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DesalData Weekly - May 9th, 2018

Posted 09 May, 2018 by Mandy

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Credit: DNA India

INDIA – The Federation of Kutch Industries Association (FOKIA) is considering purchasing water from private desalination plants to meet their water needs. Due to a severe water shortage the Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited (GWIL) has stopped supplying water from its Anjar-Mandavi pipeline to industrial units, and limited supply to units in Kutch. As a result, FOKIA has requested the state government to allow water supply from private desalination plants to industrial units through the pipeline network of GWIL. In a letter to chief minister Vijay Rupani, FOKIA states that the stoppage of water supply to the industries in the region is causing losses to production and revenue. The Association welcomes the government’s plans to construct a series of desalination plants, but in the short term recommends utilizing surplus capacity of existing desalination plants in the Kutch district.[1]

 

EGYPT – As part of a $15.6 billion scheme to develop the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt will build four water desalination plants by 2022. The scheme also includes a wide-ranging road network, industrial and residential developments, and hospitals and sewage networks. The cost of the project has tripled since it was announced by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi December last year. The sources of financing for the project are not known.[2] 

 

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The Sinai Peninsula, Egypt Credit: jimgreenhill, Creative Commons

 

JORDAN – According to a Bloomberg report, Jordan is in advanced talks for a $1 billion deal with China to build a 220MW helium-cooled nuclear reactor. One of the intended functions of the power plant would be the provision of energy for seawater desalination. A contract between the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission and the China National Nuclear Corporation is likely to be signed next year, with the reactor expected to come online in 2025.[3]

 

CHILE – Antofagasta’s First Environmental Tribunal has reversed a decision that prohibited the Dominga copper and iron ore project from advancing. Consequently, the Environmental Assessment Commission of the central Coquimbo region is now obligated to reevaluate the $2.5 billion project. The open-pit mining project includes the construction of a desalination plant and port. If approved, the Dominga complex is expected to produce 12 million tons of iron ore and 150,000 tons of copper per year.[4]

 

USA – The Yuma Desalting Plant is currently unused and more than $55 million is required to get the plant running at full capacity. The plant cost $250 million to build in 1992 and has operated only three times over the past 26 years—while costing millions of dollars to maintain. The plant is currently in standby until Congress funds its operation.

To operate for 30 to 40 years, the plant requires some upgrades. Michael Norris from the Bureau of Reclamation is optimistic the plant could operate efficiently without damaging the environment, but that securing a sustained source of funding is the biggest limitation.[5]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] “Kutch industry looks to private desalination plants”, indiatimes.com, May 5, 2018.

<https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/kutch-industry-looks-to-private-desalination-plants/articleshow/64035530.cms> accessed May 7, 2018.

[2]  “Egypt Sets 2022 Deadline for $16 Billion Sinai Development Project”, haaretz.com, April 29, 2018.

<https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/egypt-sets-2022-deadline-for-16-billion-sinai-development-project-1.6035599> accessed May 8, 2018.

[3] “Parched Jordan mulls Chinese nuclear option for desalination and heat”, globalconstructionreview.com, May 1, 2018.

<http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/news/parched-jordan-mulls-chinese-nuclear-option-desali/> accessed May 8, 2018.

[4] Valentina Ruiz Leotaud “Chilean tribunal gives Dominga iron ore-copper project a second chance”, mining.com, April 27, 2018.

<http://www.mining.com/chilean-tribunal-gives-dominga-iron-ore-copper-project-second-chance/> accessed May 7, 2018.

[5] Gabriel Sandler, Cronkite News “Desalination plant in Yuma could cost millions to update”, nevadaappeal.com, May 6, 2018.  <https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/local/desalination-plant-in-yuma-could-cost-millions-to-update/> accessed May 7, 2018.

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