SAUDI ARABIA – ACWA Power signed a water purchase agreement with the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) for the 600,000 m3/day Rabigh 4 Independent Water Plant (IWP) in Saudi Arabia. SWPC will be the sole buyer of services for the project. The facility valued at around $677 million will supply the Makkah and Madinah regions. With Rabigh 4 IWP, ACWA Power will double its desalination capacity in Rabigh Area. The project is expected to reach financial closure during the third quarter of 2023. (African Mining Market)
ACWA Power’s Jazlah Water Desalination Co. has received the commercial operation certificate from its customer Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) for Jubail 3A Independent Water Plant to generate 600,000 m3/day. The facility is owned by a consortium led by ACWA Power, which holds a 40.2% stake, and strategic partners consisting of Gulf Investment Corp. and Albawani Water & Power Co. The consortium, investing $650 million in the project, is responsible for designing, constructing, commissioning, operating and maintaining the desalination plant in Jubail. The engineering procurement construction part of the contract has been awarded to a consortium consisting of Power China, SEPCO-III and Abengoa. (Arab News)
SOUTH AFRICA – Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is looking to appoint a qualified service provider to design, construct, operate, and maintain a 500 m3/day desalination plant in the Port of East London. TNPA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project as part of efforts to ensure the port’s consistent water availability, while also reducing dependency on external parties for water supply. TNPA also plans to issue an RFP for the Nelson Mandela Bay Port later this month. (Algoa FM)
The Port of East London, South Africa Credit: TNPA
OMAN – Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company announced the activation of floating and mobile water desalination plants in the Musandam Governorate. The floating plants are the first of their kind in the Arab world, offering desalination, transportation and distribution operations. The plants use international reverse osmosis technologies and will provide services to 70 marine villages. (Zawya)
SOUTH AFRICA – The city of Cape Town has established an Independent Advisory Panel to explore the construction of a permanent desalination plant. The city is looking to increase its water supply by 300,000 m3/day by 2030 from diverse sources, groundwater, reuse and desalination. (IOL)