ACWA Power Partners With SEWA For Sharjah’s Premier Independent Water Project

Saudi-listed ACWA Power has entered into an agreement with Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) to develop Sharjah’s inaugural Independent Water Project (IWP). This project aims to address the rising demand for potable water in the emirate.

The Hamriyah IWP will utilise seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology. By Q2 2027, the plant is expected to produce approximately 272,000 cubic metres per day (m3/day) of desalinated water. When fully operational in Q3 2028, its capacity will increase to 410,000 m3/day, providing enough potable water for 1.4 million people.

Marco Arcelli, Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power, commented on the agreement: "We are delighted to collaborate with SEWA on this landmark project, bringing our total portfolio in the UAE to eight projects in both power and water. This project reinforces ACWA Power’s indisputable global leadership in water desalination, and we look forward to bringing our extensive experience in low-carbon intensive RO desalination to the emirate of Sharjah, providing an end-to-end solution to meet growing demand for clean and affordable water."

Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al Shamsi, Director General of SEWA, highlighted the significance of this development: "The signing of the agreement to establish a water desalination plant in Al Hamriyah with one of the largest specialist companies in this field aligns with the plan to develop the water sector system in the Emirate of Sharjah. It is considered one of the largest investments in water at the emirate level, utilising the latest technologies. The new plant will operate using the reverse osmosis system for water desalination and includes the latest post-treatment, filtration, and disinfection technologies. The project will increase water production capacity, adding a storage capacity of 90 million gallons, in addition to consuming no more than 3.2 kilowatts per hour to produce one cubic metre of water."

This collaboration marks a significant step towards enhancing Sharjah's water infrastructure. The advanced SWRO technology ensures efficient desalination processes while maintaining low energy consumption rates.

The new facility not only boosts production but also incorporates state-of-the-art post-treatment methods. These include filtration and disinfection technologies that ensure high-quality potable water.

With these advancements, Sharjah aims to secure a sustainable and reliable source of clean drinking water for its residents. The project's completion will significantly contribute to meeting future demands efficiently.

The partnership between ACWA Power and SEWA underscores their commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for sustainable development. This initiative is poised to play a crucial role in addressing Sharjah's growing need for potable water.

By integrating modern techniques and expanding storage capacities, this project exemplifies a forward-thinking approach in managing essential resources.

With inputs from WAM