MOROCCO – Acciona has secured a contract valued at $936 million to construct the largest desalination plant in Africa, located in Casablanca, Morocco. Collaborating with two Moroccan companies, Afriquia Gaz and Green of Africa, the consortium, part of the ACWA group, will also manage and maintain the plant upon completion. The plant is designed to produce up to 548,000 m3/d, serving water needs of nearly seven million people and facilitating irrigation for over 5,000 hectares of agricultural land. The Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Water, responsible for plant management, aims to construct additional desalination plants, increasing the total from nine to twenty by 2030, with a capacity exceeding 1 billion cubic meters. Despite water deficits, Morocco has effectively met its water needs through state projects, including desalination plants and aquifer utilization. Existing desalination plants in Morocco include those at Jorf Lasfar, Safi, Dakhla, Sidi Ifni, Amgriou, and Guerguerat. (Atalayar)
PALESTINE – The UAE has announced the construction of three desalination plants in Gaza as part of the Gallant Knight 3 humanitarian operation. Each plant will have a production capacity of 909 m3/d, totaling 2271 m3/d, and is expected to provide drinking water for 300,000 people daily. The Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defense is overseeing the project, in coordination with humanitarian organizations like the Emirates Red Crescent and charitable foundations. (The National News)
EGYPT – The General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have entered into a consulting services agreement for a seawater desalination project in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. The initial phase of the project involves the design, construction, management, maintenance, and operation of a water desalination station, aiming for a production capacity ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 m3/d. The agreement includes the execution of legal, technical, and environmental studies by specialized consultants, with the EBRD overseeing the consultant selection process. (ZAWYA)
AUSTRALIA – UniSuper, the largest shareholder in the Victorian desalination plant, is reportedly looking to sell its 30% stake in the facility, with Barrenjoey appointed to find a buyer. UniSuper, which has held its stake for nearly 15 years, is expected to test interest among existing shareholders before deciding on the extent of its divestment. Despite the government's announcement that it wouldn't need water from the plant for the 2024 financial year, the facility is considered attractive to infrastructure investors due to its long concession period and contracted revenue. The plant's 2023 financial year revenue was $491.3 million, resulting in a $40.4 million profit. The valuation of the stake has varied in the past, ranging from $1.4 billion in 2014 to $753 million in 2017. (Financial Review)
INDIA – The government of Puducherry is taking steps to establish a desalination plant in response to the deteriorating quality of drinking water caused by over-extraction from groundwater. The proposed desalination plant is expected to have a capacity of 150,000 m3/d, with an initial plan for a 40,000 m3/d plant using funds from banks or financial institutions. The Public Works Department (PWD) has initiated the process due to delays in digging new bore wells for piped water supply. The government had initially planned to sink 84 bore wells, but opposition led to a shift toward a desalination plant, with discussions held with Va Tech Wabag for insights into the process. The government is seeking approximately $224 million from the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for the project. (The Hindu)
U.S.A. – The South Coast Water District (SCWD) in California is progressing with plans for a seawater desalination plant at Doheny State Beach. The California Coastal Commission (CCC) has granted approval for geotechnical testing and the installation of two monitoring wells at the beach to aid in the preparation of the final site plan for the desalination project. The monitoring wells will assess subsurface conditions to determine the optimal location for the plant’s slant wells, which draw water from beneath the ocean floor. The project's approval is contingent on SCWD obtaining all necessary permits and approvals, including those from the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. Construction of the monitoring wells is set to begin in January and the collected data will inform the future Design, Build, Operate team, with a contract expected to be awarded by spring 2024. (Dana Point Times)
KIRIBATI – The Kiribati government installed solar-powered desalination plants on ten islands/islets, most affected by the recent persistent drought and rising sea levels. The SUEZ Group is collaborating on the project's installation planning, with the first phase expected to be completed over the next six months, benefiting islands like Aranuka, Beru, Onotoa, Abemama, and Arorae. (Church of the Jesus Christ)
SAUDI ARABIA – MDLBEAST, a prominent music entertainment company in Saudi Arabia, is repurposing Jeddah's desalination plant into a party venue named 'Tahlia.' The venue will debut with a diverse lineup of performances on November 29th, featuring artists such as Tiesto, Claptone, Sebastian Ingrosso, 39 Kingdom, Pink Bunny, and the Engineers. (CAIRO SCENE)