Fujairah F2 desalination plant inaugurated

The Fujairah F2 Power & Seawater Desalination plant was inaugurated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 9 May 2011.

The desalination plant is a hybrid, combining a 100 MIGD (454,600 m³/d) multiple-effect distillation (MED) plant with a 30 MIGD (136,400 m³/d) reverse-osmosis (RO) facility.

The US$ 2.8 billion plant at Qidfa was jointly inaugurated by Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, ruler of Fujairah and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs. Sheikh Mansour said that the plant would support new economic and investment projects awaiting water and power.

The F2 plant, which is owned and maintained by the Fujairah Asia Power Company, has been operating successfully since January this year. The 2,000 MW powerplant is powered by gas and incorporates five gas turbines and three steam turbines.

Low-pressure steam from the turbines is fed to the 12 Sidem 8.3 MIGD (37,700 m³/d) MED units. The RO unit was supplied and will be maintained and operated by Veolia Water under a US$ 115 million contract.

The main plant will be operated by Fujairah F2 O&M Company Ltd, an equal partnership between International Power and Marubeni, who each hold 20% of the Fujairah Asia Power Company.