By 2019, Egypt plans to build 5 desalination plants.^[1]  A US$98.6 million loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development funds the multi-part project to develop the Sinai Peninsula. Once completed, El Tor will become home to the largest plant, off the shores of South Sinai, and Ras Sedr, Abu Zenima, Daha, and Nuwaiba, will house the other four plants. 

Baja California officials are reportedly building a desalination plant in San Quintín without permits.^[2]  Governor Francisco Vega de Lamadrid announced the start of construction in March, and the state government approved the drilling of four wells in La Chorera for the plant.  Yet the environment ministry and national water authority, Conagua, which issues necessary permits—has not approved construction of the plant; and has made no public statements on the matter.  The US$30.7 million project is the first in the state to have a public-private partnership model.  It includes seven storage tanks and a 60 kilometre pipeline, and once completed, will supply water to over 103,000 people in the San Quintín area.^[3]

In Dubai, the UAE Water Aid Foundation, known as Suqia, is promoting a US$1 million award “to find sustainable and innovative solar-energy solutions to the problem of water scarcity.”^[4]  Suqia’s award has been promoted across Western Europe, China, and India, and was launched by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Emir of Dubai, in cooperation with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

^{Credit: Andy Rain/ European Pressphoto Agency}

The Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award “encourages leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovations from across the world to compete”; and their endeavours will be evaluated according to criteria that assess the technology, design, creativity, innovation, health and safety, and sustainability.  The award has three categories: The Innovative Projects Award (worth US$500,000; the Innovative Research and Development Award (worth $400,000); and the Innovative Youth Award (worth $100,000).

Meanwhile, in Namibia, Areva is reportedly “confident” that its ongoing negotiations with the government will conclude in the sale of the Erongo Desalination Plant.^[5]  The company’s Namibia Resources Managing Director, Hilifa Mbako, stated last week: “We have set our price and are only interested in cost recovery, which equates to an investment of US$200 million.”  Mbako also stated that Areva has no intent to sell its Trekkopje Mine.  While the company has transferred the mine’s operational management to Aveng Water Africa, the company intends to “revive its uranium mining operation” in Namibia.^[6]