SAUDI ARABIA – Starting 2024, Saudi Arabia will tender seven desalination projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. According to the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP) the combined desalination capacity of the Independent Water Plant (IWP) projects will be 2.8 million m3/day. The IWPs would be procured under 25-year Build-Own-Operate (BOO) contracts.
The seven IWP projects consist of two facilities located in Ras Alkhair; IWP Ras Al Khair 2 and IWP Ras Al Khair 3 with production capacities of 600,000 m3/day and 400,000 m3/day respectively. Ras Al Khair 2 will launch operations in February 2024 and Ras Al Khair 3 in April 2024. IWP Tabuk, IWP Alshuqaiq 4 and IWP Rabigh 5 all will have a production capacity of 400,000 m3/day and will be commissioned in March 2025, July 2025, and April 2027 respectively. IWP Rayis 2 and IWP Jazan both will produce at a rate of 300,000 m3/day. Rayis 2 will launch in July 2035 while Jazan’s launch date is not known yet. (Zawya)
TAIWAN – Taiwan’s Water Resources Agency announced that two desalination plants are expected to commence operations in Taiwan later this month. One facility, located in Hsinchu City is scheduled to begin trial operations in mid-April and will provide 25,485 m3 water per day to the city by the end of the month. The other plant, located in Kaohsiung, is almost done with construction and will likely begin trial operations by the end of the month. (Focus Taiwan)
INDIA – Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has awarded VA Tech Wabag (WABAG) a $537 million contract for the construction of a desalination project in Tamil Nadu. WABAG will partner with Metito Overseas Ltd. in a joint venture to develop the project on a design, build, operate (DBO) model. With a production capacity of 400,000 m3/d the plant will be the largest desalination facility in the South East Asia region.
The DBO order includes the design, engineering, procurement, construction, installation, testing and commission of the desalination plant over a period of 42 months followed by 20 years of operation & maintenance (O&M). The project is being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (The Economic Times)
The Beni Saf desalination plant in Algeria. Credit: Tedagua
ALGERIA – The government of Algeria has created a new independent agency to accelerate the implementation of seawater desalination policy in Algeria. The agency was created by a recent decree of the Algerian Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane and is intended to be independent. The structure will oversee the completion, operation and maintenance of seawater desalination plants under construction in the North African country, as well as related facilities and equipment. It will also carry out desalination related studies and analyses in the country and coordinate their implementation through to the distribution process by dedicated agencies. (Afrik 21)