U.A.E. – Abu Dhabi's Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has received four bids for a 272,765 m3/d seawater desalination project on Saadiyat Island. The proposals come from Acciona Agua, Engie, GS Inima Environmental, and a consortium of FCC Aqualia and Orascom Construction. Out of 41 initial expressions of interest, 19 companies qualified for the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage. EWEC plans to award the project and finalize the Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) by the fourth quarter of 2024, with commercial operations expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027. The new plant is part of EWEC’s strategy to produce 90% of its water through reverse osmosis and achieve near carbon-free water production by 2031. (Zawya)
TURKEY – Authorities in Bodrum are considering seawater desalination to address critically low dam levels, with Mumcular Dam at 15% and Geyik Dam dropping to 36%. To support the region, Muğla’s water administration plans to establish a desalination plant and drill six wells to provide an additional 30,000 m3/d. Bodrum has faced ongoing water supply issues, exacerbated by frequent damage to transmission infrastructure. (Hurriyet daily news)
TUNISIA – The Tunisian government has recently inaugurated a new seawater desalination plant in Gargour, Sfax, with a daily production capacity of 25,000 m3/d. This plant is part of a broader strategy to manage climate change and drought, which includes building new dams, raising existing ones, and developing non-traditional water sources like desalination. Additional desalination plants in Zarat, Sfax, and Sousse are also scheduled to come online this year, enhancing water supply in southern Tunisia and Greater Tunis. (Nova news)
MOROCCO – King Mohammed VI has emphasized the urgent need to accelerate desalination projects powered by renewable energy to address Morocco's water scarcity, exacerbated by six years of drought. He highlighted the importance of innovative solutions to avoid water shortages and pointed out Casablanca’s forthcoming desalination plant, which will be Africa’s largest and the second in the world to operate entirely on clean energy. The King projected that desalination plants could meet over half of Morocco’s drinking water needs by 2030 and significantly improve agricultural irrigation and food security. (The North Africa Post)
SPAIN – The Axarquía region in Andalucía is set to receive a portable desalination plant as part of the regional government’s strategy to combat severe drought conditions. Announced by Juanma Moreno, President of the Junta de Andalucía, the plant will provide 10,958 m3/d to 13,698 m3/d of water, enough to support approximately 40,000 residents. Located near the sea and connected to the El Trapiche water treatment facility, the plant will also feature a floating intake system in the La Viñuela reservoir. A permanent desalination facility is also being planned, with three proposals currently under review, although no timeline is set for its completion. This portable plant aims to offer immediate relief and bolster the region’s resilience against ongoing water shortages. (EuroWeekly News)
The Axarquía region in Andalucía, Spain, is set to receive a portable desalination plant. Credit: Facebook/ Juan Serralvo Negrete
SPAIN – The Costa del Sol is preparing to build a second desalination plant between Mijas and Torremolinos to address the region's water demand, supplementing the existing plant in Marbella. The new plant, part of a $383.5 million five-year investment plan, will be designed to produce around 54,794 m3/d and is expected to go to tender in the autumn. Meanwhile, a permanent desalination facility is also under review, though its timeline is uncertain. (Sur in English).
The Guadalhorce reservoir's salt content has doubled due to ongoing drought, leading to increased investments in Malaga's El Atabal desalination and water treatment plant. The desalination plant can handle higher salinity levels, but this increases energy costs and shortens the lifespan of its filtering equipment. Recent upgrades include renewing reverse osmosis membranes, with a $1.096 million contract awarded to Peak Spain, aimed at improving treatment efficiency and extending equipment life. Future plans include expanding the desalination capacity and potentially converting the Pilones water treatment plant to support Malaga’s growing water needs. (Sur in English)
Sacyr Agua SL has been awarded a contract to enhance the energy efficiency of the Carboneras desalination plant in Almeria, Spain, with an investment of over $32.55 million and a project duration of 48 months. The project was initially valued at more than $44.28 million, and among the seven bidders, Sacyr Agua's proposal for $26.935 million was selected. The Carboneras plant, operational since 2005, is one of ACUAMED's oldest and least energy-efficient facilities. Previously, a partial upgrade replaced some outdated Pelton turbines with isobaric chambers, but this new project will replace all remaining Pelton turbines, enhancing efficiency and doubling the output of each production line. The upgrades aim to modernize the plant and improve its energy performance to match current technology standards. (Smart Water Magazine)
SRI LANKA – The Thalaiyadi sea water desalination plant in Sri Lanka's Jaffna District, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Sri Lankan government, was inaugurated by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This $266 million facility is part of the Jaffna-Kilinochchi Water Supply Project, which aims to provide clean drinking water to over 300,000 people across 186 areas. The project includes the construction of 20 elevated water tanks, 186 km of transmission pipelines, and 382 km of distribution pipelines, with full completion expected by mid-2025. (Economynext)
PHILIPPINES – The new desalination plant in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, officially launched on July 31, 2024, is set to provide additional water relief to 20,000 households in the city's south district and downtown area. The facility, a collaboration between the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) and Pilipinas Water Resources Inc. (PWRI), will supply 10,000 m3/d of fresh water initially, but in the future can provide up to a total capacity of 25,000 m3/d. The plant converts brackish seawater into potable water and is expected to start full operations on August 1, 2024. MCWD Board of Director chairman Jose Daluz III highlighted that the immediate beneficiaries will be residents of Barangay Mambaling and nearby areas. (Sunstar)