Western Asia

Saudi Arabia Suspends Privatization of Desalination and Power Plant – Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has suspended the privatization of the Ras Al Khair desalination and power plant, one of a number of state assets that the government aimed to sell to reduce pressure on capital spending and diversify revenues away from oil.

“This decision was made in order to capitalize on knowledge and capacity built in the Kingdom as a result of many years of experience in the areas of water desalination, new technologies, R&D (research and development) and supply chains”, said the Privatization Supervisory Committee for the Environment, Water and Agriculture sectors.

“A new engagement strategy and plan for the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) assets such as Ras Al Khair plant will be announced shortly,” it said in a statement on Monday on the website of the Saudi national center for privatizations.

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Saudi Arabia Halts $2 Billion Sale of Water Plant Stake – Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has halted the sale of one of the world’s biggest water plants, which had attracted interest from investors including France’s Engie SA, in a setback for the kingdom’s privatization plans.

The Ras Al Khair desalination and power facility on Saudi Arabia’s east coast had cost more than $7 billion to build.

The government, which had been hoping to accelerate asset sales this year, blamed disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Saudi Arabia cracks down on water pollution – Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture began implementing the executive regulation for the protection of water from pollution across the Kingdom.

The new legislation stipulates a fine ranging from 10,000 riyals to 20 million riyals for throwing wastewater or any untreated liquid components, discharging or injecting them into groundwater or into any environmental medium.

It also states that all surface and groundwater resources are now public property, and can only be used by acquiring a licence from the country’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

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Abengoa begins commissioning of Saudi Arabia’s largest RO plant – Saudi Arabia

Abengoa, an international provider of sustainable solutions for the infrastructure, energy and water sectors, has announced that it has produced the first permeate, that is, the first desalinated water, at the Rabigh 3 desalination plant that it is building in the Saudi city of Rabigh.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for this project was awarded to a consortium of Abengoa, Sepco III (Power China) and Sidem (Veolia) in 2018. 

Acwa Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation and water desalination plants, is the majority owner of the Rabigh 3 desalination plant. The commissioning of this plant is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.

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Saudi National Water Co. restructures as part of privatization drive – Saudi Arabia

MEWA has launched the latest phase of its restructuring of regional water facilities under the umbrella of the NWC, as part of the Kingdom’s wider privatization strategy.

On Sunday, Abdul Rahman Al-Fadli, minister of environment, water and agriculture, launched the integration of the Western Cluster, around the Makkah region, and the Southern Cluster, consisting of the Asir, Jazan, Najran, and Al-Baha regions.

The two clusters will be restructured under the NWC parent entity and are part of plans for all 13 regions in the Kingdom to be integrated into six clusters, which will then operate under centralized management.

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DEWA unveils stunning set of efficiency numbers for its Jebel Ali complex – United Arab Emirates

DEWA announced increasing its electricity production capacity up to 12,900 megawatts (MW) and desalinated water to 490 MIGD, showing how it is meeting the soaring demands of a growing city with foresight and careful planning. 

This reflected a continuation in the company’s efforts to develop its infrastructure to keep pace with the growing demand for electricity and water and provide its services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, efficiency, and quality for over a million customers in the emirates of Dubai.

The Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex is one of the key pillars to provide Dubai with high-quality, efficient and reliable electricity and water services. The complex has been hailed by the Guinness World Records as the largest single-site natural gas power generation facility in the world at a capacity of 9,547 MW.

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Dewa steps up power, desal capacity at Jebel Ali – United Arab Emirates

Dewa recently announced increasing its electricity production capacity up to 12,900 megawatts (MW) and 490 MIGD of desalinated water.

Dewa’s Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex is one of the key pillars to provide Dubai with high-quality, efficient and reliable electricity and water services.

The Complex has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the largest single-site natural gas power generation facility in the world at a capacity of 9,547 MW.

This company is making water from sunlight air in Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Water scarcity has continued to be one of the biggest problems for people living in Dubai and other middle east countries due to its geographical location.

Such countries have adopted various measures like mineralising rivers, desalinating oceans, drilling into the ground to overcome the water crisis.

However, with overpopulation and climate change, innovators have been on the lookout for a new solution.

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Saudi CMA Approves ACWA Power IPO – Saudi Arabia

The Saudi CMA approved the request of the International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA POWER) application for public offering of 81.2 million shares, representing 11.1 percent of its share capital.

The Company’s prospectus will be published within sufficient time prior to the start of the subscription period.

The investment value of the company’s portfolio exceeds $66.1 billion, producing 42 gigawatts (GW) of electricity and 6.4 million cubic meters of desalinated water per day, provided as a huge production that meets the needs of state utilities, and according to long purchase contracts.

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Kuwait to assign consultative house to launch renewable energy enterprises – Kuwait

Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects is seeking to assign a consultative entity for studying and promoting enterprises for producing electricity from renewable resources.

The authority director, Fadhila Al-Hassan, said on Sunday that the authority is cooperating the Ministry of Electricity and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to assign the consultative house for that purpose.

Al-Hassan said in an interview with KUNA that the most prominent future renewable energy enterprises are Al-Dabdaba power station and the third phase of Al-Shagaya renewable energy project, prospected to put out some 3,000 megawatts.

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