Utilities

Saudi Electricity plans transmission firm

State-controlled Saudi Electricity Co (SEC) plans to launch a transmission subsidiary in January as it splits up into six companies to encourage competition, state news agency SPA reported. After the restructuring, SEC will be a holding company and will retain full ownership of the six companies, which include four power generation firms, one firm for distribution and another one for transmission. The cost of the restructuring program is estimated at around 200 million riyals ($53.3 million), Ali Bin Saleh al-Barrak, SEC's chief executive told SPA. 'As a result, the Saudi market will be competitive, which will help increase productivity, efficiency and attract investment to meet high demand,' Barrak added. Saudi Electricity has an $80 billion investment plan to increase its power generation capacity by 30,000 megawatts by 2018 to meet power demand, which is growing at around 8% a year. He said SEC would not float shares of the newly established companies in the Saudi bourse nor eye strategic partners in the near future. Barrak has said SEC would complete the restructuring program in 2011 and the companies formed would be in operation by 2012. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Metito wins Qatar dewatering unit contract

Metito, a leading provider of total intelligent water management solutions in emerging markets, said it has secured a QR10 million ($2.74 million) contract to design, construct and develop trailer-mounted mobile sludge dewatering units in Qatar. The contract was awarded by Ashghal Qatar, the country's Publics Works Authority for its sewage treatment plants in Doha, said the UAE-based Metito in its statement. The project will allow for additional treatment capacity for plants with existing sludge dewatering units and provide sludge dewatering facility to plants with no dewatering units. The plant will adopt advanced technology that treats sludge and at the same time preserve the environment, the statement said. Source: TradeArabia News Service

Iraq signs $72 million power plant deal

Iraq signed a $72 million electricity deal with Iranian power development firm Sunir to expand a plant in northern Iraq by 320 megawatts to help feed the power-starved nation, an electricity ministry official said. The Iranian company will install two gas units, each with a production capacity of 160 megawatts, at Dibis power plant in northern Kirkuk province, Musab al-Mudarres, a spokesman at the electricity ministry, said. He said the units, which were purchased from Siemens in 2008, would be installed in just over 14 months. Dibis currently produces 150 MW. Iraq is trying to ramp up electricity production as it rebuilds after years of war and international sanctions. The electricity ministry signed a series of power deals this year to boost the national grid. It plans to add 22,000 megawatts of production capacity across Iraq over the next three years, deputy electricity minister Salam Qazaz said in November. The deal with Sunir is the second contract awarded to the company. It has already built a $150 million gas power plant in Baghdad, consisting of two units with a total capacity of 320 MW. The first unit became operational this year. Power disruptions are a chief complaint among Iraqis, with demand far exceeding supply estimated at around 7,000 MW. Source: Reuters

GCC waste treatment market to hit $2bn

The water and wastewater treatment equipment market in the Gulf region is set to reach $2 billion by 2016 growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% over the next five years, according to a report. The market is currently being pegged at $1.3 billion, said growth partnership company Frost & Sullivan in its latest report. As economic development gains speed, Middle East governments are moving aggressively towards promoting water conservation/storage, wastewater recycle and reuse and desalination of sea water in order to meet the burgeoning water consumption needs of all sectors, the report stated. The region has begun investing heavily in water and sewerage networks to ensure 100% connectivity to the growing population, Frost & Sullivan said in the report. Economically, the GCC region is making brisk developments and is anticipated to be a $2 trillion economy by the year 2020, supplying 25% of the world’s oil. Source: TradeArabia News Service

Bahrain eyes green energy agency

Bahrain is evaluating a plan to establish an energy agency dedicated to renewable energy and conservation, spurred by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiative. The potential green energy agency would work in close partnership with the UNDP to further develop solar and wind energy projects in the country in line with the program’s goals. A study into the agency's establishment has already been completed. “Bahrain has made significant steps in the way of energy conservation,” said Energy Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza. “Established five years ago, the country's energy conservation committee has worked to conserve large amounts of gas in the kingdom.” In addition, the Natural Oil and Gas Authority and the Electricity and Water Authority are currently coordinating to conduct alternative energy projects, he said. Source: TradeArabia News Service

Tri-Tech wins $8.3m Qatar water contract

Tri-Tech Holding, a provider of turnkey water resources management, wastewater treatment and pollution control solutions, said it has won an $8.3 million contract to provide a seawater desalination unit in Qatar. Under the terms of the deal, Tri-Tech will provide a multiple effect thermo compression (MED-TC) desalination unit for the utility plant of Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) at Mesaieed Industrial City in Doha. Qapco is a JV between Industries Qatar (80%) and Total Petrochemicals (20%). The seawater desalination unit will have a design capacity of 240 cubic meters per hour, said a company statement. The work of scope covers design, engineering, fabrication, commissioning, performance testing and on-site training for Qapco technical personnel. Tri-Tech US expects to deliver the desalination unit by November 2012, said its general manager Jim Schwartz. Source: TradeArabia News Service