MOROCCO – The National Office of Water and Electricity (ONEE) in Morocco is planning to build two seawater desalination plants in Essaouira and Guelmim to enhance drinking water and irrigation supply. These projects, located on the Atlantic coast and in the southwest of Morocco, respectively, aim to address water needs in these cities. ONEE has initiated detailed studies to determine water and irrigation requirements, identify plant locations, and assess available resources. The estimated cost for these studies is $2.42 million. Once completed, the desalination plants in Essaouira and Guelmim are expected to have capacities of about 145,205 m3/d and 95,890 m3/d, respectively. These initiatives are part of broader efforts in Morocco, including plans to construct three additional seawater desalination plants in El Jadida, Safi, and the Oriental region in 2023, contributing to the country's overall water supply strategy with a current total of nine operational desalination stations. (Afrik21)
SPAIN – The Spanish government has approved a $2.52 billion investment plan to address drought and improve water resources, with a focus on solar-powered desalination projects. The initiative, proposed by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, includes constructing desalination plants powered by solar energy and supporting urban water reuse. The state-owned company Acuamed has been authorized to launch tenders for these projects, with a budget of $690 million. Spanish developers have already implemented photovoltaic projects to address water scarcity through desalination plants, and there are ongoing efforts to create hybrid wind and solar power plants supporting desalination facilities. (PV magazine)
SPAIN – The Spanish government, in response to drought, has approved a Royal Decree-law that includes the construction of a desalination plant in the Malaga province. The Council of Ministers approved desalination plants in Malaga and Almería with a total investment of $230 million, along with a plant in Catalonia (Tordera) costing $253 million and increased water reuse in Alicante with an investment of $257.6 million. The Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, emphasized the priority status of these water infrastructure projects, acknowledging that they may not be completed by the upcoming summer. The Axarquía region in Malaga, particularly affected by drought, awaits the construction of a desalination plant. The Junta de Andalucía is considering proposals for its establishment. Additionally, in Marbella, plans are pending for the expansion of the desalination plant, funded in part by the Next Generation European Fund. The Junta de Andalucía recently expanded the desalination plant at the El Atabal Drinking Water Treatment Station, increasing its water generation capacity. (Euroweekly)
U.A.E. – French company ENGIE has invested $12 billion in energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen projects in the UAE. ENGIE's investments in the UAE cover various projects, including Al Ajban Solar PV, water desalination, battery storage, and green hydrogen production. ENGIE is also recently won a tender to develop and operate the Mirfa 2 Project, valued at $800 million and with a daily water production capacity 90,921 m3/d. The company also expects to finalize the project's financial closure in the coming weeks and commence its construction, with operations scheduled to start in 2026. (WAM)
IRAN – President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran inaugurated multiple infrastructure projects during a one-day visit to the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province. The projects included 11 electricity initiatives and water supply lines to 155 rural areas. Additionally, President Raisi initiated the pipe-laying operation for a national project involving the desalination and transfer of water from the Sea of Oman. This project, with an estimated investment of about $113.3 million, includes a desalination center, water transmission pipelines, route and tunnel construction, and a 1000-megawatt combined cycle power plant. According to the Tehran Times, the completed water desalination plant is expected to have a capacity of 2.4 million cubic meters per day. (Tehran Times)
The Erongo Desalination Plant (EDP), operated by Orano Mining Namibia. Credit: The Namibian
NAMIBIA – Orano Mining Namibia is confident in the Erongo Desalination Plant's (EDP) ability to secure a long-term water supply for the region. Initially constructed to serve Orano’s Trekkopje Mine, the EDP has supplied water to NamWater since 2013 and currently has the capacity to produce 54,795 m3/d. The plant's infrastructure allows for expansion up to 68,493 m3/d and potentially up to 123,288 m3/d. Despite growing demands from the mining industry and local authorities, the EDP can comfortably meet the region's water needs until at least 2030 within its current capacity. The plant, which cost over $138 million to build, remains in excellent condition, having produced over 91 million cubic meters of water to date. However, the plant faces a challenge with unpredictable sulphur levels in the water, with spikes up to 1,400 parts per million, and there is no practical way to manage these spikes currently. Orano is advocating for the development of reservoir capacity to address this issue. (The Namibian)