Dubai demand increase outstrips desalination supply

Statistics released by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) to coincide with the Wetex 2009 exhibition (29-31 March 2009) show that demand for water rose by 10% last year, to 88,405 million imperial gallons (MIG) (just over 400 million m³).

The supply was 91,260 MIG (414 million m³), with 4,064 MIG (18.5 million m³) coming from wells and the remainder from desalination plants. Although there was enough water to meet demand, over the past five years the increase in demand has outstripped desalination supply.

In an interview with Gulf News about delays to the Hassyan power and desalination plant, Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of DEWA, said, “We have sufficient supply of power and water. We are deferring the (Hassyan) contracts until September. The closing date for all bids will be September. Then we will have three months to evaluate them by January 2010. We hope by then we will be able to award the contracts.”

In addition, DEWA issued a tender on 1 March 2009 for the refurbishment of the desalination plant at Jebel Ali E, Phase 1. Tenders are due by 14 April 2009.