Media ININ Economy We Trust
Abu Dhabi, on February 20, the Emirates Water and Electricity Company announced the award of the “M2 Harbor” desalination plant project with low-carbon reverse osmosis technology to the winning consortium to develop the project, which includes Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Engie. TAQA will acquire the majority of the shares in the project and assume the functions of operating and maintaining the plant. Emirates Water and Electricity Company has signed a water purchase agreement with TAQA and ENGIE.
The Marfa M2 low-carbon reverse osmosis plant will produce 120 million gallons per day (about 550,000 cubic meters per day), which is enough to meet the water demand of about 210,000 homes in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Low-carbon reverse osmosis desalination plants are up to 96% more efficient than conventional thermal desalination plants, and reduce carbon emissions associated with desalination by more than 85%.
Othman Al Ali, CEO of Emirates Water and Electricity Company, said on this occasion: “We look forward to this strategic cooperation with both “TAQA” and “Engie”, to develop the third largest low-carbon reverse osmosis water desalination plant in the country. The development project will contribute The “M2 Harbor” reverse osmosis desalination plant in enabling the Emirates Water and Electricity Company to accelerate its strategic initiative aimed at separating water desalination operations from electricity generation, and effectively contributing to the achievement of the UAE’s water security strategy 2036, and the strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. .
Once this project becomes operational, along with existing and future low-carbon reverse osmosis desalination plants, EWEC will be able to enhance its ability to manage and operate desalination and electricity generation operations more efficiently and effectively, using advanced technical and economic models for strategic planning. to capacity requirements.
And the Emirates Water and Electricity Company continues its increasing investments in the development of reverse osmosis projects, and by 2030 it expects to produce more than 90% of water through reverse osmosis technology, and this would reduce the total carbon emissions from water production from 14.6 million tons in 2020 to 2.1 million tons. By 2030, which will strengthen our position as a pioneer in developing sustainable and safe water and electricity supplies at the level of Abu Dhabi and the country.”
Farid Al-Awlaki, Executive Director of the Power Generation and Water Desalination Business Sector at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), said: “TAQA is Abu Dhabi’s leading integrated low-carbon utility company and is proud to be a major shareholder in the M2 Harbor project. , which will contribute effectively to the UAE’s efforts towards decarbonization, and support the country’s long-term water security strategy.
He added: “As the most important companies operating in the sector, this project is in line with our recently announced strategy aimed at reducing emissions, expanding the use of highly efficient reverse osmosis technology, and separating water desalination from electricity generation, as a primary goal to reduce emissions resulting from the desalination process. Water This project also supports the company’s ambition to produce more than two-thirds of our total production capacity of desalinated water through reverse osmosis desalination processes by 2030. In addition, TAQA will play a role in the operation and maintenance of the plant, It is one of the main pillars of our strategy.”
For his part, Friedrich Klaus, Managing Director of the Thermal Power and Supply Department at ENGIE Asia Middle East and Africa, said: “We are pleased to add a major role in the development of the M2 RO port terminal. This project will contribute to strengthening and expanding our regional business, and confirms the reliability of the company, which we are proud of. By entering into this partnership with entities working in the Abu Dhabi government to contribute to facing the growing demand for water and achieving a carbon-neutral future.”
The project awarding process went through several stages before announcing the winning consortium and signing the water purchase agreement. Detailed technical and financial analysis of the bids submitted was conducted to select the best offer. TAQA will own 60% of the “Port M2” reverse osmosis plant project, while “ENGIE” will own the remaining 40%. 2025, provided that the project begins its full operational operations during the third quarter of 2025.
