The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec), responsible for the planning, forecasting, purchase and supply of water and electricity in Abu Dhabi, has decided on a deadline of March 31st for the submission of bids by prequalified bidders for the planned Mirfa 2 (M2) Independent Water Project (IWP) in Abu Dhabi, reports Energy & Utilities.
The new Mirfa 2 (M2) Reverse Osmosis (RO) Independent Water Project (IWP) will desalinate seawater using RO, a low carbon-intensity technology, to produce up to 80 million gallons per day of potable water, sufficient to meet the water demand for over 140,000 households, and improve the security of water supply in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, according to a press release by Ewec.
In late November, Ewec launched a request for proposals for the development of this facility and prequalified at least 22 firms to participate in the tender for the Mirfa 2 IWP.
According to Energy & Utilities, the 22 firms were split into two groups – managing members and consortium members.
The group of managing members can bit either individually or in consortium with any other prequalified bidders.
The prequalified managing members are:
- Acciona Agua (Spain)
- Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)
- Engie (France)
- FCC Aqualia (Spain)
- GS Inima (Spain/South Korea)
- IDE Water Assets (Israel)
- Marubeni Corporation (Japan)
- Jera (Japan)
- Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios (Spain)
- Veolia (France)
The prequalified consortium members are:
- Aquatech International (US)
- China Railway Corporation
- China State Construction Engineering Company
- Elsewedy Electric (Egypt)
- CK Hutchison Holdings (Hong Kong)
- Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
- Metito Utilities (UAE)
- Orascom Construction (Egypt)
- Six Construct (UAE)
- Sojitz Corporation (Japan)
- Powerchina International Group
- Utico (UAE)
In February 2021, a total of 41 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 22 companies and consortiums pre-qualified for the RFP stage after submitting Statements of Qualification.
Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said in November: “M2 is a strategic project that will advance the decoupling of power and water production, improve the security of water supply, utilise the latest sustainable technologies, and decarbonise water production.”
The M2 project is to be located adjacent to the existing Mirfa IWPP, and involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of a standalone brownfield RO seawater desalination plant with a capacity of up to 80 million imperial gallons per day of water output, together with associated infrastructure.
The expected date for starting commercial operations is Q2 2025.
According to sources close to the project, Ewec has appointed an advisory team of Alderbook, White & Case and Fichtner as financial, legal and technical advisers respectively.
