated through Al Qudra Suez Services, the common subsidiary held by Suez Environnemenet and Al Qudra.

Prysmian awarded EUR47mln contract in Qatar for a power transmission project

Prysmian, a worldwide leading Group in the sector of cables and systems for energy and telecommunications, has been awarded a new contract worth EUR47 million by Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) for the development of a power transmission turnkey project serving the capital, Doha. This new agreement follows the similar EUR168 million contract secured in 2008 by a Prysmian led consortium for the construction of a high voltage underground cable system, and further confirms the strategic role Prysmian is playing in the Middle East as a major utilities partner for the current power transmission network expansion program.

GCC nuclear summit tackles future developments of energy

Dr Mahmoud Nasser Al Deen, Advisor to the Secretary General at the League of Arab States said that discussions have started within the Arab Atomic Energy Agency bodies to reach a clear position regarding the possible use of nuclear energy as a source of electricity. Nasreddine commented: "The Arab countries have placed the diversification of energy sources high on their list of priorities. In achieving this objective, they have expressed their clear commitment to the promotion of the peaceful uses and applications of nuclear energy in a transparent manner that fully respects their international obligations."

UAE welcomes Obama's approval of US-UAE peaceful nuclear energy agreement

US President Barack Obama approved the agreement for cooperation between the United States’ government and the UAE concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Known as a "123 Agreement," after Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, the new pact establishes a required legal framework for commerce in civilian nuclear energy between the two countries. As part of a diversified portfolio of power-generation assets, including renewable and traditional hydrocarbon energy sources, nuclear energy would free additional UAE hydrocarbon resources for the global market.

UAE sees nuclear energy plant ready in 2015-IAEA

The United Arab Emirates has told the International Atomic Energy Agency it plans to have its first nuclear power plant ready in 2015, an IAEA official said. "The UAE government told us that the plant would be ready and generating power by 2015," Ali Boussaha, a director at the IAEA commented. "I think this is optimistic because it generally takes 10-15 years to get people trained and infrastructure in place." The UAE, the world's third-largest oil exporter, is planning to build a number of nuclear reactors to meet an expected need for an extra 40,000 megawatts of electricity by 2017.

Iraq demands more water from neighbors

Iraq's parliament has called on the government to forego partnership agreements with Turkey, Syria and Iran unless they affirm Iraq's right to a bigger share of water in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Iraq is suffering from a major drought. The effects have worsened because of poor water management and dams that block the flow of the two rivers _ the country's main water source. The chairman of the water committee Karim al-Yacoubi said that parliament would insist on water-sharing provisions in any future agreements with the three countries.

Sumitomo suspends Saudi power, desalination plans

Japan's Sumitomo Corp has put on hold its consortium's plans for a $6 billion power and water desalination plant in Saudi Arabia after the Saudi government said the plant was no longer designated an independent project. Sumitomo's consortium had won preferential rights to build and operate the plant, which was to be capable of producing 1 million tonnes of water a day, accounting for a third of the country's total production capacity. Also, the crude-oil fired thermal power plant in eastern Saudi Arabia was slated to generate 850 to 1,100 megawatts of electricity when completed in the summer of 2012.

Qatar says $3.9 bln power plant to help Gulf grid

Qatar's $3.9 billion power and water plant, which is scheduled to be in full operation by 2011, could supply power to neighbouring countries outside peak hours, Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said. The plant will produce 2,730 megawatts of electricity, meeting 30 percent of Qatar's electricity needs. It will also produce 63 million gallons of water a day, meeting 20 percent of the country's water needs. Gulf Arab countries have hooked up the first phase of a $1.4 billion regional power grid hoping it will help them meet spiralling power needs, especially in the peak summer months. Links under the first phase between Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar are being tested ahead of operation this summer. Oman and the United Arab Emirates would link up later.

Six Power Plants Set up in Sharjah

The Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) has set up six power plants to avoid power cuts in summer. Of these, two plants, with a capacity of 3kv, will be made operational from June 1. The remaining will be made operational from August. The aim of the project is to end the power shortage that was felt in summer due to the rapid development of the real estate sector. The launching of this project is part of SEWA's comprehensive plans which is being executed with an aim to improve and expand the distribution network and the power generation operation systems to meet the demands during summer. These new power plants will also improve power supply to areas where there are construction projects like AL Majjas, Al Khan, Al Memzer and Abu Shagara.