DUBAI, UAE, Mar. 9, 2011 -- A total of five new projects worth up to one billion Dirhams for water and power supply have been signed today in Dubai as part the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's (DEWA) aim to boost the efficiency of its networks.
The contracts included a major water contract, worth AED285,000,000 (£47.9 million approx.), awarded to Indian firm Pratibha Industries for the construction of the AL Ghafat Reservoirs Phase 1 & 2 with a capacity of 120 million imperial gallons (545,000 m3). Two years have been set aside for the completion of the project.
Usha B Kulkami, chairperson of the firm signed the company's first order in Dubai with Saeed M. Taylor, MD & CEO of DEWA.
The contract forms part of a strategy from DEWA to increase its partnerships with the private sector. The Authority is expected to also float a tender for its planned large-scale Hassyan power and seawater desalination complex this month. Expected to be implemented on an independent water and power plant (IWPP) basis, as has been seen elsewhere in the Gulf, the facility could produce 1,500MW of power and 120 million gallons (545,000 m3/day) a day of water.
Another contract at WETEX included Siemens awarded for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)/EMS/DTS system for transmission control centres, worth AED97,000,000 (£16.3 million approx.). The project is due to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Wolfgang Braun, head of Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution Middle East, said: "Due to the current and expected population increase in Dubai over the coming years and the subsequent demand and pressures on the electricity and water network, this project will allow for added safety on the network and guarantee safe and secure power supply for the future growth of Dubai."
Other contracts included the construction of an air inlet chilling for gas turbines, worth AED127.7 (£21.4) and awarded to Spanish firm APINA; a cable laying works contract awarded to Emirates Electrical Engineering and a further contract awarded to Siemens for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of 400kV series reactors stations in the Jebel Ali and Al-Aweer Warsan areas of Dubai.
DEWA said this year's WETEX Exhibition attracted 715 organizations, up from 500 last year, from 25 countries, including eight international pavilions.
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