U.A.E. – Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), GS Inima, and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) have announced the successful financial closing of the $444 million Shuweihat 4 Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination Project (S4 RO). The project, located within the Shuweihat Power and Water Complex, will supply up to 318,226 m3/d of potable water, enhancing water supply security in Abu Dhabi. The funding, primarily through debt financing (71%), involves local and international banks, including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, KfW IPEX-Bank, and The Export-Import Bank of Korea. Commercial operations are expected to begin in Q2 2026, with a 30-year water purchase agreement between TAQA and EWEC. The S4 RO project is 60% owned by TAQA and 40% by GS Inima, with both companies responsible for operations and maintenance. (ZAWYA)
IRAQ – The government of Baghdad has awarded a contract to Shanghai Electric, a Chinese state-owned company, to develop a sea water desalination plant in Basra, Iraq. The project aims to address severe water scarcity in the region by constructing a comprehensive desalination and hydroelectric plant complex in Southern Basra City. The project, focusing on advanced desalination technologies and hydroelectric power generation, aims to provide potable water and contribute to environmental sustainability. This collaborative effort is seen as a significant international partnership to address global water challenges, potentially serving as a model for similar initiatives worldwide. (Iraqi News)
IRAQ – The Iraqi Minister of Finance, Taif Sami, and the Japanese ambassador to Iraq, Futoshi Matsumoto, signed an agreement for a JICA loan of approximately $300 million to support the Samawah Water Supply Improvement Project in Iraq. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing the loan for the project, which includes the construction of a water treatment plant with a desalination facility, installation of water pipelines, and drainage pipelines for concentrated saltwater. The project aims to address the water supply-demand gap in Samawah city, Muthanna governorate, and mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The desalination facility will treat the salinized water from the Euphrates River. Japan has previously supported water supply infrastructure projects in various regions of Iraq. (Iraqi News)
AUSTRALIA – Acciona has been provisionally chosen by the Government of Western Australia to build the Alkimos seawater desalination plant, located 40 kilometers from Perth, with a budget of $1.86 billion. This project is one of the largest water facilities for the Spanish multinational, with a maximum production capacity of 273,972 m3/d to provide drinking water for Perth and surrounding areas. The plant will be powered entirely by clean energy and is set to sign a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the necessary energy. (The Corner)
BANGLADESH – The Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (Beza) is planning a desalination project to address freshwater shortages at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpanagar industrial zone in Chattogram. The feasibility study for the project is expected to take around 1.5 years. The initial phase involves constructing a water treatment plant with a desalination capacity of 30,000 m3/d, using seawater from the Sandwip channel of the Bay of Bengal. Beza is working on other projects, including a water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 50,000 m3/d and a 150km pipeline to provide a daily water supply of 500,000 m3/d. The desalination project aims to combat declining groundwater levels and increasing salinity caused by climate change. (The Business Standard)
SAUDI ARABIA – Acciona has achieved a significant milestone in the construction of two major desalination projects in Saudi Arabia, Jubail 3B and Shuqaiq 4. Both plants, designed and built by Acciona, will be among the largest in Saudi Arabia, serving a total of 5.5 million people. During final testing, the production of Shuqaiq 4 reached its full capacity of 400,000 m³/d, contributing to the improvement of drinking water supply and offsetting shortages for 3.5 million citizens in the South-West of Saudi Arabia. Jubail 3B desalination plant is expected to be commercially operational in 2024, supplying two million people in the cities of Riyadh and Qassim. (Utilities Middle East)
U.A.E. – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), in line with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, aims to increase water desalination capacity in Dubai to 3,318,645 m3/d by 2030. The organization is building the world's largest solar energy-powered desalination plant, the 818,296 m3/d Hassyan Phase 1 Independent Water Producer project, with an investment of $914 million. DEWA's strategy targets 100% desalinated water production through a clean energy mix by 2030, surpassing global clean energy desalination targets. (ZAWYA)
DEWA is building the world’s largest solar energy powered desalination plant, the Hassyan Phase 1 Independent Water project, Dubai, U.A.E. Credit: WAM
U.A.E. – Acciona presented sustainable solutions for irrigation, including desalination and water reuse, during COP28 in Dubai. Julio de la Rosa, Acciona Middle East Business Development Director for the Water business, highlighted the challenge of feeding a growing population in the face of climate change and resource scarcity. Efficient irrigated agriculture, he emphasized, involves producing more food per drop of water. Given climate change and rainfall instability leading to droughts, water supply from non-conventional sources like desalination and reuse becomes crucial. Acciona focuses on reducing the cost of desalinated and reused water using green energy, supporting irrigation communities in improving efficiency and cutting costs. (ZAWYA)
MISCELLANEOUS – The global water desalination equipment market is expected to register a rapid revenue CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period, reaching $39.44 billion in 2032. Factors driving market growth include the rapid depletion of freshwater resources, industrialization, and a growing global population. Seawater dominates the market, with the Middle East & Africa leading in regional revenue share. Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology is anticipated to dominate, particularly in municipal applications. Major players in the market include Acciona, Biwater Holdings Limited, Kovalus Separation Solutions, IDE, Pure Aqua, Veolia, and others. The municipal segment is expected to hold the largest revenue share in the market. (Yahoo! Finance)