Dubai plays host to the 13th International Desalination
Transcription
Dubai plays host to the 13th International Desalination
december2009/ january2010 Veolia and Mubadala form JV world’s first osmotic power plant APPLYING THOUGHT TO WATER IN THE MIDDLE EAST Desal Review with Christopher Gasson Interviews@IDA Patricia Burke Fady Juez Lisa Henthorne PLUS: Marketplace Tenders & Contracts Events Watch Desal Diary Dubai plays host to the 13th International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress US$10 PUBLICATION LICENSED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PRODUCTION ZONE, DUBAI TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA FREE ZONE AUTHORITY Seawater Pre-treatment Norit X-Flow Seawater pre-treatment membrane Norit X-Flow, a member of the Norit group, is the world’s Good pre-treatment is of major importance for successful leading company in the development and supply of highquality operation of seawater reverse osmosis plants. Norit X-Flow is the and innovative membrane technology to global municipal only company that offers an ultrafiltration membrane specifically and industrial markets. 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Just leading. free desalination at the lowest cost possible. www.xflow.com CONTENTS applying thought to water in the middle east DECEMBER2009/JANUARY2010 COVER STORY Desal special 04 EDITORIAL Reclaiming water 06 News Briefs 12 HAPPENINGS Dubai plays host to the 13th International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress - Part I of a comprehensive report The Region 18 HAPPENINGS At Large 22 marketPlace 27 IDA SPECIAL 27 35 Desal Review Christopher Gasson of GWI on the present and future of the desalination industry 40 Green outlook IDA Secretary General Patricia Burke on the desalination industry worldwide 41 Reporting for duty 10 13 35 IDA Director Fady Juez on his appointment to IDA Board and issues surrounding water management in the Middle East 44 Nurturing leaders IDA Past president Lisa Henthorne on her tenure and concerns about water sector in the Middle East 46 FEATURE: Iraq 40 41 44 Crisis in the making Water shortage is fuelling displacement of people in Northern Iraq 48 tenders and projects 54 events watch DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 3 editor’s note Reclaiming water T wenty three technical sessions, 240 oral and poster presentations, three-day-long workshops, 1,350 delegates from approximately 60 countries, concurrent exhibition spread over 2,000 square metres showcasing the latest equipment and technology from 67 participating companies - that’s IDA World Congress 2009 statistics in a nutshell. The 13th bi-annual Congress, themed on ‘Desalination for a Better World,’ was held in Dubai from November 7-12, 2009, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Congress was hosted by DIT-TechnoPark, the science and technology facilitator of Economic Zones World (EZW). The organisers, delegates and exhibitors were unanimous in their opinion that this edition of the World Congress was the biggest ever. New initiatives introduced by IDA this time included panel discussions, touch-screen availability of poster presentations, the launch of a peer-reviewed IDA Journal on Desalination & Water Re-use and the official launches of The IDA Young Leader’s Programme and the IDA Affiliates Programme. The event also brought to the forefront some of the key trends and concerns in the desalination industry, the top most being the environmental impact of desalination plants, in terms of their energy consumption, emission of greenhouse gases, intakes and discharges. During the opening ceremony, every speaker had their two cents on the need to mitigate the environmental impact of desalination, a sea change from the past, when there was little interest in the topic. The desalination industry has started deploying its engineering prowess behind new technologies that help offset the environmental impact and comply with the stricter regulations governing desalination processes. During a press conference, Tom Pankratz, a director of the IDA and the editor of Water Desalination Report, pointed out that over the last 15 years, the desalination industry has managed to reduce overall energy consumption by up to 50% through technological improvements, while numerous research projects are under way that promise to further reduce energy requirements, including projects that creatively couple desalination plants with wind, solar or wave energy sources to provide the required energy input. On its part, the IDA announced the setting up of an Environmental Task Force for the Arabian Gulf, which will help ensure that environmental issues, unique to this part of the world, would be dealt with in a more focused manner. The Congress also put the spotlight on key trends in the Middle East, including the comeback of membrane desalination and the adoption of privatisation route to drive performance and efficiencies in desalination and wastewater re-use projects. The panel discussion on the relevance of private finance in delivering competitively priced desalinated water provided an insight into the misgivings about the private sector participating and providing important public services like drinking water. Points that emerged during the panel session will be presented in the February 2010 issue of H20, as also several interviews and features that we have put together about the Congress. Since it is not possible to do justice to an event of such magnitude and wealth of information it provided in a single issue, we have decided to split the content between two issues of H20. We hope you enjoy part 1 of Desal Diary. Publisher Dominic De Sousa Managing Director & Associate Publisher Frédéric Paillé • fred@cpi-industry.com Editorial Director & Associate Publisher B Surendar • surendar@cpi-industry.com Editor Anoop K Menon • anoop@cpi-industry.com Features Writer Samantha Keck • samantha@cpi-industry.com Business Development Manager Vedran Dedic • vedran@cpi-industry.com Design Rey Delante • rey@cpi-industry.com Ulysses Galgo • uly@cpi-industry.com Head of Digital Services Nadeem Hood • nadeem@cpidubai.com Webmaster Troy Maagma • troy@cpidubai.com Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki | purwanti@cpi-industry.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Frédéric Paillé: +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Vedran Dedic: +971 50 3756834 vedran@cpi-industry.com Euro Zone and UK Joseph Quinn, HORSESHOE MEDIA Tel: +44 (0)20 8687 4139 Fax: +44 (0)20 8687 4130 Marshall House, 124 Middleton Road Morden, Surrey, SM4 6RW, UK North America Rakesh Saxena, CPI INDUSTRY North America Branch Tel: +1 905 890 5031 Fax: +1 905 890 5031 GSM: +1 416 841 5050 rakesh@cpi-industry.com Published by Anoop K Menon Head Office PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 3756830 Fax: +971 4 4341906 Web: www.cpi-industry.com Get the next issue of H2O early! 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ECOTHERM • 782 rooms, ballrooms & meeting Spaces restaurants & Lounges, Cafés & bars • 2 Stainless steel electric water heaters • 2 Stainless steel electric steam boilers • 12x eSHe, 2x eSWe, 4x eHre-2500 BuRj DuBAi •ArmaniHotel,Residences,Offices 71,000 litres/h hygienic hot water at 60°C • 11 Gas condensing boilers 300 kW • 11 Skid mounted heat exchanger packages each 300 kW Skid mounted units Hygienic hot water Complete turn-key systems energy & space saving SHERATON HOTEl, HONG KONG boILer eLeCTrIC HeaT TranSfer TeCHnoLoGy ® • 6 buildings, each with 156 apartments 10,000 litres/h hygienic hot water at 60°C • Solar gain 80 % • 200 m2 solar panel area • 2 Gas condensing boilers •3Stainlesssteelcalorifiers3,000litres • 249 rooms & 93 villas 39,000 litres/h hygienic hot water at 60°C • 3 Steam boilers 4,000 kg/h – 11 bar • 6 Stainless steel high capacity water heaters 450 kW – 6,600 litres www.ecotherm.com SHOREliNE ApARTmENTS, DuBAi Leading-edge construction Stainless steel quality SoLar GRAND HyATT HOTEl, DOHA Specification support Compact design STeam Turn-Key HoT WaTer SySTemS news briefs Eagle Electromechanical named Entrepreneurial Company of the Year The 2009 Frost & Sullivan Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award for Middle East Water and Wastewater Treatment Market was presented to Eagle Electromechanical Company for the outstanding growth achieved by the company within a short span of time. Its strategic focus on being a turnkey solution provider and firm commitment to highest quality standards have helped the company establish itself as a respected player within the industry. The recipient of Frost & Sullivan Award for Entrepreneurial Company of the Year is chosen after assessing the nominees on the basis of predetermined criteria through extensive research. Mohammed Hijaz, General Manager/Partner, Eagle Electromechanical, said: “Eagle has grown rapidly over the past few years to reach a business capacity of Euro 100,000 turnover per year to be one of the main players in the Middle East for the wastewater sector. Eagle has been awarded more than 16 plants for the new technology of MBR, and out of them, eight are already under operation by our staff. Eagle has succeeded in this great challenge of building a large capacity MBR plant inside a closed building on such a small footprint. Moreover, we are providing a high quality product of irrigation and potable water grade, whilst meeting the best practices of odour control, visual impact, and sludge treatment. As a company, we are committed to creating a green environment for present and future generations by designing and operating wastewater treatment plants aimed at waste reduction and water reuse.” Dubai Sports City WWTP – the largest MBR WWTP in the Middle East, designed and built by Eagle FINANCE Instrata invests in Al Dur Bahrain-based Instrata Capital, a regulated alternative asset management firm focused on providing infrastructure investments, has joined a leading consortium of investors (including GDF SUEZ and Gulf Investment Corporation) in the Al Dur Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP) by investing $26.4 million (equal to 6 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 a five per cent stake). The Al Dur IWPP’s green field 1,234MW combined cycle power plant, is being financed by 75% debt and 25% equity. The total value of the project is $2.2 billion. Work began on the Al Dur power plant at the end of August 2008, and is presently on target with regards to completion dates. In addition to the Al Dur deal, Instrata is currently looking at a strong planned investment pipeline across the GCC and in Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia. AES Oasis exits Barka AES Oasis, a joint venture of AES Corp and IDB Infrastructure Fund, has announced that a subsidiary has entered into an agreement to sell AES Oasis’ interests in the Barka 456MW combined cycle gas plant and 91,000 m3/day desalination facility in Oman, as well as the associated technical service companies, to Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power International. The acquisition will be the first by ACWA Power International in the region and follows ACWA’s success in winning IWPP projects in Saudi Arabia. The sale agreement culminates a process which began in the second quarter of 2009. Barka employs approximately 50 people and provides power and desalinated water to the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWPC) under a 15-year power and water purchase agreement that will end in 2018. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close during the first half of 2010. SERVICES Torishima to open facility in TechnoPark TechnoPark, the Economic Zones World (EZW) subsidiary has signed a contract with Torishima Pumps, the Japan-based supplier of pumps for desalination, power, water, wastewater and process markets under which Torishima Service Solutions, the group’s wholly owned subsidiary, will set up a service facility at TechnoPark. Torishima’s 9,652-squaremetres service centre will provide a major boost to TechnoPark’s efforts to help deliver sustainable water and power solutions to the region where it has over 6,000 installations and over 30 years pump supply experience. John Houston, Sales & Business Director, Torishima Service Solutions, said, Torishima & Technopark officials “The new service facility will be an excellent platform to leverage our position as both the number one supplier of pumps along with spares, repair, service and technical support. With our rich heritage as an OEM pump supplier, we will deliver innovative solutions like Re-Engineering and Design Up, which enhances the performance and lifespan of the equipment, thereby improving our customer’s operational efficiency." construction of three sewage treatment plants (STP) – two in Mafraq and one in Al Ain City – for the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC). The 15,000 m3/day Al Ain City plant and the 30,000 m3/day Mafraq plant use MBR technology, while the second Mafraq’ STP with 50,000 m3/day capacity uses Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) technology. “ADSSC is one of our most prestigious clients and we are pleased to be one of the main technology providers for the company,” said Mahmoud Awad, Managing Director, CCG. The company has installed over 500 sewage treatment plants in the MENA region. Zenath group of companies, said, “By executing this project, our company will raise the standards of the vacuum sewer systems in the UAE and the Middle East to a higher level.” Tareq Alhaddad, Business Development Manager, Zenath Contracting & Environmental Engineering Services added, “The vacuum collection system will serve a full community of 277 villas at UAQ Marina and will consist of approximately 40 valve chambers connected to a central vacuum station, which will be connected to a sewage treatment plant with a 11 kilometres long sewer line at a later date.” Advanced desalination plant in Oman Dulsco WMS tanker New sewage tanker services in Sharjah Dulsco has started providing tanker services in Sharjah to address the increasing need for industrial and hazardous waste disposal. The Dulsco WMS tankers transport sewage, wastewater and hazardous liquid waste from hotels, shopping malls and other commercial establishments, worker accommodations and various industries throughout Sharjah. In addition to a trade license from the Sharjah government, Dulsco tankers, which operate an average of 18 hours per day, have approval from the Sharjah Municipality to be registered with the Sharjah traffic police and Sharjah Drainage section. Paresh Karia, Senior Manager Dulsco-Sharjah, said: “The problems arising due to congestion basically stem from the location of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) within the city limits and traffic restrictions that have to be followed to reach there. The new STP being developed by Sharjah Municipality in Sajja will help to ease this problem as tankers collecting sewage water from Sajja and areas close to the Emirates Road will not need to travel within the city for disposal.” PROJECTS Corodex completes ADSSC projects Corodex Industries, part of the Concorde-Corodex group (CCG), has successfully completed the Modern Water’s desalination project in Oman has commenced production following a successful commissioning. The Al Khaluf plant, located approximately 450 kilometres from the capital Muscat, is the second one to use Modern Water’s Manipulated Osmosis Desalination (MOD) technology, after a successful pilot project in Gibraltar. The plant will also earn Modern Water its first revenue from desalination. Modern Water claims that its technology substantially reduces operating costs, and provides a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional desalination by significantly reducing energy and chemical consumption. An additional benefit is low boron levels without additional treatment. Modern Water Executive Chairman, Neil McDougall, said: “Spending on desalination and other water-related technologies in the Middle East continues to increase. We are delighted to have a commercial plant operating in the region that can also act as a showcase for potential clients. What’s more, through completing a successful commissioning process in Oman, we have demonstrated that our MOD technology can operate effectively in technically challenging surroundings with high levels of salinity.” Zenath to supply vacuum sewer network Zenath Contracting & Environmental Engineering Services, a division of the Dubai-based Zenath Group of companies, has signed a contract with the Emaar Group to design, install and commission a sewer collection network at Emaar’s UAQ Marina project. J S A Bukhari, Executive Director, Abdullah Al Ghurair with Hitachi officials Advanced STP for Masafi Village The Chairman of Al Ghurair Group, Abdullah Al Ghurair and Hitachi’s President Dr Sumikawa jointly announced the setting up of an advanced sewage treatment plant (STP) at the Masafi Village. The 500m3/day MBR plant, which is being developed as a CSR initiative by the Al Ghurair group, will serve a population of 2,000 people. Its installation will be completed in four months’ time. The treated sewage effluent (TSE) will be used for irrigation and other non-potable applications. The STP is expected to provide relief for the village, which was dependent on sewage tankers to evacuate sewage, and on sweet water tankers and well water for irrigation and other uses. Al Ghurair and Hitachi have already used the technology for treating and re-using high-grade industrial water in Al Quoz, Dubai. SQH to invest in Syrian STP projects Syrian-Qatari Holding (SQH) has signed a MoU with Syria’s Ministry of Housing & Construction for investing and building two sewage treatment plants (STP) in Syria. The MoU was signed by the Syrian Minister of Housing and Construction, Omar Ibrahim Ghalawenji and the Chairman of Syrian-Qatari Holding (SQH), Nasser DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 7 news briefs Hassan Al-Ansari during a Private Public Partnership (PPP) Conference organised by the British Syrian Society at the Umayyad Congress Palace, Damascus. The Ministry has estimated that Syria needs around 183 STPs to cater to future population growth. Hassan Mukayed, CEO of SQH, said: “This partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Construction contributes to answering the country’s need for clean water for industrial and agricultural use. Our investment in the STPs will also play an important part in mitigating water pollution in Damascus suburbs, Swuedah and the neighbouring areas.” The two initial projects are located in the cities of Jaramana and Swuedah, where initial studies estimated the population for Jaramana to be 183,000 and 265,000 for years 2028 and 2043 respectively, and 179,000 and 279,000 for years 2025 and 2040 for Swuedah. SQH will execute the projects on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis, while the Ministry will provide the land, relevant infrastructure and specifications, and assume responsibility for delivering the wastewater to the treatment facility, as well as ensuring the off-take of the output. Founded in 2008, SQH is Syria’s largest holding company with declared capital of $5 billion and equally owned by the Syrian and Qatari governments. MWH to rehabilitate sewer networks in Jordan According to Jordan Times, the Jordan’s Ministry of Water & Irrigation has signed a $2.6 million deal with MWH, which provides comprehensive management, technical engineering and construction services, for the rehabilitation and construction of sewer networks in Zarqa and Ruseifa. MWH will carry out a feasibility study, cost estimation and designs for the improvement and expansion of sewage networks as well as the construction of wastewater plants. The $1.1 million first phase entails estimation of the venture’s cost, environmental and social feasibility studies and development of initial designs. In the second phase, MWH will prepare the detailed designs of the project, carry out an environmental impact assessment and float a tender for its implementation within 12 months at a cost of $1.5 million. The project is being implemented through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. 8 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Qatar plans strategic water reservoir Qatar is looking to set up a huge water storage facility for emergency needs, local daily The Peninsula has reported. It quoted a senior official of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) conveying the information at an Arab-Japanese Economic Forum in Tokyo. Dr Fahad Al Kabi of Kahramaa said the water, which will be stored in an underground reservoir, will have the capacity to meet Qatar’s demands for seven straight days through a 183-km-long network. The proposed reservoir’s storage capacity will be 1,902 million gallons. The official pointed out that the existing system is capable of meeting the water demand for less than two days in an emergency. FEWA to implement ERP The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) has contracted Siemens to implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relation Management (CRM) and Billing solutions from SAP in the organisation. FEWA’s General Manager, Mohammed Mohammed Saleh, said that the authority is constantly striving to keep up with the latest technology to serve its strategic objectives and to provide services of the highest level of efficiency and excellence. The implementation will encompass customer relations, human resources management, finance, accounting, procurement, stores, record keeping as well as the development of the website. Joachim Kundt, Siemens CEO, said that the deal with FEWA further strengthens Siemens commitment towards improving the technological capabilities of the utilities sector in the UAE by providing world class innovative solutions. Work on Irbid WWTP to begin soon Construction on a JD40 million Al Shallaleh wastewater treatment plant to cater to Irbid Governorate is expected to start soon, the Jordan Times has reported. The 13,500 m3/day plant will serve 16,000 households in southeastern Irbid. Neighbourhoods expected to be served by the plant include Idon, Sarih, Bushra, Howwara, Salm Doqara, Natfeh and Beit Ras. The treated water will be used for fodder cultivation and irrigation in the northern Jordan Valley. The project is being implemented by the consortium of Passavant Roediger and Hussein Attyeh Construction Company. The plant is being financed by the German Development Bank (KfW) and will take two years to be completed. Norit consortium wins China’s largest wastewater reuse project A consortium of Norit & GreenTech Engineering has been awarded the contract for the design, procurement, installation, and start-up of the 180,000 m3/day Qinghe Municipal Wastewater Reuse Project in Beijing. This project, which is the single largest water reuse project in China, is part of the Qinghe wastewater reuse plan developed by the Beijing Drainage Group (BDG). The plant is part of the Beijing Government’s overall strategy to reuse all wastewater produced in the city. The award of the project was the final result of a public tendering process which also saw bids from General Electric, Siemens and Asahi. The winning solution is based on Norit X-Flow XIGA ultrafiltration membrane technology and GreenTech’s CMS-Compact Modular Skids. The project value is approximately Euro 7.3 million and the project is expected to be delivered in 2010. technology & innovation EAD taps solar energy for desalination The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is studying renewable energy sources to produce water to meet the rising demand for water and to enable water security in the future. H.E Majid Al Mansouri, EAD’s Secretary General, said that finding new renewable and environmental friendly energy resources to produce water is no longer an option but a necessity since the demand for freshwater resources is increasing. EAD had launched two pilot projects to produce desalinated water from brackish and saline groundwater using solar energy. So far, the preliminary results have indicated success of the experiment. The agency is continuing efforts to develop more stations, reduce the cost of capital to about 10% and increase efficiency. EAD is currently developing a mechanism for harvesting brine reject from desalination plants to rehabilitate natural vegetations. It is also studying evapouration ponds to dispose brine from inland desalination plants in arid and semi-arid areas. conservation ENOC Green Station Green service station to conserve water In an effort to improve both energy conservation and underscore its commitment to communities, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) will open the Middle East’s first eco-friendly service station in the first half of 2010 at Emirates Hills, Dubai. Among the advanced technologies being introduced in the station is a ‘waterless’ car-washing system. Saeed Abdullah Khoory, ENOC Group Chief Executive, said, “Creating a green service station highlights our commitment to the Green Vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and supports the ecofriendly initiatives currently underway in Dubai.” To support water conservation, the new service station recycles the carwash water and provides customers the option to use a waterless car wash system. The concept saves water and prevents detergents from polluting the environment with its new ‘No-Wet’ technique, an allin-one eco-friendly car wash liquid. Made from all natural ingredients, the product does not contain petroleum distillates, silicone, abrasives, harmful chemicals or detergents that pollute the water. The service station will also incorporate sensor type water taps and a two-stage flush system in the toilets. Fuel cells power California WWTP The City of Tulare, California has bought its fourth DFC300 fuel cell unit from FuelCell Energy, a leading manufacturer of high efficiency ultraclean power plants using renewable and other fuels, which will expand the municipality’s existing fuel cell power plant to One MW and increase the amount of green electricity produced at the regional wastewater treatment facility. With this onsite expansion, Tulare will generate more than 40% of the electricity needed to run its water treatment operation. The DFC power plants operate on methane, considered over 20 times more harmful than carbon dioxide, eliminating the air pollution that normally would result from releasing the biogas to the atmosphere or flaring it. The City of Tulare wastewater treatment facility processes 12.5 million gallons per day (47,320m3/day) of sewage including waste from the region’s seven large dairy-processing enterprises. “The combined heat and power capability of FuelCell Energy’s power plant has been ideal for us," said Lew Nelson, Tulare’s Director of Public Works. “The fuel cells generate clean electricity and heat that we use in our anaerobic digester, making this system the most efficient and costeffective for our needs." Geomembrane technology presentation Dow Europe delivered a presentation on ‘Geomembranes – A Global Overview of Products and Applications’ at the 2nd International Geosynthetics Middle East Conference, held in Dubai in November. The presentation provided an introduction to Geomembranes that are synthetic sheet-like structures commonly used as impermeable liners in geotechnical engineering applications for environmental protection, prevention of water loss from containment ponds, water collection, and water-proofing constructions. The presentation also provided an overview of Dow product offerings for geomembranes, notably DOWLEX 2342M, a universal resin for landfill and concrete protection and HDPE 50045, Dow’s most recent material for pond lining and geonet applications. TIES to promote green sewage treatment Kuwait-based TIES International (TIES) has entered into a strategic alliance with MagneGas Corporation (MagneGas) to sell the latter’s technology for converting sewage to clean water and fuel in the Middle East. TIES will promote MagneGas Plasma Arc Flow equipment, and provide all local engineering support. Additionally, MagneGas and TIES will further collaborate on establishing manufacturing facilities in the region. Dr Adnan Al Homoud, the CMD of TIES, said: “Kuwait has four major central sewage treatment plants, yet environmental damage from excess sewage is borderline critical. We believe that the MagneGas technology can help in solving this problem, especially when Kuwait adopts a regional treatment model in coming months. Integrated within the regional treatment centres, the MagneGas technology could be very effective in more efficiently treating sewage, while also creating fuel. In addition, Kuwait has an enormous problem with the disposal of oil refinery and petro-chemical waste; we feel this waste could be recycled into MagneGas or hydrogen with the MagneGas technology." Founded in 2007, Tampa-based MagneGas Corporation is the producer of MagneGas, a natural gas alternative and metal working fuel made from liquid waste such as sewage, sludge, manure and certain industrial and oil based liquid wastes. The Company’s patented Plasma Arc Flow process gasifies liquid waste, creating a clean burning fuel that is essentially interchangeable with natural gas, but with lower green house gas emissions. ERI ex-founder announces advanced pressure exchanger A group of international investors have formed Isobaric Strategies to commercialise second generation Pressure Exchanger for the SWRO desalination market invented by Leif J Hauge, founder and past President of ERI. Among the new proprietary design features is a patented central axel for rotor positioning rather than a sleeve, allowing for 60% larger flow. The new high flow device applies proven ceramic engineering and promise higher performance at substantially lower costs. Bermuda Waterworks has already deployed the technology in its SWRO desalination plant. Jon Burull, Vice President of DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 9 news briefs Recognition for FOG remediating technology Leif J Hauge Bermuda Waterworks, said: “After successful operation of a 750 m3/day SWRO train with pressure exchangers in 1999, we decided to replace our 2 x 1,500 m3/day trains using positive displacements pumps and Turbo Chargers with 4 x 750 m3/day trains using Grundfos BM pumps and 12 pressure exchangers manufactured by Hauge Technologies. This design resolved a persistent ground vibration issue and improved energy efficiency. Mostly all original pressure exchangers are still in operation today, which testifies to the durability and reliability of a single moving ceramic rotor." Solar water purifiers SunDragon Solar has launched solar thermal water purification equipment, which uses FloVap (flowing water evaporators) technology to accelerate the vapour release of water. Requiring only a small physical footprint (approximately 150 square feet for a basic purification unit), SunDragon solar water purifiers can be set up in small clusters. A single unit SunDragon solar water purifier can make 100 plus gallons per day. The manual solar water purifiers require 2-4 persons a day to pump and dispense water for continuous operation. SunDragon Solar claims that its evaporative purification plant costs $10,000, creates employment for three people, generates cash flow quickly, and can be set up anywhere there is contaminated water and sunshine. According to the company, the projected market for solar thermal water purification equipment products ranges from single units to multiple units up to 100 or more, with a worldwide demand for 1,000,000 units expected in the next decade. 10 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 BioFuelBox has been selected as a 2010 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The company was one of 26 visionary companies chosen after a vigorous selection process by 58 global technology experts. The only waste-to-energy company to win this year’s prestigious award, BioFuelBox is being recognised for helping industrial and municipal partners reduce pollution and increase energy independence by transforming their highly contaminated wastewater fats, oils and greases (wastewater FOG) into clean-burning biodiesel. To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the BioFuelBox head quarters in the US development of a life-changing technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society. Steven Perricone, BioFuelBox’s CEO, said, “BioFuelBox Corporation’s proprietary NovoStream technology provides the most environmentally friendly solution for remediating wastewater FOG like trap grease, wastewater scum, industrial food processing DAF, and other wastewater FOG sources. In addition, biodiesel from wastewater FOG has 85% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum-based diesel.” sustainability DEWA establishes Carbon Centre of Excellence In fulfillment of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, DEWA has set up the First Dubai Carbon Centre of excellence across the Middle East Region in association with UNDP. A MoU to the effect was signed by H.E. Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, MD & CEO, DEWA and Qais Al Numan of UNDP in the presence of H.H. Qais Al Numan, Resident Rep., UNDP and H.E. Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, MD&CEO, DEWA sign the MoU Sheikh Saeed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy, H.E. Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, members of the Supreme Council of Energy and other high officials of the Government and DEWA. The Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE), the DEWA MD and CEO pointed out, will be established as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in conjunction with international organisations and leverage the experience of industry experts. Istidama, a Dubai-based sustainability consultancy, has been working alongside DEWA to complement the know-how and establish the PPP framework required. Ivano Iannelli, former United Nations Chief of Projects in Dubai and Managing Director of Istidama said: “We are honoured to contribute to the DCCE establishment and simultaneously promote the development and competitiveness of the carbon credit strategies in Dubai.” The Centre will act as a one-stop shop for carbon abatement strategies and will provide its services to both public and private entities. Heroes of the UAE schools programme Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) have launched the ‘Heroes of the UAE Schools programme’ in partnership with the Ministry of Education and HSBC Bank-Middle East as part of their ongoing programme to tackle climate change and the UAE’s ecological footprint. The Heroes of the UAE schools programme has two key elements. The first element includes a new climate change learning module, on the already widely adopted online Interactive Enviro-Spellathon – www. envirospellathon.com – which culminates in a national climate change quiz for students 13-14 years of age to compete and demonstrate their knowledge. The second element includes an energy and water reduction competition for schools to motivate students to take collective action. Participating schools will have three months to demonstrate energy and water conservation abilities which will be judged by their utility bills as well as supporting documents of the methods employed to conserve energy and water. Rewards for the winners of the two competitions include ‘school energy and water makeovers’ and personal laptops sponsored by HSBC Bank Middle East. Live Earth Run for Water Dow to sponsor largest global water initiative The Dow Chemical Company announced its participation in the largest worldwide water initiative on record to help combat the global water crisis. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water – to take place worldwide April 18, 2010 – will consist of a series of sixkilometres-long run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk everyday to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis. “Dow is proud to be the title sponsor for this groundbreaking event,” said Ian Barbour, general manager at Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow. “As part of our 2015 Sustainability Goals, we are committed to leveraging science and technology to help solve some of the world’s greatest challenges – like the water crisis. Our partnership with Live Earth is just one of the many ongoing efforts Dow is making to address water scarcity and help millions of people around the world gain access to safe, clean drinking water.” alliance AECOM, ThermoEnergy to jointly pursue wastewater opportunities ThermoEnergy Corporation and AECOM have signed a non-exclusive MoU to jointly pursue opportunities in areas of mutual interest within the municipal and industrial wastewater treatment industry. The initial project on which the two firms will be working together is the proposed ammonia recovery project, featuring ThermoEnergy’s Ammonia Recovery Process (ARP) technology, slated for New York City Department of Environmental Protection 26th Ward water pollution control plant. When the City of New York recently published its intent to enter into a sole source contract with ThermoEnergy on the ARP project, the City described the ARP process as follows: when compared to currently employed biological treatment processes, ARP appears to be one of the more efficient means of removing ammonia from centrate, thus minimising the release of nutrients to the surrounding waters of NYC, preventing fugitive emissions of Greenhouse gases released by wastewater treatment and consuming less available power. appointment Hanovia appoints new Global Business Manager UV disinfection specialist, Hanovia has appointed Halim Mirza as its new Global Business Manager for industrial markets such as food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical and microelectronics manufacturing, as well as specialist healthcare applications. Halim Halim Mirza is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers. With a BSc in Chemical Engineering and an MSc in Ion Exchange and Membrane Technology, he has spent his entire career in the water treatment industry. Prior to joining Hanovia he was with Elga Process Waters (part of Veolia Water Systems), where he held various positions in both management and technical sales engineering, and more recently international business development. innovation Innovative French desal technology at WFES 2010 French firm, 3MW will be presenting its Multiple-Effect Drying & Condensation (MEDC) technology, an innovative solution for desalination and demineralised water production during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi at the French Pavilion. MEDC technology reproduces the natural water cycle in a compact module: evapourating the water, then diffusing the vapour into the air, and condensing it in the form of distilled water. The innovation lies in a heat exchanger made out of vertical plastic plates, which is supplied with preheated seawater. A fan makes the air circulate between the plates where the fresh water is collected, while the brine is discharged. From one litre of sea water, the module can produce half a litre of fresh water and half a litre of concentrated seawater, which is directly discharged into the sea. Plant capacities range from one to 1,000 m3/ day to meet the needs of individuals, small villages, hotels, health centres, and up to 100,000 m3/day for towns. For industrial applications (process water, boiler water), the water produced contains less than 10 mg/l minerals and can be used directly in most industrial processes or as drinking water after slight remineralisation. With power consumption less than 0.2 kWh/ m3 of desalinated water, 3MW technology consumes far less power than existing desalination technologies. It can function on solar power as well as waste heat (from cooling, generator sets or cogeneration). Designed entirely with plastic parts, MEDC equipment doesn’t corrode, and requires minimum maintenance. As it produces no chemical discharge, it is environmentally-friendly. DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 11 Happenings > the region DSI acquires Passavant-Roediger DSI has acquired 82% of Passavant-Roediger at an enterprise value of Dh145 million Drake & Scull International (DSI) has acquired Passavant-Roediger, a global developer of wastewater, water and sludge treatment technologies with over 5,000 installations and a presence in 13 countries across Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Asia. The enterprise value of this acquisition is Dh145 million. Under the acquisition agreement, DSI will own 82% of Passavant-Roediger. The remaining 18% will remain with Bilfinger Berger, a publically listed German company internationally active in construction services. Majid Al Ghurair, Chairman of DSI signed the agreement in the presence of Joachim Foerderer, Managing Director of Bilfinger Berger Facility Services. As DSI’s first acquisition since listing with the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) in March 2009, it is seen as an integral step in the company’s development and implementation of its long term strategy. “This is a strategic acquisition that realises the company’s plans for both vertical and horizontal expansions,” said DSI CEO, Khaldoun Tabari. “It gives DSI vertical expansion by adding to the services that the company offers, Khaldoun Tabari (right) with PassavantRoediger representative 12 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 and horizontal expansion through opening new markets and providing the company with a larger geographical reach. The engineering projects taken by Passavant-Roediger will also generate revenues for DSI’s other business streams, including MEP and Civil Contracting, as wastewater and water treatment plants require engineering, procurement and construction disciplines, which can be accumulatively provided by DSI.” Passavant-Roediger’s solutions will extend DSI’s ability to deliver superior services to the region, which will continue to position DSI as a leading end to end provider in the construction industry. Tabari continued: “From a business perspective, the wastewater and water treatment business is underserved in the MENA region, unlike North America and Europe, and there is an immediate need in the market for additional infrastructure networks and plants. Research shows that around $25 billion per annum is currently being spent on wastewater treatment worldwide, with demand set to rise sharply in the coming years, exceeding $81 billion by 2012. Key growth areas will be China, India and the Middle East, with each increasing their annual investments in wastewater treatment by more than eight per cent.” Passavant-Roediger currently operates in, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Germany, Algeria, UAE, Turkey and China with projects around the world including Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The company’s current backlog stands at over Dh 450 million. The company has advanced research and development centres for wastewater, water and sludge treatment. It provides solutions for Raw Water Treatment; Desalination/ Demineralisation; Ground Water and Surface Water treatment; Treatment of Residues; Municipal wastewater treatment; Industrial wastewater treatment; Sludge treatment; Mechanical & Biological Waste Treatment. 12 Billion gallons of FOG (fats, oils and greases) generated in world’s wastewater streams annually. Source: BioFuelBox 130 Million m3/year. TSE produced by sewage treatment plants in Tunis to be re-used in fodder farms Source: Tunisia Online News 1,600 Terawatt hours and above. The global production potential of osmotic power Source: Statkraft 1 Billion dollars. Proposed investment by Qatar in a solar-powered desalination plant to support the agriculture sector Source: Zawya Dow Jones Veolia and Mubadala form JV Azaliya will provide outsourced water management services to municipal and industrial customers in the MENA region In October 2008, Veolia Water and Mubadala Development Company had announced their intention to create a joint-venture company to focus on water purification and distribution, wastewater treatment and reuse in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. That intention has now taken concrete shape in the form of Azaliya, which unites the expertise of the world’s leading environmental services operator with the experience of region’s leading development and investment company. Azaliya, owned 51% by Veolia Water and 49% by Mubadala, was formally unveiled at a select press briefing, held during the MEED Wastewater Conference in Abu Dhabi in early December 2009. Patrice Fonlladosa, Board member & CEO, Azaliya said: “The new name represents the development of a strategic and long term partnership between two large companies – Mubadala and Veolia. We have a clear perspective of where we want to go. The resources of both companies will be deployed in the direction of sustainable contracts and development in MENA region.” Population growth and economic development are the two major features of countries in the MENA region. These have been accompanied by continuous increase in demand for water and electricity along with increasing risk of pollution of the environments by wastewater. Azaliya will provide outsourced water and wastewater services that can help local authorities meet these challenges through concessions, performance contracts, Design-BuildOperation (DBO) and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) contracts. At present, Azaliya provides water services to more than 8.5 million people and wastewater services to 5.5 million people. All the water and sanitation activities of Veolia Water portfolio in the MENA region will be transferred to Azaliya. These include contracts in the GCC region – mainly UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Morocco in North Africa. In Morocco, Azaliya has 25 year concession contracts for water, wastewater and electricity services in the three cities of Rabat, Tangiers and Tetouan. In North Africa, Azaliya is also exploring opportunities in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia in both water production and wastewater markets. Gerard Velter, General Manager, Azaliya said that joint venture will also target industrial customers for its outsourced services. Patrice Fonlladosa Gérard Velter “There are industries like Dhabi and Qatar. The largest contract is the petrochemicals and aluminium smelters one for financing, design, construction and in the GCC region and other parts of the operation of two new waste water treatment Middle East that water and need water plants in Abu Dhabi (300,000m3/day) and wastewater services that are different from municipal market,” he explained. In and Al Ain (130,000 m3/day). Azaliya will January 2009, Veolia won its first industrial operate the plants for 22 years. O&M contract in the region in Saudi On the desalination side, Azaliya’s Arabia. Velter continued, “We have signed portfolio is made up of 22-year BOOT a 5-year O&M contract to operate the contract for a RO Desalination Plant in wastewater plant at Saudi International Sur, Oman which was commissioned in Petrochemical Company’s (SIPCHEM) November 2009 and 12 year O&M contract acetyl complex in Jubail.” The treatment for a RO desalination plant in Fujairah, is capable of treating 21 different types where the commissioning is underway and of different polluted flows. Global Water full operation is expected to begin in the Intelligence (GWI) has placed the value of next six months. the contract at $8.36 million. Commenting on the financial crisis, On opportunities with regard to Fonlladosa said that while the crisis has desalination versus wastewater markets, led to a diminished projects pipeline and Fonlladosa pointed out that it varied re-phasing of some projects, the prospects from country to country. He felt that of the MENA water and waste water desalination, which is a relatively more markets continue to be bright. He said, developed market, will continue to see “For Azaliya, this is one of the promising some capacity development; but waste regions in the world with strong prospects water treatment and re-use is definitely of double digit growth.” getting more attention from governments Azaliya’s strong commitment to the region keen to prioritise access to potable water. has started yielding dividends. In Riyadh, Velter opined that while desalination is for example, happy with the results of its an important water solution, in regions performance contract covering wastewater with rivers, aquifers, ice & snow, the scope collection and production and distribution for desalination will be much less; whereas of drinking water for the city, the local waste water treatment is a universal need authorities have entered into a five-year MoU because “when you consume water, you with Azaliya to operate three waste water produce wastewater”. treatment plants in Riyadh. In Libya, where Interestingly, wastewater dominates Veolia has been present for a while, Azaliya Azaliya’s GCC portfolio with major is eyeing RO desalination projects as well as contracts in Ajman, Saudi Arabia, Abu some municipal contracts. DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 13 Happenings > the region Salalah IWPP on track Sembcorp signs contract for $1 billion Salalah IWPP in Oman, its second major venture in the Middle East Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) has announced that a joint venture formed between its fully-owned subsidiary Sembcorp Utilities and the Oman Investment Corporation has executed a 15-year contract to supply power and water to the governmentowned Oman Power & Water Procurement Company. The joint venture company, Sembcorp Salalah Power & Water Company, will be investing approximately $1 billion to develop, build, own and operate the Salalah Independent Water and Power Plant (Salalah IWPP) in Oman. Targeted to begin full commercial operations in the first half of 2012, the Salalah IWPP will consist of a 445MW gas-fired power plant and 68,000 m3/ day RO-based desalination plant. Set to be the largest power and water plant in the Governorate of Dhofar in Southern Oman, the entire electricity and water output from the facility will be sold under the 15-year power and water purchase agreement. Sembcorp Salalah Power & Water Company is 60% owned by Sembcorp Utilities and 40% owned by the Oman Investment Corporation, whose shareholders are the Gulf Investment Corporation, the National Investment Funds Company, State General Reserve The Salalah IWPP will consist of a 445MW gas-fired power plant and 68,000 m3/day RO-based desalination plant (Photo courtesy: NASA Visible Earth) 14 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Fund of the Sultanate of Oman and BankMuscat. In addition, the facility will be operated and maintained by a joint venture company, Sembcorp Salalah O&M Company, which is 70% owned by Sembcorp Utilities, under a long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) contract for the entire term of the power and water purchase agreement. The remaining 30% of the O&M company is owned by the Oman Investment Corporation. SEPCO III Electric Power Construction Corporation (SEPCO III) of China is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor under a fixed-price, date-certain turnkey contract and Hydrochem (S), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hyflux, is the sub-contractor for the seawater desalination plant. The contract marks the first desalination project in Oman for Hyflux and its first IWPP project as well. The desalination facility is expected to be completed within 22 months from receiving the notice to proceed. The Salalah IWPP will be Sembcorp’s second power and water investment in the Middle East, where it has been operating since 2006. Sembcorp owns, operates and maintains the Fujairah 1 Independent Power and Water Plant, the world’s largest operating hybrid desalination plant, in the UAE. The project cost of approximately $1 billion will be 75% funded through 17year non-recourse project finance loans, and 25% by shareholder loans. The nonrecourse project finance loans will be provided by Standard Chartered Bank (also the Financial Advisor), Bank of China, China Development Bank, BankMuscat, KfW-IPEX Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as Mandated Lead Arrangers, and National Bank of Oman and Bank Sohar as Arrangers. The loans will be in US dollars, except for those from BankMuscat, National Bank of Oman and Bank Sohar, which will be in Omani Rials. Financial closure of the project is expected to be within one to two months. New sewage and storm water systems for Dubai Dubai Municipality will spend Dh492 million on setting up new sewage and storm water systems in the Al Quoz labour camp and Nad Al Sheba 4 areas The Drainage and Irrigation department at Dubai Municipality is setting up new sewage and storm water system for Al Quoz Industrial Area I, II, III and IV at a cost of about Dh86 million; the department has also approved the design for a sewage and storm water system project for Nad Al Sheba 4 area at a cost of Dh406 million. The Al Quoz project, to be completed in 540 days, aims to extend sewerage and storm water drainage services to labour camp areas located in the Al Quoz Industrial Area I, II, III and IV. The project is located along Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road. It will cover a total area of 159 hectares out of the 1,897 hectares in the Al Quoz Industrial Area. The project will provide sewage as well as storm water drainage services to 145,000 people in the area. The project components include wastewater collection and rainwater pipes, the groundwater level reducing pipes, wastewater and rainwater collection chambers, house connection pipes, manholes and domestic connection inspection rooms, rainwater connection rooms, and the establishment of a sewage pumping station as well as a pumping line. The Nad Al Sheba-4 project is located along the Emirates Road and Al Ain Road, and the regions of the Nad Al Sheba-2 and 3. The project, covering an area of 594 hectares, will provide sewage and storm water drainage services to 347,053 people in the region, and is to be completed in 915 days. The project aims to extend the sewage and storm water drainage network to all residential, commercial, recreational and service areas located in Nad Al Sheba-4, to receive the disposal of drainage and storm water from Dubai Academic City and Dubai Silicon Oasis on the main lines, in addition to receiving the future sewage and rain water of Nad Al Sheba-3. Project area Al Quoz A new sewage pumping station of 900 litres/second capacity, same as the existing one, will also be set up. Other components include development of existing rain water pumping station and the establishment of a new storm water pumping station with a capacity of 9,000 litres/second. These projects are part of the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s 2009 plans, conforming to the latest international specifications and conditions, and based on designs approved by the Municipality. The Al QUOZ project will provide sewage as well as storm water drainage services to 145,000 people DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 15 Happenings > the region Strategic Planning Bahrain to announce master plan for the sanitary engineering services; Tubli STP to be privatised In a recent announcement summing up key developments in the sanitary sector in 2009, Bahrain’s Ministry of Works (MOW) emphasised that modernisation and privatisation of the Kingdom’s sanitary sector is on track as part of Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 plan. In 2009, a total of 41 tenders worth BD106 million were prepared, 43 contracts worth BD95 million were initiated, eight contracts worth BD9.5 million were completed while 18 contracts worth BD61 million are on-going. The sector’s key highlights in 2009 were as follows: Ninety-one per cent of the National Sanitary Engineering Plan’s operations was achieved and expected to be completed in the first half of 2010. The main objective of this plan is to develop an overall National Master Plan for the Sanitary Engineering Services in the Kingdom of Bahrain with regard to the sewerage system; Surface Water Drainage System; Wastewater Treatment and Reuse of TSE and Sludge. The Sanitary Services Privatisation Project continued to make progress in 2009. Privatisation Strategy and Implementation Plan (PSIP) for Sanitary engineering is being developed and will be finalised in the first quarter of 2010. This plan sets out the privatisation roadmap for sanitary engineering which will include privatisation of Muharraq STP, Tubli STP and other STP and sewerage networks across the country. The pilot privatisation project, Muharraq STP is currently at tender stage and bids are scheduled to be submitted in January 2010. Land reclamation work for the project is expected to be completed by April 2010, which is ahead of the planned award of the privatisation contract in June 2010. The Tubli STP has been identified as the next privatisation project for which front end activity has been initiated, and the appointment of consultant for the privatisation of Tubli STP is in the works. Provision of the professional technical consultations for 16,000 requests regarding a number of the main projects carried out by the public and private sectors. A number of sanitary projects were conducted in different areas including East Riffa, A’ali, Al Ma’meer, Al Oker, and Al Hidd. 91% of population is now linked to the sanitary network The launch of building permit and sewerage connections service in Fine filtration Dow Water & Process Solutions has bagged a contract in Saudi Arabia to supply nanofiltration technology Dow Water & Process Solutions (DWPS), a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), has been awarded by the Ministry of Water and Electricity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia an order to supply its state-ofthe-art DOW FILMTECNanofiltration NF90-400 elements to the Ha’il Nanofiltration Plant. 16 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 The Plant will be among the largest of its kind in the world, processing and delivering clean water at a rate of 150,000 m3/day – enough to supply the daily clean water needs of 500,000 to 750,000 residents. The plant is expected to come online in the second half of 2010. The elements will be supplied through Dow distribution partner Abu Nayyan Trading Bahrain is pushing ahead with its water sector privatisation plans the Internet on www.works.gov.bh, contributed to reducing the applicants visiting the Ministry by 11%. This comes in line with Ministry’s vision to provide high quality services in a professional manner. • The Executive Actions Lists and Regulations for sanitation and surface water drainage have been issued and officially published in the official gazette no. 2915 dated 1st October 2009. Company (ATC) to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) EMCO, making Dow the first and only supplier of water nanofiltration technology in the Kingdom. Ha’il is located in one of the most arid regions in the world, and underground fresh water resources are diminishing. Furthermore, water that naturally seeps back into the wells is contaminated with various naturally-occurring heavy metals and minerals underground, like Radium. When government health authorities started to notice an increase in water-related health concerns, they determined it to be related to the naturally-occurring, underground leaching of heavy metals to the region’s fresh water supply. In 2008, Dow and the Ministry of Water and Electricity installed Abu Dhabi unveils coastal development guidelines The areas that have been identified for protection include those areas that contribute to Abu Dhabi’s overall biodiversity Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban environments has in close collaboration with the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) developed Coastal Development Guidelines for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Coastal Development Guidelines is one of the first initiatives resulting from the earlier introduced Natural and Cultural Heritage Strategy, and is an integral aspect of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030’s Environment Framework Plan. The newly introduced guidelines provide direction for development in the major coastal basins extending from the Al Dhabiya island to the boundary with Dubai Emirate - which are referred to as the Bul Syaeef, Inner Islands, Ras Gharab and Ras Ghanadah basins. Within each area, there will be management strategies ranging from a fully preserved natural reserve, which protects the most important natural and cultural assets, to stewardship zones, which are urban in nature but that promote sustainable design and social inclusion. the first NF plant with a capacity of 25,000 m3/day using DOW FILMTEC NF90-400 elements; this is expected to be fully online by the end of 2009, and the 150,000 m3/day plant will come online by the end of 2010. Zuhair Allawi, Commercial Director for Dow in India, Middle East and Africa said, “This is an extremely significant commercial milestone for Dow and our Water and Process Solutions business unit. But more importantly, this is a technological milestone for the region and for Saudi Arabia in particular. The public authorities have elected to use the latest innovations in the market, to “The assigned goal for coastal development guidelines is to improve the environmental performance of coastal development by incorporating key environmental considerations at the conceptual stage,” said H.E Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. “The areas that have been identified for protection include those areas that contribute to Abu Dhabi’s overall biodiversity including; intertidal mudflats, mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs. These important habitats provide ecosystem services such as protection from shoreline erosion, stabilisation of sediment, filtration of contaminants and nutrient be the first to leverage nanofiltration technologies in the region, in order to secure sustainable clean water supply to Saudi citizens. Dow is proud to be part of this state-of-the-art installation.” Lance D Johnson, Dow Water & Process Solutions, global water commercial director echoed the fundamentals of innovation and partnership amongst Dow and the Ministry. “This is an inspiring example of private and public sector collaboration for the common benefit of the public. Dow’s advanced water treatment technologies are in place all over the world, but the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a key market for us.” recycling. Additionally, these areas provide feeding and nursing grounds for a variety of commercially important fish species as well as migratory shorebirds and endangered marine wildlife,” said H.E Majid AlMansoori, Secretary General, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi. The unveiling of the Coastal Development Guidelines fulfils an important step in the Maritime Strategy for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, an overarching strategy developed by the Maritime Security Executive Committee and approved by relevant stakeholders and the Marine Areas Supreme Security Committee. “The identified areas provide an excellent opportunity to promote environmental education and awareness for all residents of the Abu Dhabi Emirate as well as visitors and it is our obligation and duty to protect and preserve these precious natural resources for future generations,” added Al Ahbabi. According to the guidelines stipulated in the document, coastal parks and ecological hotspots are exempt from activities such as dredging, reclamation or other physical alteration activities of the environment. Only small scale visitor facilities and related services can be deployed in these areas. Access to these areas is limited to ferries and small, non-motorised boats. Besides developing the Coastal Development Guidelines in accordance with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the UPC had also unveiled the planning guidelines for the Eastern Mangrove National park, in the heart of Abu Dhabi. The area was designated as core mangrove habitat within a network of marine and coastal national parks, enveloping the capital of Abu Dhabi. The Bateen Waterfront area, which holds critical significance to ensure continuous public access to the water’s edge with supportive community amenities, is another initiative that the UPC has undertaken in order to preserve the coastal heritage of Abu Dhabi. DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 17 Happenings > at large The prototype pilot plant will The site atinitially Tofte produce around 2-4 kW, enough to operate a coffee-maker Pressure power Norwegian renewable power giant Statkraft has set up the world’s first osmotic power plant The world’s first osmotic power pilot plant became operational in Tofte, Norway in late November 2009. The prototype plant, pioneered by renewable power giant, Statkraft, showcases the harnessing of energy created through osmosis to generate a continuous source of renewable electricity. “This new technology generates electricity simply by mixing water. New solutions to meet the climate challenges might be closer than we expect, which makes me confident that the future looks bright,” says Statkraft CEO and President, Bård Mikkelsen. The osmotic power process harnesses the osmotic potential difference between saltwater and freshwater. In simple terms, seawater and freshwater are fed into separate pipes, via filters which remove humus and other particles that can block the membranes. The water is then fed into the membrane system. The freshwater is drawn through the membrane across to the saltwater. The increase in volume creates a pressure which forces the water through the turbine and generates electricity. The pressure is 12 bar, equivalent to a 120-metre waterfall. The Tofte pilot plant consists of membranes, pipes, a cleaning unit, 18 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 pressure exchangers and a turbine. The plant is modular and consists of 66 pressure pipes with rolled-up membranes on the inside. The advantage of a modulebased plant is that parts of the facility can be taken out of operation for cleaning and maintenance while the rest of the facility remains in operation. The main challenge for Statkraft now is to develop a membrane which draws through enough water to create an effective pressure to run the turbine. The Tofte prototype holds a total of 2000 m2 of membranes. They have an efficiency of less than one watt per square metre, but the plan is to eventually install membranes that can deliver 2-3 watts, the ultimate objective being to reach five watts. The pilot plant is designed to produce 10kW of renewable energy, but will initially produce around 2-4 kW, enough to operate a coffee-maker. By 2015, Statkraft plans to build a full-scale osmotic power plant capable of producing 25MW of electricity. Such a power plant, the size of a football stadium, would require five million square metres of membrane, and produce 166 GWh of electricity per year, enough to supply 30,000 European households. The pilot plant uses PX Pressure Exchanger energy recovery devices from ERI. “The ability to harness osmosis and turn it into a continuous supply of clean, renewable energy is an extremely important accomplishment for humanity and the environment. We applaud Statkraft on opening the pilot facility as a major milestone for osmotic power,” said Rick Stover, CTO of ERI. The late US professor Sidney Loeb had the idea to use membranes for desalination in the early 1970s when he discovered that a similar process could be used to generate power, that is, osmotic power. Back then, power prices were so low that no one was interested in investing to develop the technology. Later on, the researchers Dr Thor Thorsen and Dr Torleif Holt at SINTEF began to research osmotic power. These men contacted Statkraft in 1996, which led to the beginning of the development up to the present day. Osmotic power plants utilise the osmotic pressure difference between seawater and freshwater to drive a turbine ERI to acquire Pump Engineering Combined offering expands ERI’s product portfolio and addressable market in desalination Energy Recovery, a leading player in the design and development of energy recovery devices for the desalination industry, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the equity interests of Michigan-based Pump Engineering. Under the terms of the agreement, ERI will pay the shareholders of Pump Engineering approximately $20 million in cash plus one million shares of ERI Common Stock. The completion of the transaction, which is subject to satisfaction of customary conditions, is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2009. Pump Engineering is a leading provider of centrifugal turbine energysaving technology for seawater and brackish desalination applications, and has demonstrated support for emerging markets such as natural gas and high pressure fluid processing. Pump Engineering’s hydraulic turbochargers and pumps are custom-designed to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency in specific process conditions. In October 2009, Hyflux had selected PEI’s HTCAT TurboCharger as the energy recovery technology for the 500,000 m3/ day Magtaa SWRO plant in Algeria. PEI bagged a deal to supply 25 HTCAT-7200 TurboChargers for Magtaa plant. ERI President and CEO G.G. Pique said: “This acquisition underscores ERI’s commitment to lead a global effort to prove that desalination is an affordable, environmentally sound and energy-efficient answer to the growing water crisis. Pump Engineering is the leading, high-quality energy recovery device solution in areas where the cost of power is low and the customer is more sensitive to the up-front capital cost. With dedicated sales and marketing, technical and support teams, the combined client base will benefit from a total solution package with enhanced customer service capabilities and a wider breadth of technical expertise in R&D. We can now supply any desalination project in the world with the most appropriate energy recovery device.” ERI believes that the acquisition of Pump Engineering will enhance the company’s competitive position and broaden its addressable market by: • Providing the desalination industry with superior quality energy recovery technologies that deliver proven, bestin-class solutions for isobaric and centrifugal devices for both seawater and brackish reverse osmosis applications. • Expanding ERI’s product portfolio to offer a more complete suite of energysaving solutions that cover a larger footprint in the brackish and seawater desalination markets. • Designing, manufacturing and selling packaged solutions that integrate high pressure pumps, circulation pumps and energy recovery devices to offer a complete solution for a power train in a desalination plant. • Increasing market share with an expanded suite of products in regions where the cost of power is low and upfront capital cost considerations take precedence over operating costs. • Combining the two industry-leading technologies and their comprehensive ongoing R&D efforts to develop next generation products. • Pursuing new applications outside of seawater and brackish desalination, such as natural gas and high pressure fluid processes where the centrifugal technology has unique advantages. “The acquisition of Pump Engineering and its capability to manufacture high pressure and circulation pumps for desalination applications means ERI can now offer clients a single-source solution for the entire power train in a desalination plant,” said Borja Blanco, Senior Vice President of Sales at ERI. “This opens up tremendous market ERI President and CEO GG Pique opportunities for us. We are excited to expand our worldwide reach and market penetration by combining Pump Engineering’s global network of agents with our extremely capable direct sales team to take advantage of the broader suite of products and solutions that this acquisition provides.” The acquisition of Pump Engineering and its capability to manufacture high pressure and circulation pumps for desalination applications means ERI can now offer clients a singlesource solution for the entire power train in a desalination plant DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 19 Happenings > at large Policies that address eutrophication cannot be limited to traditional environmental regulations Policy safeguard WRI recommends suite of policies to clean up polluted freshwater and coastal ecosystems Lawmakers should consider a suite of policies to reduce harmful algal blooms and dead zones caused by eutrophication – the over-enrichment of nitrogen and phosphorous in freshwater and coastal ecosystems. “Eutrophication is like climate change,” said Mindy Selman, lead author of a new report released by the World Resources Institute (WRI). “It’s caused by human activity, there is no single solution and addressing it will require a number of approaches.” Eutrophication: Policies, Actions, and Strategies to Address Nutrient Pollution is the last report in a three-part series, preceded by Eutrophication: Sources and Drivers of Nutrient Pollution and Eutrophication and Hypoxia in coastal Areas, which is a survey of coastal eutrophication worldwide. It identifies and highlights local, state and regional tactics to address nutrient and phosphorus pollution. Findings from the report suggest that lawmakers maximise outcomes by focusing on policies with numerous environmental benefits. For example, while regulating nutrient discharge from wastewater treatment plants helps mitigate eutrophication, WRI’s 20 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 research reveals that this approach has few environmental co-benefits, and could even result in significant environmental tradeoffs. In addition, many of the technologies to remove nutrients from wastewater use a significant amount of energy. Depending on the energy source, this could lead to additional emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx), a pollutant that not only contributes to eutrophication when re-deposited on land and in water, but also contributes to smog and acid rain. Currently, atmospheric deposition accounts for 30% of the nitrogen pollution found in the Chesapeake Bay. Some of the nitrogen that is scrubbed from wastewater might also be released as nitrous oxide (N2O) gas, which is a greenhouse gas with a warming potential that is nearly 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). “Because there are so many pathways, sources, and drivers of nutrient pollution, the policies that address eutrophication cannot be limited to traditional environmental regulations,” said Selman. Policies encouraging energy conservation, energy efficiency and development of alternative energy resources have multiple environmental and public health benefits. Such policies would reduce the burning of fossil fuels – a significant source of carbon dioxide, NOx and nutrient pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Another approach which promotes considerable environmental synergies is agricultural policy that provides incentives to farmers who reduce nutrient pollution. For instance, growing vegetative buffer strips on farms not only prevents organic and chemical fertiliser from running off into the water, but can also improve wildlife habitats, reduce soil erosion, and sequester carbon. Supporting research and development of new technologies should also be considered by politicians, WRI’s report concludes. In Florida and California, algal turf scrubber systems are being used to remove nitrogen and phosphorous in freshwater. The algae can then be harvested and used for cattle feed or biofuel production. “Nearly 500 coastal areas around the country already suffer from dead zones and without decisive action by policymakers the number is expected to rise in the foreseeable future,” said Selman.”Lawmakers should carefully consider policies that maximise environmental returns.” Singapore celebrates global water achievements Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010 receives 25% more nominations, Blue Paper and Solutions published The Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) today announced a record number of 50 nominations received from more than 20 countries for the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010. As further testament to its stature as a key global water solutions platform, SIWW also launched Blue Paper and Solutions – a publication that captures the strategic dialogue and industry imperatives arising from the successful convergence of water solutions, policies, leadership and infrastructure during Singapore International Water Week 2009. The announcements were made at the International Desalination Association’s (IDA) World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse in Dubai where national water agency PUB and Singapore’s water companies are showcasing leading water technologies as part of the Singapore Pavilion. Launched in 2008 to recognise revolutionary water innovations and policies, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize has grown significantly, and attracted a 25% increase in the number of nominations, including first-time submissions from Brazil, Italy, Kuwait and Norway. In line with SIWW 2010’s theme of Sustainable Cities – Clean and Affordable Water, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize encourages practitioners, academics and policy makers to nominate individuals or organisations who have delivered compelling and practical water solutions across a wider spectrum of the water industry. “We are seeing a good spread of applicants across more diverse areas such as management of agriculture waters as well as the protection of coastal zone and marine life, which are for the first time, part of the 50 accepted nominations to be reviewed. This augurs well for the Water Prize, which will be going into its third year. We hope this will spur more quality nominations for the coming years,” said Singapore International Water Week Managing Director Michael Toh. The other 2010 nominations cover areas such as: • Application of innovative technologies for water and used water collection and treatment, as well as water recycling • Implementation of revolutionary water policies and programmes for purposes like potable water supply, sanitation, water conservation, water reuse and river basin management • Water research in the fields of limnology, microbial pathogens, novel desalination and membrane processes • Administration of humanitarian aid The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010 will be presented at SIWW 2010, with SIWW 2010 will be held from June 28-July 2, 2010 the recipient joining international water pioneers such as Professor Gatze Lettinga, whose work in the development of anaerobic technology in used water treatment outshone 38 other nominations to receive the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize in 2009. The recipient will receive S$300,000, an award certificate and a gold medallion in recognition of his contributions. The Blue Paper documents key discussions among world leaders on how acute economic pressure to reduce costs on a global level has made it more critical to increase water efficiencies. Speakers at SIWW also encouraged countries to take advantage of the economic slowdown to expedite the move towards attaining water sustainability. Highlights from the dialogue generated at the event, and captured in the Blue Paper, include: • Adopt systems approach towards efficiency and sustainability: In the global pursuit for clean energy, water reuse can no longer stand alone. The interlinked processes of energy production and waste management require a systems approach. Countries need to focus on improving their infrastructure to integrate systems for water, food, energy and waste treatment to not only achieve greater economies of scale but also contribute to conservation efforts. • Tap tremendous potential in water reuse: Only five per cent of the world’s used water is currently being recycled. As such, the prospects of reducing pollution and simultaneously reclaiming water are multifold when more policy-makers realise that the business of water recycling is feasible and cost-efficient in the long run. • Active government involvement: Playing the role of an enabler, governments are especially crucial in providing the regulatory framework for private stakeholders to create breakthroughs in water innovations. A well-designed and transparent system can achieve public policy goals, while balancing the needs of commercial players. This open system also allows citizens to better appreciate the government’s cost making decisions related to clean water supplies. As the industry continues to ride through the recession, more water experts, including political leaders and solutions providers, place greater value in global industry platforms such as the SIWW. Solutions capture the results of a strong endorsement of the Week, highlighting new products and innovations and successful networking opportunities at events such as the Water Expo and Business Forums. Building on the momentum of SIWW’s success this year, Singapore will hold the next SIWW, themed Sustainable Cities – Clean and Affordable Water, from 28 June to 2 July 2010. SIWW 2010 will address water problems in an increasingly urbanised environment at key flagship programmes such as the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and Business Forums. DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 21 marketplace Calibration & Data Logger guides Quality managers and others responsible to maintaining the integrity of temperature and/or humidity chart recorders or data loggers, can now download a comprehensive guide to all aspects of instrument calibration at http://www.dicksondata.com/ calibration/calibration_order.php Chapters of this online guide include: Explanations of why calibrations are required; Review of calibration methods to choose from; A step-by-step guide to developing calibration schedules; “Before” Data considerations; Best fit applications for 1-point, 3-point and custom point calibrations; Glossary of calibration terms; Optional Calibration Club registration Chris Sorensen, Dickson VP Sales and Marketing, said: “All instruments lose accuracy over time due to normal usage and the environmental conditions to which they are exposed. Periodic NIST certified calibrations maintain the accuracy of your instrument throughout its life. This guide is designed to make it very easy for users of chart recorders and data loggers to navigate the many choices in calibration approaches to find the one that is best-matched to their application requirements.” Dickson has also launched online step-by-step resource guide for finding best-match technology for monitoring temperature, humidity, pressure, or electronic signal events. The Dickson Data Logger Selection Guide can be accessed at http://www.dicksondata. com/article/article_61.php Multiple selection factors are provided including instrument displays, remote probe availability, alarm options, wireless/Ethernet/battery-operated or outlet-powered, operating ranges and cost. Users are able to drill down and mix and match various features until they identify the range of instruments that match their specifications. New SCADA offering for water & wastewater applications Invensys Operations Management has launched InFusion SCADA 2.0 software system, with Foxboro SCD2100 and SCD2200 remote terminal units for water & wastewater and oil & gas applications. SCADA systems technology is used to optimise realtime monitoring, data acquisition, communications and control for geographically distributed industrial operations, especially those in which data collection and transmission might be subject to unintended interruptions. The Invensys offering draws on the company’s 40 plus years of SCADA heritage and includes some of the 22 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 industry’s most advanced integration, interface and control technology capabilities. “Robust, reliable monitoring of remote operations can mean tremendous savings in reduced downtime, efficient maintenance and improved security. And cost-efficient configuration, integration and scalability translate into further savings,” said Chris Smith, SCADA product manager, Invensys Operations Management. “The new SCADA system software and RTUs we are announcing today deliver unprecedented network SCADA monitoring and supervisory performance and maintainability for industry, along with simplified interaction and management for today’s rapid-growth SCADA implementations.” The InFusion SCADA 2.0 package of software components enable SCADA developers to create reusable objects and templates, as well as manage HMI display properties, data quality, equipment maintenance tagging and other functions necessary for rapidly building powerful, easy-to-use SCADA applications. The system also stores program components in a central repository for remote deployment to Windows-based network devices. End user engineers can then draw on this Sorensen said, “We know that the data logger or chart recorder that is the best fit for one user’s application may not work well for another, and we maintain the world’s widest selection of top-quality instruments to ensure you’ll never have to make do with a less than optimal instrument match to your application.” Dickson has also announced web publication of online support guides— both in downloadable PDF formats and as videos on YouTube and the Dickson web site (http://www.dicksondata.com/ product/model_VFC325.php)--- to help its customers worldwide to easily monitor temperature, humidity, pressure and other electronic signal “events” important to critical storage. These video or print support guides can be accessed via the “SUPPORT” tab on each product page at www.dicksondata.com. repository to build future applications, which enforces standards, preserves applications knowledge and reduces the overall engineering effort. System managers can also propagate changes to multiple computers with a single mouse click, reducing travel and SCADA network troubleshooting costs. As a backup to customer’s engineering teams, an InFusion SCADA Device Low water cut-off/ pump controller McDonnell & Miller has launched the new Series 1575 Low Water Cut-Off / Pump Controller. The Series 1575 provides continuous protection against a low water condition and satisfies pump control needs for commercial steam and hot water boilers. The Series 1575 is used as a low water cut-off, feed water control and alarm for boilers, vessels and tanks and includes a 1Hp pump relay, as well as adjustable burner and pump settings. Other features to enhance its simplicity, ease of installation and versatility include: •Diagnostic features incorporated in the control: - High ambient temperature protection - Internal LEDs that indicate water position and condition -External LEDs that indicate control activity •Set points and differentials remain constant throughout pressure range •Probe operation diagnostics - Sensitivity monitor - Sequence monitor - Wetted probe monitor •Adjustable 60-second burner-off time delays •Adjustable pump differentials by cutting probe to desired set points •Redundant low-water and pump-off circuitry •1 Hp burner and pump relay •Control unit can be mounted in any convenient location •Test button standard •Probe chamber with 3 probes and gauge glass tappings •4th probe can be added for high water control Relationship Management software agent provides secure Invensys-based remote backup for any installed system, giving the owner more confidence that any alterations or performance issues can be monitored and quickly diagnosed by authorised Invensys expertise. The new SCD2100 and SCD2200 remote terminal units (RTUs) provide an advanced, integrated operating environment for controlling and monitoring field operations and collecting real-time data for viewing via InFusion 2.0 screens or integration with process control or other enterprise applications. Both of the new RTUs support a wide range of input/output configurations and device integration, including support for the HART protocol. They also support pre-programming of ISaGRAF IEC61131 and IEC 61499 compliant function blocks, which delivers faster processing and sequencing than conventional RTUs that interpret programming languages at run time. This provides for more field automation applications for improved unattended operations. Both RTUs also include function blocks certified for oil & gas industry calculations and are available with TCP/IP or wireless connectivity. Some of the key benefits of the Series 1575 Combination Low Water Cut-Off/Pump Controllers for Steam Boilers are: •Prevents rapid burner and pump cycling •Constant operation throughout pressure range •Electrical starters not required for motors up to 1 Hp •Easy monitoring of operation •Easy troubleshooting DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 23 advertorial Wilo Pumps: First class German engineering W ILO SE is one of the leading manufacturers of Sewage pumps Through a combination of modern pumps and pump systems for water supply, submersible motor technology, high quality sewage disposal, and heating, cooling and treated hydraulic components and solvent air-conditioning technology. Worldwide, the free ceramic coating, Wilo sewage pumps name Wilo is synonymous with the tradition provide long-term operation for the most fluids and difficult constraints. of first class German engineering. Having set up base in Dubai demanding The numerous combinations of fluids to establish a direct presence in the Middle East region and and solids in sewage place many different further expand its business, Wilo offers a wide range of pumps demands on a pump solution. Self cooling, dry well-installed and/or explosion-proof for the Middle East municipal water management market motors are standard today. for sewage and potable water applications. The Wilo pump The Wilo Sewage submersible pumps can programme includes end-suction CronoNorm Type NL, Split be equipped with different types of motors Casing Pump SCP, high pressure Ring Section Pump RSP and like T type for wet pit installation, F, FK and FKT for dry pit installation. The FKT Submersible Pump Type FA. 27.1 motor technology has an innovative closed cooling system with high quality two-chamber sealing, including integrated monitoring equipment. It is suitable for vertical and horizontal installation and is designed for permanent operation for wet well and dry well installation. Significantly, the cooling is independent of the type of fluid and in the case of dry well installations, no room ventilation is necessary. The pit volume can thus be reduced and building costs saved. The FA Series can be used in pumping applications containing solids in sewage treatment plants, for site drainage, water storage and process water extraction or for construction and industrial applications. The FA series is available in cast iron, stainless steel and ‘abrasit’ chilled cast FA Series submersible pump Wilo-EMU FKT 27.1 Submersible pump FA End suction pump NL Multistage ring section pump RN Split case pump SCP Pumps and systems for building services, industry, municipal water supply and disposal Wilo Middle East FZE Jafza Views LB181605, PO Box 262 720, Jebel Ali Free Zone • Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: + 971 4 886 47 71 • Fax: + 971 4 886 47 70 • info@wilo.ae • www.wilo.com advertorial iron construction. A major highlight – the Wilo FA pump can be supplied with ceramic coating ‘Ceram’ for protection against corrosive and abrasive media. Ceram coating is available in different thicknesses in C0, C1, C2 and C3 versions. Ceram is cost effective alternative solution compared to special materials. For use in critical fluids, the individual versions can also be combined with each other. The FA series is single-stage submersible monobloc unit with capable of handling flows up to 8,000m3/hour and with head up to 100 metres. They are designed for continuous operating duty (S1) for wet sump installations as well as dry sump installations with self cooling motor. Dry sump installation with dry motor is available for S2 class operation. The FA series are available explosion proof according to ATEX and FM and comply with IP 68 protection standard. Wilo FA pumps have been extensively used in sewage treatment plants and pumping stations in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Germany, US, Poland, Russia, Turkey, China. Major references include the UAE: Dubai Metro (30 pumps) and Nad Al Sheba (15 pumps); Wuhan STP, China (16 pumps); pumping station in Istanbul (three pumps); sewage disposal stations in Krasnodar, Russia (11 pumps); sewage treatment plant in McAlpine Creek, US (23 pumps), Pumping stations in Kavala, Greece (18 pumps). Water pumps CronoNorm-NL and SCP are low pressure centrifugal pumps that can be used for water applications as well as in irrigation, building services, general industry and power Wilo SCP stations. Wilo programme includes pumps types which are recommended for pumping heating water in accordance with VDI 2035, water/glycol mixtures, cooling/ cold water, and industrial or process water. CronoNorm-NL and SCP are operated with electric motors that meet IP 55 protection standard. CronoNorm-NL is a centrifugal, single stage low pressure pump, mounted on a base plate and designed in accordance with EN 733, ISO 5199 standards. The pump is capable of handling flows with capacities up to 3,000 m3/hour and head up to 140 metres. This pump is designed with axial inlet suction and flanged with bearing bracket, and assembled with electrical motor with flexible coupling in-between. CronoNorm-NL can handle fluids in the temperature range of -8 degree C to + 120 degree C. The nominal suction side diameter is from DN 65 to DN 500, while the nominal pressure side diameter is from DN 50 to DN 400. The maximum operating pressure is up to 16 or 25 bar, depending on type and use. CronoNorm-NL is available with free shaft end or as a completely mounted pump on base plate with electric motor. The pump housing is grey cast iron (EN – GJL 250) spiral body with anti-rotation ribs, axially aligned suction piece with flanged bearing bracket and axis mounting for flexibly coupled drives. Dimensions and hydraulics are in accordance with DIN EN 733 and flanges correspond to DN 2533 PN 16 (DN 200 - PN 10/DIN 2532). Standard shaft mechanical seal is AQ1EGG for water temperatures up to 120 degree C or packing gland for water temperatures up to 110 degree C. The impeller is available in grey cast iron (EN – GJL 250) as well as in bronze (CC480K-GS). Standard electric CronoNorm-NL (cross-section) 26 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 supply is 3~400 V, 50 Hz. CronoNorm-NL pump is equipped with Burgmann mechanical seal with conical sealing chamber. The option of spacer coupling makes it possible to leave the motor in position when removing the rotor unit. Other special features include shaft protection, SPM connections for vibration measurement and temperature sensors. The pump is designed according to DIN ISO 5199. The pump bearings come in 2Z version lubricated for life. Accessories include a pump control system for automatic, stageless power control of pumps. Wilo Split Case Pump SCP is a centrifugal pump coupled with electric motor coupled on base plate. SCP is available in single-stage and two-stage and can handle flows up to 3,400 m3/hour (higher performance models up to 17,000 m3/hr are also available) and head up to 245 metres. In terms of construction, the pump housing is made of cast iron (ENGJL-250), the impeller is constructed of G-CuSn ZnPb (special brass) while the shaft is X12cr13 (special stainless steel). SCP is also available in high grade duplex stainless steel for seawater RO desalination. To reduce environmental impact, the SCP range is the first in its market segment to comply with the European RoHS directive in configuration R. The pump can be delivered as a complete unit (pump with coupling, coupling protection, motor and base plate) or without motor or only pump hydraulics. It comes with two shaft seals - mechanical seal or gland packing. Standard electric supply is 3~400 V, 50 Hz, medium and high voltage versions are available as options. Wilo also offers multi-stage highpressure, high-flow Ring Section Pumps (RSP) that can be used for RO sea water desalination, and also in high rise buildings, boiler feed service, fire fighting, condensate transfer and mine dewatering. It can handle flows up to 1,500 m3/ hour and head up to 1,400 metres. The multistage range is very wide and includes pump types RN, HS, PB/IPB and PJ Plurovanes. The RSP is equipped with a ‘Balance Valve’ arrangement, which automatically balances high axial thrusts encountered in multi stage pumps. Wilo RSP is available in cast iron, bronze, cast steel and stainless steel (duplex and super duplex) constructions. The pump is supplied in horizontal configuration. cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL Desal Diary - I Dubai plays host to the 13th International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress - Part I of a comprehensive report T he bi-annual International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress, held from November 7-12, 2009, in Dubai, was hosted by DIT-TechnoPark, the science and technology facilitator of Economic Zones World (EZW). The event was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The IDA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse was officially opened by H.H. Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The opening ceremony was attended by Federal Ministers and senior government officials from the UAE and other GCC countries including H.E. Mohammed Bin Dha’en Al Hameli, Minister of Energy; H.E. Dr Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, Minister of Environment & Water, UAE; H.E. Abdullah Al Hussayen, Minister of Water and Electricity, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Eng Fahmi Al Jowder, Minister of Electricity and Water, Kingdom of Bahrain, along with delegations, corporate leaders and industry experts from across the world. Sheikh Majid presented the ‘IDA World Water Masters Award’ to Dr Farouk El Baz, Research Professor and Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing at Boston University for his extensive research and significant work in groundwater storage and recovery. Under the leadership of El Baz, scientists from Centre conducted extensive research, located and mapped the highest levels of an underground dry lake in northern Darfur. This discovery DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 27 cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL has been followed up with the launch of the 1001 Wells Project, an ambitious humanitarian initiative to provide access to water to thousands of Darfur refugees, living facing an acute scarcity of water. The IDA has decided to name the first of the 1001 wells in Darfur after El Baz, in recognition of his untiring efforts to implement the project. (See Box on The Darfur Initiative.) The opening ceremony also featured the launch of the Excellence Centre for Integrated Water Management, a world class initiative to undertake applied research in Water Cycles, sustainable solutions for the ecosystem and the proper use of water resources by Salma Hareb, CEO of Economic Zones World. Environment to the fore Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Mohammed Bin Dha’en Al Hameli, UAE Minister of Energy, said: “Despite the advances that have been achieved in water desalination internationally and regionally, the world water situation is worsening due to the inadequate availability of clean water, population increases, wastage and bad practices in water usage. ... it has become incumbent upon us all to take a serious stand and to keep doing all we can to conserve water irrespective of its source including desalinated water, through encouraging research and scientific experimentation to develop new designs for desalination plants which are cost effective, technologically advanced and environmentally friendly so that we can achieve desalination for a better world.” In his speech, Dr Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, pointed out that there are more than 30 desalination plants operating in the UAE with a capacity of 1.3 billion m3/year meeting 98% of the country’s water needs. He revealed that future projections indicate increase in demand from 1.5 billion m3/year to 5 billion m3/year by 2020. In light of these forecasts, the Ministry of Environment and Water, in cooperation with its strategic partners, is currently working to develop strategies to maintain water resources and manage the demand to ensure sustainability. In order to mitigate climate change, the UAE is also examining the options of using nuclear and renewable energy in desalination processes. In a statistics-packed address to the 28 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Darfur initiative TechnoPark has brought together Boston University Centre for Remote Sensing and Dubaibased Concorde-Corodex Group to augment the scope of 1001 Wells Project in Darfur TechnoPark, the Economic Zones World subsidiary, extended its commitment to sustainable water and energy solutions with its strong support of the 1001 Wells Project in Darfur, a mega United Nations initiative by the Boston University Centre for Remote Sensing under the direction of Dr Farouk El Baz, the Centre’s Director. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by TechnoPark, the Boston University Centre for remote sensing and Concorde-Corodex Group on the sidelines of the IDA World Congress 2009. Concorde-Corodex Group will donate a fully integrated mobile desalination plant, which normally costs about US$250,000, for the first well to be drilled in Darfur. The unit generates 100,000 litres of fresh water per day and has the potential to provide water for up to 4,000 refugees in the affected region. The Darfur 1001 Wells Project is an ambitious humanitarian initiative to provide access to water to thousands of Darfur refugees living under grave conditions, including acute scarcity of water. Water shortages are widely considered the cause of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur region of northwestern Sudan. Boston University’s Centre for Remote Sensing is identifying the site for the 1001 wells to be drilled in northern Darfur as part of the project, and will ensure the proper functioning of the desalination plant and that engineers and technicians are well trained. TechnoPark will co-ordinate the deployment of the desalination plant and ensure its successful initiation. Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director of Dubai Institute of Technology - TechnoPark said: “We are very proud to have played a part in this initiative. I commend all parties involved for their strong support and compassionate donations which will go a long way in bringing about sustainable drinking water to affected areas in Darfur.” Concorde-Corodex Group’s desalination unit is a mobile container that desalinates brackish water and disinfects it for human use. The Dubai-based group will also supply the consumable chemicals and filters as well as train local technicians and engineers in the operation of the unit. Firas Awad, General Manager, Concorde-Corodex Group, said: “While we are a corporate entity, we are very committed to humanitarian initiatives. Water is the best gift of all. It is as good as the gift of life. We are proud to support TechnoPark and Boston University in this humanitarian mission.” Regional Business Development Director : Programme Management Based Dubai or Abu Dhabi Very Attractive Salary Package MWH is one of the World’s largest wet infrastructure and environmental service companies. With over 6,500 staff operating throughout 40 countries, we offer skills in engineering, business consultancy, design and construction. We believe we make a difference and the work of our staff contributes to making a better and more sustainable World. In the Middle East, our offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain and Jordan offer specialist services on water and wastewater management to Governments, Developers, Industries, Funding Organisations and Institutions. We are looking to recruit a pivotal position based in the UAE, where the role will assist the MWH Directors in achieving its corporate strategy. This position will contribute to the growing Middle East market by providing programme management-related business development expertise and exceptional client service delivery. The successful candidate will be involved in managing the entire programme management function for the Middle East. The Business Development Director will need to ensure that MWH achieves successful business development, enhanced revenue and growth. In order to attain successful delivery, they need to ensure that strong existing and new client relationships are developed and guarantee work is delivered on time, to cost and of a high quality standard. We want the best, so experience within the engineering or wet infrastructure market is essential, with an in-depth knowledge of the sector as well as having widespread contacts within the Middle East marketplace. The successful candidate must also demonstrate an ability to grow the company and show an adherence to business ethics. As a member of the senior management team, regular travel is required. MWH is looking for the highest calibre individual for this position, so the successful candidate must also be an excellent salesperson, have at least 15 years experience of working within the Middle East, be fluent in both English and Arabic and hold a degree or masters level qualification in engineering or other relevant subject. To Apply If you feel you meet all these requirements and want to be part of an exciting and growing company which offers excellent terms and conditions of employment, please send your CV to dubai.recruitment@mwhglobal.com. Closing date for all applications is Sunday 7th February 2010. Interviews to take place shortly after this. Building a Better World Our employees are our greatest assets and we will grow, inspire and protect them. MWH is committed to actively encouraging diversity through our people and our activities, as we truly believe in the value of a diverse workforce to both inspire our people and grow our business. cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL audience, H.E. Abdullah Al Hussayen, Minister of Water and Electricity, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, wondered that the proliferation of statistics on the global water condition belied the notion that the world has a firm grasp on the extent and depth of the impact of the shortfall in potable water and sanitation. He said: “If we continue with the way we use water, an additional one trillion m3/year would be needed to feed the extra three billion expected to populate the earth by 2025. The only feasible solution is improved efficiency.” As agriculture consumes 80% of water resources worldwide, improving irrigation efficiency from the current 35% to 50% is a low tech and affordable option for most nations. Stressing on the need to reduce per capita consumption in municipal use, Al Hussayen said: “If Munich, one of the prosperous cities in a prosperous nation (Germany) with enormous resources can make do with 90100 litres per day per person, so can rest of the world. Obviously, wealth and cost of product don’t tell the whole story.” The Saudi minister also peppered his National body to regulate desalination needed: DIT-Technopark Workshop Global experts and local stakeholders taking part in the Environment and Water Workshop organised by Dubai Institute of Technology -TechnoPark, the fully-owned subsidiary of Economic Zones World, called for a national regulatory body under the UAE Federal Government to monitor and regulate the desalination industry and address all related issues. The workshop, held with the support of the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, Ministry of Energy and the IDA, also recommended that desalination management should be brought under the scope of Integrated Water Management in order to ensure long-term sustainability. The event, held on the sidelines of the IDA World Congress 2009 aimed at bringing into sharper focus desalination and its impact on the environment and seeking possibilities to establish a framework for future strategies that can ensure sustainability. H.E. Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE Minster of Environment & Water, opened the workshop at the Atlantis on November 7. His Excellency Ali Bin Abdullah Al Owais, Managing Director for Electricity Affairs, at the UAE Ministry of Energy, Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Dubai Institute of Technology – TechnoPark, and Lisa Henthorne, IDA addressed the opening session. Mohammed Saqr Al Asam, General Manager, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and former assistant under secretary, Ministry of Environment & Water, moderated the sessions where a line up of national and international experts on desalination, water management and environment presented papers and led interactive discussions. Divided into five main sessions, the workshop saw 15 papers being presented and discussed by 72 participants representing federal and local governments, academies, institutes, organisations, environment authorities and the private sector. The session themes were highly focused on areas close to the water and environment sectors, each coming up with clues to solutions for the issues and suggestions for implementation. The subjects covered included Desalination & Environment, Red tide, Alternative Energy in Desalination, Desalination Operations & Monitoring Policies, and Integrated Water Management. The question-answer sessions that followed each presentation supplemented the discussions. Mohammed Saqr Al Asam said: “The themes of discussion were carefully selected due to their particular relevance to this 30 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 region today. This workshop gave us an opportunity to engage with the top minds in the industry to find solutions and set a strategic direction for the future. We are very pleased with the overall response from all participants and hope our proposed framework will go a long way in promoting sustainable practices in the desalination industry not just in the country but also the region.” The panel reached a common agreement towards balanced sustainability based on economic, human and ecological developments. It put forth several other recommendations in addition to a call for a regulatory authority. The workshop also urged enhancement and improvement of environmental legislation on pollution. The panel called for additional attention to be given to the issue of post-desalination flow of salt into sea and harmful gas emissions. The experts also urged adapting best practices in the desalination industry. In addition, the workshop recommended setting up of regional level bodies to strengthen co-operation in the field of desalination and in sharing expertise and information because of the similarity of applied desalination technologies, types of feed water, prevailing climatic conditions and environmental impacts of desalination plants. The workshop stressed the need for the establishment of an efficient monitoring programme on a national level in order to assess and test desalination by-products and to minimise public health risks and to protect the marine industry. The workshop also proposed that scientific research be enhanced locally to examine innovative solutions for desalination including reducing environmental problems of the industry and improving energy utilisation. “The Environment and Water Workshop fulfilled DITTechnoPark’s aim of bringing together experts from the sector to address a very critical issue facing the region,” Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Dubai Institute of Technology – TechnoPark, said while commenting on the event. “We wanted to present a platform where issues related to the entire spectrum of water management could be discussed and a pointer towards sustainable solutions could be marked. This is part of TechnoPark’s core vision and the workshop succeeded in achieving it. We are thankful to the Ministries for their support and the experts and local stakeholders who responded to our call,” he said. cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL speech with stand-out analogies to drive home his points. To mention just two: “Lack of water and sanitation services kills about 4,500 children every day. To put this number in perspective, it is as if 10 jumbo jets fall off the sky every day.” “Imagine if all the water in planet earth is put in a container with a capacity of 26 gallons – the amount that is available for human consumption doesn’t exceed half a table spoon.” Al Hussayen also pointed out that despite the desalination industry’s rapid growth, less than one per cent of the world’s population is served by desalination. Moreover, the cost reductions achieved through improvements in desalination technology have been offset by increased labour and material costs. For example, the lowest tendered price for the Ras Azzour project in Saudi Arabia (one million m3/year of water and 1,000 MW of electricity) was $1.2/m3, the highest ever offered compared to 19 cents/m3 awarded for a similar plant three years ago. “While the world financial crisis had something to with that, the trend is definitely not down,” he noted. Singapore’s System Approach Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore highlighted the progress and achievements of Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), which has emerged as the Asia Pacific region’s premier water event for policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners in the water industry. Ibrahim revealed that Singapore is undertaking detailed studies on the city state’s vulnerability to climate change by localising the IPCC regional models to its specific circumstances to identify the adaptation responses needed. He shared Bahrain generates about 143 MIGD of desalinated water and 2,800 MW of electricity from power and water stations insights from a discussion on the ‘systems approach’ to water management at the Water Leaders Summit in SIWW. “This (systems approach) centres on the notion that water is not managed in isolation but is an integral part of a bigger system, along with energy, food, waste and health,” he explained. For instance, water treatment and distribution require energy, while water is also needed in energy production. In the same vein, by-products such as biogas could be reclaimed from wastewater treatment process to generate electricity and improve the overall efficiency of the treatment. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim concluded his address by highlighting the strides made by PUB Singapore to improve resource efficiency. As part of its target of reducing energy consumption by 10%, PUB has successfully implemented measures like sludge incineration, facility optimisation and energy reclamation. The Bahrain experience In his address, H.E. Eng Fahmi Al Jowder, Environmental Task Force The International Desalination Association (IDA) has set up a task force to explore the environmental effects of desalination on the Arabian Gulf and recommend strategies to mitigate potential impacts. Desalination is especially important to countries on the Arabian Gulf. Together, these countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq and Iran, account for approximately 40% of the world’s desalination capacity. At the same time, the unique configuration of the Arabian Gulf – a semi-closed water body with limited fresh water inflow from rivers – requires diligent attention to potential effects of the process. The task force, which will be composed of leading scientists, environmental experts, government representatives and members of the desalination community. 32 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Minister of Electricity & Water, Kingdom of Bahrain, touched upon “four vital issues of contemporary and unanimous concern,” namely, management of water, desalination and water re-use, use of renewable energy for desalination and protection of the environment. Al Jowder blamed inefficient management and irrational use of water for the water crisis confronting the world today. Commenting on the water scenario in the GCC region, he said: “In the arid zones of Arabian Gulf region where desalination is the main source of water, water management is the focal point of sustaining economic development. At the present rate of consumption, it is estimated that the Arabian Gulf region will require 32 billion m3/year of water by 2010 and around 50 billion m3/year by 2025. Such a huge demand necessitates wise water demand management.” The water control required for water demand management can be achieved by adopting a conservation and realistic pricing strategy in the short term and integrated water resources management approach in the long term so as to better manage the water resources. Touching on Bahrain’s privatisation experience, he said despite misgivings, Bahrain has adopted privatisation of electricity and water as an important step to achieving its 2030 vision of economic development. Bahrain first toyed with the privatisation of water in 2002, when the Electricity & Water Authority (EWA) signed an agreement with aluminium producer ALBA Bahrain to purchase seven million gallons of potable water from the latter to distribute to its customers. In 2006, the second privatisation milestone was achieved with EWA selling its biggest water and electricity production facility – the Al Hidd Electricity and Water Station – to the Hidd Power Company. “The primary benefit was that we didn’t need to worry about operation and maintenance costs,” said Al Jowder. The third milestone of water privatisation in Bahrain will take place when the Al Dur project, which will be fully built and operated by the private sector, becomes operational in June 2010. “The project will have a capacity of 48MIGD (218,000 m3/day) of water and 1,234MW of electricity. The water production will further increased to 100 million gallons in the next phase,” the minister revealed. VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.fleminggulf.com Gulf Wastewater Treatment & Reuse Conference 8th-10th February 2010, Dubai, UAE WHICH QUESTIONS DOES THIS EVENT ANSWER? KEY SPEAKERS Francis Ato Brown, World Bank, US Sector Manager Water, MENA Region Mohammed Najem, Dubai Municipality Director of Wastewater Treatment What are the current standard and policies in practice laid by the governments & the initiatives undertaken by the Municipalities Dr. Imad Haffar, Palm Water, Dubai Managing Director What does it take to build a world class STP? Abdullah Alhashimi, Haya Water Company, Oman General Manager Projects What is the most optimum technology required for the successful running of an STP Aamer Sarfarz, Dubai Sports City, UAE Project Manager – Infrastructure Matthew Plumbridge, Department of Municipal Affairs, Emirate of Abu Dhabi Consultant, Environmental & Sustainability Planning Olivier Crasson, Ajman Sewerage Company General Manager What are the strategies to minimize costs of Wastewater treatment How is wastewater put to the most optimum reuse Ibrahim Elwan, TANQIA, UAE Chairman Matthew Nathan, HSBC Bank Middle East Associate Director WHOM YOU WILL MEET Craig Marsh, Macquarie Capital, UAE Senior Vice President Job Titles: Tony Sole, Palm Utilities, UAE Chief Financial Office Dr. Walid Abderrahman, Miahona, Saudi Arabia Managing Director Government officials, Regulators, Chairman’s, Presidents, CEOs, MD’s, Head of Wastewater, Project Manager, Plant Manager, Operations Manager, CFOs, Heads of Investments, Heads of Project Finance, Heads of Strategy, Lawyers, Economists, Consultants KEY TOPICS Organizations: The robust demand for Wastewater Treatment in the GCC Ministry of Water, Regulatory Bodies, Sewage Treatment Plants, Water Companies, Banks, Insurance Companies, Real Estate Developers, Water Technology, EPC Contractors, Law Firms Implementation & Initiatives of stringent regulations by Government bodies for a Green Environment Expanding existing sewerage plants – The need of the hour Implementation of Wastewater projects in different regions by the Municipalities Financing Wastewater projects across the region Centralized and De-Centralized Wastewater Treatment Immediate 10% discount for H20 Magazine subscribers! Contact Details: e-mail: maria.luminita@fleminggulf.com, tel.: +971 4 6091 575, fax: +971 4 6091 589 For agenda inquiries please use the code: DBRE15H20 Supporting Organizations: Principal Distributor: Platinum Sponsor: Gold Sponsors: Silver Sponsor: Media Partners: Global Water Intelligence cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL Al Jowder also underlined the need to develop alternative energy resources in the Gulf countries because the main challenge for new water and electricity projects in the future would be sufficient availability natural gas. He said, “Bahrain generates about 143 MIGD of desalinated water and 2,800 MW of electricity from power and water stations that consume nearly 500 million cubic feet of fossil every day. The required amount of natural gas has almost doubled in less than a decade which alone requires serious consideration in finding potential alternative resource of energy including renewable energy.” He revealed that EWA has constituted a committee to assess renewable energy as an alternative energy resource for production of water and electricity in Bahrain. Al Jowder also called upon the desalination industry to help mitigate the environmental concerns associated with desalination. He said: “Concentrated brine from desalination plants with high salt content, elevated temperatures and chemicals residues are discharged into the oceans and seas with little no treatment. In fact, chemical residues should be treated to the greatest extent possible. Thermal and high salinity effluents should be dealt with on-site before being discharged into them in a way they circulate with the currents and diffuse harmlessly. There is also need for strict legislation for quality control on the discharge of effluents from the desalination plants into the sea.” Al Jowder concluded his address by inviting the IDA Environmental Taskforce to host its first meeting in Bahrain in 2010. Future of membranes The keynote address of the 13th IDA World Congress was delivered by David H Koch, co-owner and Executive Vice President of Koch Industries and President of Koch Membrane Systems, who dwelled on Koch Industries’ initial involvement with water treatment membranes in 1963, when it provided start up capital to Professor Raymond Baddour of MIT to set up the ABCOR Company to commercialise his research. ABCOR was later acquired by Koch Industries and renamed Koch Membrane Systems (KMS). Subsequent acquisitions by KMS included Romicon, a producer of hollow-fibre capillary Ultra Filtration (UF) membranes, Fluid Systems, which commercialised the Spiral Wound Reverse Osmosis membranes under the ROGA brand and Puron, a German developer of MBR technology. Koch revealed out he has given more attention to his membrane business than to any of his other businesses over the past 10 years. He continued, “People frequently ask me how the executive vice president and major shareholder of a $115 billion per annum corporation can justify spending two days a week with a $110 million per annum subsidiary? The answer is simple – I believe there still remain enormous opportunities to improve membrane products as well as almost unlimited opportunities for growth in this business. While technical changes in the past 20 years have transformed our industry, I believe that there are more changes in store particularly in the formulation of membranes which will lead to further improvements.” He noted that a key factor that has enabled the desalination industry to grow rapidly has been its commitment to innovations whether it was thermal technologies or membranes. Declaring that he is a firm believer in Technical tour The technical plant site tour organised by Palm Water at the IDA World Congress proved to be very popular with over 200 participating delegates signing up for the visits. The three hour tour of the sites at Palm Jumeirah included the SWRO desalination plant, sewage treatment plant, treated sewage effluent polishing plant, odor control plant and district cooling plants. Visitors had opportunity to understand the environmental and financial benefits of the synergy between water treatment and district cooling. They also explored one of the world’s largest reverse osmosis energy recovery systems at the SWRO plant to reduce energy consumption and the Dolphin chemical free water treatment system in the chiller plant of Palm District Cooling, a sister subsidiary of Palm Utilities. They also had a firsthand experience of the MBR system in sewage treatment. 34 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 the concept of economies of scale and its relevance to membrane desalination, Koch predicted that large diameter elements will supplant the current 8-inch diameter industry standard elements due to their cost effectiveness. He explained, “It is a well known principle that the larger a piece of equipment or system, the lower is the cost per unit of the product handled by that equipment or system. Our experiences demonstrate that RO plants using large diameter elements reduce the footprint of the plant by up to 50% compared to those using standard 8-inch diameter elements. The large size elements have also proved to be invaluable in shortening project construction schedules to meet tight delivery requirements.” Koch ventured forth to declare that low pressure UF membranes will have a greater overall impact on the drinking water and wastewater industry than RO. He said: “There is a definite trend to embrace economies of scale in UF and MBR systems; it is possible to use vessels containing UF hollow fibres that are over one metre in diameter and almost 2.5 metres tall resulting in significant reductions in the plant footprint size and overall cost of treatment plant. These large sized vessels contain 25 to 50 times membrane area of older 5-inch to 10 inch diameter UF water cartridges most commonly used.” Koch noted that there are possibilities for improving the composition of membranes used in the elements. For example, the thin film composite membranes used in RO elements can be improved to operate at low transmembrane pressures and provide greater rejection of salt. UF membranes used in MBR or drinking water purification applications could be improved to make them more resistant to cleaning chemical degradation and increase their life span. As with RO membranes, UF membranes could also be made to operate at lower pressures with superior rejection. The KMS president also stressed on the need to reduce membrane manufacturing costs while working to improve the geometry of membrane elements and upgrade the performance of membranes. He recommended investments in automation and computer controlled manufacturing lines to cap labour costs and improve the performance consistency of the membranes. Towards the end of his address, Koch donned the prediction hat to announce what he felt would be the key trends dominating the desalination market in the next decade. While energy prices have declined from their 2008 peaks, there is a strong possibility that future prices could escalate dramatically. This likelihood is persuading customers to pay more attention to the energy costs in system design, which in turn, is driving innovations in membrane composition formulations, energy recovery devices and more energy efficient process designs. Customers will look beyond initial capital cost to focus on the overall life cycle costs of their desalination or wastewater treatment systems. The trend of life cycle cost analysis will grow as more customers realise that low initial capital cost doesn’t necessarily equate to better value. For industry, the challenge will be to develop ever smarter ways to reduce life cycle costs even as customers restructure the bidding process to achieve their objective of purchasing systems with lowest capital and operating costs. Koch called upon the desalination industry to work towards resolving the environmental impact of desalination in the same way they would address other engineering challenges. “With larger water treatment plants being built, the potential impact on the environment is bigger than ever,” he observed. He also called on the industry to educate customers. “We see people paying a premium for bottled water and then complaining about the quality of water in the tap. The industry knows what goes into producing great quality water. We need to help our customers value that effort,” he said. Lisa Henthorne, the outgoing President of IDA, in her closing remarks, said: “The theme of our Congress is meant to capture our hope for the future and the vision we want to inspire in our industry. Desalination and water reuse offer our growing population what nothing else can – an abundant source of fresh water through which our health can be maintained, our economies can prosper, our standard of living can be enhanced, and water can be recycled repeatedly, thereby minimising our environmental footprint on our planet.” Desal review Christopher Gasson, publisher of Global Water Intelligence, sat down with Samantha Keck during the IDA Congress in Dubai and shared his insights on present and future of the desalination industry. H unkering down on the sofa in the IDA Congress press room, Christopher Gasson proclaimed: “This is the home of desalination. This is the place where it all started.” The desalination industry’s fortunes in this region have always tied inextricably to the price of oil, the region’s main revenue earner. When the oil price was low, nobody paid much attention; but the spectacular increase in oil prices resulted in unprecedented economic growth and in the past five years, the region’s desalination industry too has grown, especially on the membrane side. “If you were to look at the main water providers in this region five years ago, 70-80% of the water would have come from Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) distillation. But today, there is not only tremendous growth in the industry, but for the first time in 10 years, there is a lot more of membrane desalination happening in this region,” said Gasson. Commenting on the mindset change, Gasson said: “Back in the 1990s, when a membrane desalination plant failed in Bahrain, everyone shied away from membrane technology. Even though the failure had occurred in the pre-treatment and not the membrane, the failure was a huge catastrophe for membrane desalination concept in the region. The company that made the membrane eventually exited the market. But now the confidence in RO desalination is back.” However, Gasson also pointed out it will be a while before RO desalination reaches the size and scale of thermal desalination. The thermal side of the desalination story has also seen its fair share of improvements, with technology improvements steering thermal desalination towards Multiple Effect Distillation (MED). Gasson said: “There is a greater market share today for MED. Historically, MED was not applied to more than 40,000 m3/day capacity due to the lack of economies of scale. But in the last few years, the improvements in MED technology have enabled economies of scale to be achieved. The second largest desalination plant in the world, Jubail, with a capacity of 800,000 m3/day uses MED technology.” However, Gasson was emphatic that the future of desalination lies with RO as its energy requirement is much less DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 35 cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL compared to thermal desalination. The highest energy consumption is by MSF which requires roughly 3kWhr/m3 of electrical energy excluding the thermal energy it consumes. RO, on the other hand, requires around 4kWhr/m3 of electricity to produce water. “We must remember that outside of this region, membrane desalination is the dominant technology, rounding up two-thirds of the market. The rest of the world cares more about energy costs,” said the GWI Publisher. Public versus private ownership Moving on to the changing nature of ownership in the desalination industry, Gasson pointed out that the privatisation trend is growing in the region, where even as recently as 2002, public water authorities set up and operated desalination plants. In fact, the GCC countries have been moving steadily towards privatisation, with Abu Dhabi showing leadership in this regard. Gasson continued, “I think the main reason why a lot of governments moved towards privatisation in the region is because of the poor performance by the public water companies. This move has seen the power of government utilities gradually giving way to private sector companies. Some private companies have actually done extremely well. For example, ACWA Power International of Saudi Arabia has come out of nowhere. In 2003, they had like seven employees, and today, they are employing thousands. ACWA Power has grown from the new kid on the 36 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 block to having been contracted to produce around 60% of the capacity of Shuqaiq. And their success is not only attributed to the growth of the desalination market. In order to catch up to the big boys, ACWA Power actually demonstrated some real innovation in their design and thinking.” Moving back to the public versus private debate, Gasson noted that privatisation has not-so-obvious benefits too. He continued: “Certainly if you look at Saudi Arabia, privatisation has been triggered by the need for better performance. There, the private sector not only takes care of the desalination plants but also the running of the water distribution networks to reduce the high incidence of leakages, typically between 10 – 20%. In many cities, the private sector is also the main motivation to provide 24/7 water. What the authorities have actually discovered is that when you have 24/7 water, water consumption actually goes down.” When blue actually becomes green Gasson claimed that the desalination industry is sitting up and taking notice of its impact on the environment. He said, “If you came to the IDA Congress six years ago, there was hardly any interest at all in the environmental impact of desalination. The industry has since become a lot more conscious of that. I think we are seeing technologies being developed to offset the environmental impact as a result of this growing awareness as well as the new regulations introduced for desalination Privatisation itself has led to a lot of innovation in technology as people have to compete hard, and then deliver cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL processes. In Australia, for instance, all the desalination plants have been built with extreme intakes and outfalls so that the marine life is left undisturbed. In fact in some ways, you can argue that marine life has been enhanced by the presence of the desalination plant. The plant provides structure to the sea bed and attracts all sorts of creatures that were not there before.” With the setting up of the IDA environmental taskforce in the region, Gasson believes that environmental issues unique to this part of the world would be dealt with in a more focused manner. He said: “There are two main environmental impacts from desalination plants. One is the intake which is the impingement and entrapment of marine life. On the output side, you have the chemicals used in desalination that is washed out to sea. One of the main problems in the Gulf is that the water here is quite shallow. And with hotter temperatures in this part of the world, the water tends to get more saline. If you have a lot of discharge into warm shallow water, it might not mix as well as it should.” The next golden egg At the opening of the IDA Congress, Gasson announced that the total capacity of desalination plants now online has increased 12.2% year-on-year, to almost 60 million m3/day. This is the fastest rate of industry growth since the early 1980s. Of this, the most significant growth factor has been seawater desalination. From the last IDA Congress in November 2007, the installed capacity of seawater desalination plants has grown by almost 30%, to approximately 36 million m3/day . Gasson pointed out that the reasons for this growth are several, one of which is the rise in demand for water not being met by declining non-renewable ground water. The sea offers a guaranteed supply of water; moreover, seawater desalination has also become more affordable in comparison with the alternatives. So will this region continue to drive the desalination industry forward? Gasson answered that this region may not remain the driver of industry growth as in the past. With the regional economy having taken a battering, many projects have been delayed or cancelled. Many of 38 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Christopher Gasson I think we are coming to a stage where countries cannot delay addressing the water scarcity issue any longer the small- and medium-scale desalination plants have been put on hold because the off-shore developments they were meant to serve have not materialised yet. In the same breath, he highlighted the emergence of North Africa where countries are considering desalination on a large scale for the first time. “Previously, there had only been Sharm El-Sheikh, where desalination was on a small scale to serve a hotel. Libya had historically relied on a man-made river, now they are looking at supplementing this river with seawater desalination. And in Morocco, they have plans for a very large desalination plant that will change the way Casablanca is supplied. The plan will see to it that Casablanca no longer takes water from the South but from the sea,” said Gasson. He also named India and China as strong markets to watch out for. “Traditional markets like Spain and Algeria are cooling down for a variety of reasons. Istanbul probably needs to start thinking about desalination seriously. There are also new markets opening up in the US too. I think we are coming to a stage where countries cannot delay addressing the water scarcity issue any longer,” said Gasson. Never the twain shall meet? After having deliberated much on the supply side of things, what about the other end of the pole? Gasson laughed and said: “There are two ways to deal with the issue of sustainability of water. Either one can improve the technology to increase supply or one can change behaviour to manage demand. One significant implication of technological improvements is that they don’t encourage a change in demand behaviour. Consumption per head in this region tends to be over a 1000 litres a day. Ideally, it should be brought down to around 200 litres a day. But getting through with the necessary behavioural changes will be very hard. In Saudi Arabia, for example, you will need to introduce a much higher tariff to discourage water wastage. People should not expect to have beautiful green gardens in the desert. But the real impact on demand management will be in context of agricultural use rather than domestic use. And that problem is on a global scale. Why should people grow alfalfa for cows? When you have so little water to be turning that water into food is crazy, especially when you could import food at a much cheaper price.” Power & Water Conference & Exhibition 4-6 October 2010 Qatar International Exhibition Centre, Doha, Qatar www.power-gen-middleeast.com Under the Patronage of His Excellency Mr. abdullah bin Hamad al-attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy & Industry New solutions for the region’s Power & Water Challenges Call fOr PaPErs POWER-GEN Middle East is the annual gathering of the region’s power and water industry who will discuss this challenge, and many other power and water related issues. as a professional in the water and power industry, it’s the event you cannot afford to miss... Water Track Conference Topics include: - Water sector structure and regulation - strategic planning and management - Desalination - Water Treatment - Wastewater treatment - Collection and distribution networks To submit your abstract for the conference, or for further information on exhibiting or participating at the event visit www.power-gen-middleeast.com If you are involved in power and water industries and are looking to increase your business in the Middle East, don’t miss this prime opportunity to stay ahead of the competition and reach the region’s key decision makers. for information about participating at the conference as a speaker or delegate, please contact: samantha Malcolm Conference Manager T: +44 (0) 1992 656 619 f: +44 (0) 1992 656 735 E: paperspgme@pennwell.com for exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please contact: roy Morris Water sales Manager T: +44 (0) 1992 656 613 f: +44 (0) 1992 656 700 E: rmorris@pennwell.com reach the region’s key decision makers Owned and Produced by: Co-Host: flagship Media sponsors: supporting regional Publication: cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL Green outlook Ms. Patricia Burke, Secretary-General of IDA shares with Samantha Keck her insights on the desalination industry worldwide. First, tell us your thoughts on the recently concluded IDA World Congress Dubai. The 2009 IDA World Congress in Dubai was a truly outstanding event and the most successful in our history. More than 1,350 delegates from around the world attended the event. The exhibition was the largest in our history with 67 companies showcasing the latest desalination technologies. In addition, the Technical Papers Session was very robust with over 240 papers presented. We also conducted several plant tours throughout the World Congress week. If you factor in that the event took place in a somewhat depressed global economy, all the numbers that were achieved were very impressive. The Technical Programme, exhibits, venue and the quality of the attendees made this a very memorable event. How has the desalination industry changed over the last 10 years? What has been IDA’s role in that change? The greatest change is, of course, the dramatic growth of the desalination industry. Desalination is now a critically important part of the solution to the world’s water problem. There are now at least 14,451 desalination plants in operation in 150 countries around the world, with a combined installed capacity of 59.9 million m3/day. In addition, a further 244 plants with a capacity of 9.1 million m3/day are known to be under contract. More plants with more capacity have been brought online during the past year than ever before. This is a reflection on the growing need for quality water in areas where there is not enough supply and We all share a love of the industry and especially IDA. It seems to get in your blood —not many people just walk away Patricia Burke the quality is poor. Also noteworthy is the advances in technology, which has succeeded in lowering desalination costs dramatically. Equally important is the focus we have placed on environmental responsibility. New intake and outfall designs have mitigated any impacts on marine life. We have been able to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well, and the industry is developing a suite of solutions in terms of brine disposal. IDA has formed an Environmental Task Force to examine environmental impacts on the Arabian Gulf and recommend strategies to deal with potential effects. Environmental responsibility is a critical issue in which IDA, as the world’s leading global resource for the desalination industry, is taking a highly proactive role. In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues facing the desalination industry globally and why? I think that there are two key issues driving the industry. One, of course, is cost. The more that we can continue to reduce the costs of producing desalinated water, the more impact we will have on the industry worldwide, making desalination a truly viable alternative to traditional sources. Another issue in which IDA is taking the lead is to be sure that we are reducing any potential impact the on the environment. Our recently formed Task Force will address these issues and will disseminate the results in a ‘Blue Paper’ and environmental conference in 2010. What impact do you think IDA’s environmental taskforce will have on the region? Our goal is to make a significant contribution by providing all stakeholders with information that can be used to mitigate potential environmental impacts. The Arabian Gulf is unique in its size and narrow outlet. As a semi-closed body of water, the rate at which the water recharges is considerably slower than other areas where the sea flows freely. To start, our goal is to develop an accurate and current picture of specific problems that this body of water faces. Our task force, composed of top subject matter experts, will examine these issues. From there, we will be developing recommended strategies to mitigate potential impacts. Reporting for duty Fady Juez, Managing Director, Metito took a few minutes from his busy schedule at the IDA World Congress 2009 to speak to H20 about his recent election to the IDA Board of Directors and issues surrounding water management in the Middle East with a personal touch. Fady Juez sat down squarely on the couch, cutting a rather imposing figure. As the chairman of the organising committee for this IDA World Congress in Dubai, how would he rate the event? Without hesitation, Fady replied: “I am extremely pleased. I think the people here did a great job, and that includes everyone at TechnoPark and EZW. Given that we had some concerns arising due to the financial crisis, I would say the outcome has been nothing less than great. This, by far, is also the largest Congress we have had, at least that’s my feel. If you look around, this place (Atlantis on the Palm Jumeirah) is packed from early in the morning. I am very happy.” What about his successful election to the IDA Board of Directors? Fady beamed: “I am happy, I am pleased. This is a worldwide election, democratically held, and it makes me proud to know that people believe that I can do a good job.” As a freshly minted IDA Director, what does Fady hope to achieve during his term in office? Pat came the answer “I am a strong believer in the environment and water. This dovetails extremely well with IDA, which is all about desalination and water reuse. I am right now in the heart of the only organisation in the world that promotes professional standards in desalination and water reuse. In addition to the biannual Congress, IDA also participates in up to 14 workshops and seminars each year. Meetings are currently underway for the formation of committees. I am not sure exactly what I will be involved in, but I will surely carry out my responsibilities in the next two years.” New duties aside, Fady did elaborate on what he thought were the pressing issues facing the desalination industry in the Middle East. “Everything we do as human beings impact the environment one way or another,” he said. “Since we have to extract water from the Desalination is only going to increase; therefore, it is only right that while we increase our desalination capacity, we do not harm the environment DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 41 cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL membrane technology will become the most dominant Fady Juez 42 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 environment, we need to do it in a way that is neutral to the environment. Otherwise we would have to make sure that the process has minimum impact. Desalination is only going to increase; therefore, it is only right that while we increase our desalination capacity, we do not harm the environment. When we recycle water, it is also our responsibility that we recycle properly. The IDA has committed a taskforce made up of leading scientists, environmental experts, government representative and members of the desalination industry to look into the environment effect of desalination on the Arabian Gulf. We will also hold a symposium on desalination and the environment in 2010 in the Gulf region. We can do it, and we will continue working on it.” Fady also weighed in on the current tug-of-war between RO and thermal desalination technologies. He said: “I personally believe that membrane technology will become the most dominant in the region. But that said, we are still going to have to do a lot more for membrane technology by making it more efficient and lowering the costs associated with it. Available data indicates that it has the highest growth in applied technology and continues to grow. I am also a firm believer in demand management. I really believe we can do a lot more in reducing consumption. The logic is simple. If we reduce consumption, we reduce cost and consequently, we reduce the amount that we desalinate. When that happens, we lower our impact on the environment. If I could, I would love to concentrate on promoting demand management.” N a! O O BI S NGI aRa I M D O C SaU TO Holiday Inn Al Qasr, Riyadh, KSA • 14,15,16 March 2010 DISTRICT COOLING veNTILaTION RefRIGeRaTION TIaC For enquiries related to conference, contact: For enquiries related to sponsorships and exhibiting opportunities, contact: For event related information, contact: B Surendar Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, CPI Industry Tel: +971 4 375 6831 GSM: +971 50 509 2457 E-mail: surendar@cpi-industry.com Frédéric paillé Managing Director and Associate Publisher, CPI Industry Tel: +971 4 375 6833 GSM: +971 50 714 7204 E-mail: fred@cpi-industry.com deep Karani Event Manager, CPI Industry Tel: +971 4 375 6839 GSM: +971 50 8585905 E-mail: deep@cpi-industry.com Gold SponSor: exhiBitorS: SAUDI ARABIA www.thegreenhouse.ae www.ccube.org cover sTORY: IDA SPECIAL Nurturing leaders Lisa Henthorne has been associated with International Desalination Association (IDA) for over a decade and served as President of the IDA from 2007-2009. Henthorne has more than 20 years of experience working in brackish, wastewater, and seawater membrane technology in the US and internationally and has published more than 50 technical papers in her career, in areas of expertise including membrane filtration pretreatment, hybrid desalination and large diameter reverse osmosis desalination. In the 2009-2011 Board of Directors, Henthorne serves as Treasurer & Editor. In a short chat with Samantha Keck, Henthorne reminisced about her association with IDA, her key achievements and concerns about the water sector in the Middle East. Between the 2007 IDA Congress in Spain and the recently concluded Dubai congress, what has been some of the major initiatives undertaken by IDA to serve its members and the industry? Over the last two years, in addition to preparing an exceptional technical and commercial conference, IDA took a hard look at how it serves its members – we conducted surveys and interviews, and also had a facilitated workshop with the IDA Board of Directors to begin a five-year Strategic Planning process. The initiatives that evolved from this process and our progress to date are listed below: • addressing the misconceptions about desalination that arose in the previous absence of a proactive media outreach programme. An educational video was premiered at the Dubai Congress Gala Dinner as one example of these deliverables. This video has been added to the IDA website and onto YouTube. We’re also updating the ABCs of Desalination, and developing white papers on various desalination and water reuse topics. Objective 3: Grow IDA’s Membership IDA’s membership grew by more than 40% during the last two years. We’ve established a Young Leaders Programme Objective 1: Strengthen IDA’s Image IDA began addressing this objective by updating the IDA vision statement to guide our path. Following this, we implemented several major steps including development of a consistent brand identity, unveiling of a new website, redesign of our newsletter, and launch at the Dubai Congress of the IDA Journal on Desalination and Water Reuse. Objective 2: Enhance the Global Image of Desalination This objective has been assisted by the addition of a public relations firm to our team to help us develop tools to educate stakeholders about: • the role of desalination as part of water solutions for the 21st century, • our industry’s focus on environmental responsibility and sustainability, and 44 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Lisa Henthorne to engage the next generation of industry leaders. The Young Leaders Programme members met for the first time at the World Congress to plan their new initiatives, which will include promotion of desalination as a career choice with tremendous potential. Objective 4: Enhance Affiliate Relations This year, for the first time, IDA hosted an Affiliates Programme on the day preceding the Dubai Congress, offering our 13 affiliate organisations a spotlight opportunity to network and to showcase their activities and ideas. We also added a staff member whose responsibilities include a dedicated focus on Affiliate Relations, and we are dedicating a regular feature in the IDA Newsletter to provide a forum to highlight our affiliates. Objective 5: Strengthen and Develop Strategic Alliances This includes entities both within the water community as well as stakeholder organisations focused on the environment and the health of our oceans. We’re continuing to ascertain and prioritise those organisations which will we will seek to establish strategic alliances. Objective 6: Strategically Enhance IDA’s Management Infrastructure As we look to continued growth, IDA has taken several steps to professionalise the IDA management function and strengthen our staff, putting in place key outsourced strategic partners, preparing written policies and procedures, and moving to new larger headquarters to accommodate future expansion. industry, creating an entity and specific services to help attract and maintain their involvement in our industry, and to assist them to grow and prosper. Our Young Leaders Programme featured a number of special events at the Dubai Congress including a dedicated reception for them to network, a workshop to plan their programmes, and specific educational tours of desalination plants in the area. Personally, if you had to highlight one issue about water in the MENA region, what would it be? I would highlight its incredible value to the region. Nowhere else in the world does such a populace exist where the natural renewable water resources are so limited. Truly the desert has bloomed, but with that blooming we must understand the value it contributes to our lives and, as it is not renewable, we must use it wisely. Much has been achieved since you assumed office as IDA President in 2007. What are you most proud of? I am most proud of our engagement with the young professionals in our Held under the consent of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud & HRH Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Gulf Environment Forum Held under the high patronage of HRH Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulazziz, Chairman of Presidency of Meteorology and Environment International Exhibition and Forum Dates: 7th-9th of March 2010 Venue: Jeddah Hilton, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Capitalise on a wealth of opportunities A staggering $100 billion has been scheduled for investment in the GCC Region and the Gulf Environment Forum presents your opportunity to become part of the huge shift towards a greener future for the GCC Region. Sectors currently receiving huge investments include: • • • Renewable Energy Water Desalination Waste Management • • • Recycling Carbon Trading Electronic Waste Time is running out to book your space on the floorplan - Call the booking hotline on +44 207 511 9582 today! Supporting Orgnisations For more information please contact: Alain Marhic Phone: +44 207 511 9582 E mail: alain@bme-global.com Fax: +44 207 022 1722 Talaat Idriss Phone: +966 507 600 400 E mail: tidriss@mena-ex.com Fax: +44 207 022 1722 Website: www.gulfenvironmentforum.com Media Partners Organisers Business Community Partner DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 45 feature: IRAQ Crisis in the making Water shortage is fuelling displacement of people in northern Iraq O ver 100,000 people in northern Iraq have been forced to evacuate their homes since 2005 because of severe water shortages, a UNESCO study finds. Drought and excessive well pumping have drawn down aquifer levels in the region, causing a dramatic decline of water flow in ancient underground aqueducts, known in Iraq as karez, upon which hundreds of communities depend. The study is the first to document the effects of the ongoing drought on the karez systems, which thousands of Iraqis have depended upon for their drinking water and farming for centuries. Designed especially for the arid climate, karez are renowned for their ability to remain productive even during dry spells. However, UNESCO’s study confirms that since the onset of drought four years ago, 70% of the active karez have dried up. The overexploitation of groundwater by modern pumped wells has also been a major factor. By August of this year, only 116 of 683 karez systems in northern Iraq still supplied water to their beneficiaries. Before the onset of drought, the greatest threats to the karez in Iraq were political turmoil, abandonment and neglect. Today, few people in Iraq know how to maintain or repair them, contributing to their state of disrepair. The rapid decline of karez is forcing entire communities to abandon their homes in the pursuit of new sources of water. Population declines have averaged almost 70% among the communities adversely affected since 2005, the study confirms. The village of Jafaron, one of the hardest hit in the region, witnessed 44 of its 52 karez dry up in 2008, leaving its only source of food – 113 hectares of irrigated land – barren, and prompting most of its population to emigrate. An additional 36,000 people are on the brink of abandoning their homes if conditions do not rapidly improve. Beyond the trickle of water that they receive from their karez, these people are relying on water tanks, which must be refilled several times by trucks travelling long distances, or pumped wells, which often need to be dug deeper. For many, neither option is financially viable. Given the region’s historic reliance on groundwater, UNESCO considers the recent decline of karez and the resulting migration to be an early warning signal for other serious problems concerning the future water supply in the area. Though the survey did not account for the towns and villages that rely on other sources of water such as natural springs or pumped wells, it does raise concern that those communities are also at high risk. According to the study, swift and urgent action is needed to prevent further population displacement. UNESCO estimates that a single karez has the potential to provide enough household water for nearly 9,000 individuals and irrigate over 200 hectares of farmland. In economic terms, that translates into 300 additional tonnes of grain per year or up to $160,000 of income Karez Facts & Figures A karez is a man-made underground aqueduct used to provide a reliable supply of water to human settlements or for irrigation. The technology is known to have developed in ancient Persia and then spread to Iraq and other cultures. A karez has the potential to produce 864,000 litres/day, enough drinking water for 8,640 community members and 1,440 households. At the same time, a karez has the potential to provide sufficient irrigation water to produce 299 tons of grain/year on 203 hectares of newly irrigate farmland, generating upwards of $162,748 in new agricultural production every year. In August 2009, UNESCO identified the existence of 683 karez in northern Iraq, including 116 that were still producing water and used for drinking, animals, mosque ablution and/or irrigation. Most of the karez (84%) identified by UNESCO are in Sulaymaniyah Governorate (Northern Province) A large number are also found in Erbil governorate (13%), especially on the 46 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 broad plain around and in Erbil city. Only five karez are located in Dohuk governorate. Some karez are located in the area disputed by the Iraqi Arab and Kurdish communities near Mosul and Kirkuk. Some 380 karez were active in 2004. Since the onset of drought and the accelerated proliferation of wells from 2005-2009, 70% of the karez that were flowing five years ago have been abandoned. Population declines have averaged almost 70% among the villages adversely affected since drought and excessive pumping began drying up so many karez. More than 100,000 people— most of them in the eastern portion of northern Iraq— are estimated to have evacuated their communities as a result of karez loss. UNESCO has identified at least 50 communities at risk of displacement if the karez on which they depend is allowed to dry. FASTER • BETTER • SIMPLER • SAFER generated at current market prices. The study identified 50 communities that will benefit from karez restoration works. The UNESCO study provides the Government of Iraq its first comprehensive inventory of karez. Before the study was undertaken, very little information on the number, location and condition of karez existed. The study provides new impetus for government action and can be used to raise awareness of the emerging humanitarian crisis linked to water and the important role that karez can play in mitigating its impact. Dr Dale Lightfoot, Head of the Department of Geography at Oklahoma State University (USA) and an internationally recognised expert on karez, conducted the survey on behalf of UNESCO. UNESCO has been working with the Government of Iraq to rehabilitate karez systems since 2007, and plans to launch the new Karez Initiative for Community Revitalisation in 2010, a project that aims to help rural communities rebuild their karez and promote better livelihoods. Source: UNESCOPRESS (UNESCO Water Portal Newsletter No. 221: Water and Health (Part 2). 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To learn more, email info@tanks.com for your Free “WR Tank” info kit! www.tanks.com Ph: +1-913-748-4514 • Fx: +1-913-621-4071 Email: info@tanks.com DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 47 TENDERS Project Number Project Name Territory Client Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories PROJECTS TPR8724-SA SCADA Modernisation Project Saudi Arabia Name: Saline Water Conversion Corporation SWCC (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11691 Postal/Zip Code: 85369 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 463 1111/ 463 4546/ 463 0503 Fax: (+966-1) 464 3235 E-mail: info@swcc.gov.sa Website: http://www.swcc.gov.sa Modernisation of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) for water transmission. 1335 March 2, 2010 This project calls for modernisation of SCADA from Riyadh to Alqassim of water transmission in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Procurement Department, Saline Water Conversion Corporation Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Potable Water Works Project Number MEW/73/2009-2010-K Project Name Water Storage Tanks Project West Funaitees Territory Kuwait Client Name: Ministry of Electricity & Water (Kuwait) Address: Al-Riqie City: Safat - 13001 Postal/Zip Code: 12 Country: Kuwait Tel: (+965) 489 6000 Fax: (+965) 489 7484 Description Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build five water storage tanks, each with capacity of 80 million gallons per day at West Funaitees. Budget $ 150000000 Tender Cost $ 10345 Closing Date February 7, 2010 Period 15/05/2012 Remarks Tender No. MEW/73/2009-2010 This project is in Kuwait. The tender is open to pre-qualified contractors only. Pre-qualifiers include local Al-Dar Engineering & Construction Company, Arabi Energy & Technology Company, Burhan International Contracting Company, Canar Trading & Contracting Company, Combined Group Company, Copri Construction Enterprises, Sai General Trading, United Gulf Construction Company, KCC Engineering & Construction, Kharafi National, Kuwait Arab Contractors, Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction & Contracting, Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company, Al Hani Construction & Trading Company, Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting Company, Bayan National Trading Company, Boodai Construction Company, Gulf Consolidated Contractors Company and Mushrif Trading & Contracting Company. An award is expected in April 2010. Tender documents can be obtained from: Central Tenders Committee Safat 13011, Kuwait. Tel No. (+965) 240 1200 Fax No. (+965) 241 6574 Bid bond is KD 860,000. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Project Number MPP031-Q Project Name Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant Project - 2 Territory Qatar Client Name: Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) Address: NBK Building City: Doha Postal/Zip Code: 41 Country: Qatar Tel: (+974) 484 5111/ 555 5901/ 484 5555 Fax: (+974) 484 5191/ 466 2046 E-mail : aalnajjar@kahramaa.com.qa Website: http://www.km.com.qa Description Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a reverse osmosis (RO) 48 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Post Date Remarks Project Manager Tender Categories Project Number Project Name Territory Client Description Budget $ Period Remarks Tender Categories desalination plant with capacity of 2.5 million gallons a day (g/d) of desalinated water. December 5, 2009 This project is in Qatar. Client has awarded a contract to Serbian contractor Energoprojekt Entel for conducting a pilot study on the scheme. Under the contract, Energoprojekt will recommend a suitable location for the plant and issue the construction tender. It will then supervise construction of the plant and monitor its performance. The client may decide to move from a pilot plant to a commercially sized plant at an unspecified date in the future. A tender for construction of plant is expected to be issued by end of February 2010. The plant is due to commence production before the end of October 2010. Energoprojekt - Entel (Qatar) Potable Water Works SPR2553-U IWPP Project Abu Dhabi Name: Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) Address: ADWEA Building, Al-Falah Street City: Abu Dhabi Postal/Zip Code : 6120 Country: United Arab Emirates Tel: (+971-2) 627 1300 / 694 3333 Fax: (+971-2) 626 7725 / 626 6089 Website: http://www.adwea.gov.ae Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the design and execution of an independent water and power plant (IWPP) with capacity of 1,500 MW and 60 to 100 million gallons per day of desalination. 2,200,000,000 20/12/2013 This project is in Abu Dhabi. The scheme is currently in planning stage. Location of the plant has not been decided yet. A tender for the EPC contract is expected to be issued in March 2010, with submission of bids anticipated by May 2010. Potable Water Works Power Generation & Distribution Project Number TPR8776-SA Project Name Irrigation Network & Water Wells Drilling Construction Project Territory Saudi Arabia Client Name: Eastern Province Municipality Emara (Saudi Arabia) City: Dammam Country: Saudi Arabia E-mail: it@easternemara.gov.sa Website: http://www.easternemara.gov.sa Description Construction of irrigation network and drilling of water wells for a municipality. Tender Cost $ 800 Closing Date March 20, 2010 Remarks This project is in at Maleeja in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Procurement Department, Eastern Province Municipality Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Agriculture & Irrigation Tender Categories Potable Water Works Project Number Project Name Territory Client CN/614/2009 Consultancy Services-876 Dubai Name: Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) Address: Head Office, Near Wafi Shopping Mall, Zabeel East City: Dubai Postal/Zip Code: 564 Country: United Arab Emirates Tel: (+971-4) 324 4444 Fax: (+971-4) 324 8111 E-mail: contracts@dewa.gov.ae Website: http://www.dewa.gov.ae Description Provision of consultancy services for the implementation of an Independent Water and Power Producers (IWPP) model for an electricity & water authority. Tender Cost $ 545 middleeasttenders.com / +971 2 634 8495 FREE subscription to Closing Date February 22, 2010 Remarks Tender No. CN/614/2009 This tender service is in Dubai. The tender is open to specialised firms. The tender cost is payable in cash or on-line through the website http://www. dewa.gov.ae under the title e-services. Tenders must be valid for acceptance for 120 days from the closing date. The Master Tender Document must be accompanied by a Tender Bond for an amount not less than 5% of the total tender price and valid for 150 days from the tender closing date. Completed sealed tender documents should be addressed to: The Chairman, Board of Directors, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority and deposited into the Tender Box at Authority’s Head Office near Wafi Shopping Mall in Zabeel East, Dubai. Participants in the tender should submit the names of their Local Partners/Sponsors, having a valid Dubai Trade Licence along with a photocopy of their current licence. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Power Generation & Distribution Project Number Project Name Territory Client Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories Project Number Project Name Territory Client GT10100100-Q Engineering Consultancy Services-114 Qatar Name: Qatar Petroleum (QP) City: Doha Postal/Zip Code: 3212 Country: Qatar Tel: (+974) 440 2000 Fax: (+974) 483 1125/ 449 1400/ 483 1995 E-mail: marketing@qp.com.qa Website: http://www.qp.com.qa Provision of engineering consultancy services (ECS) for water supply to a petroleum company. 140 February 21, 2010 Tender No. GT10100100 This tender calls for engineering consultancy services of water supply at Umm Bab, Jaleha and Khatiyah in Qatar. The scope of work includes for all process, mechanical, pipeline, instrumentation and control, electrical, civil/structural/building services, telecommunications, life safety and loss prevention design works. Also include for an environmental impact assessment. Tender documents can be obtained from: Contracts Department - Engineering Division, B-Ring Road, Mezzanine Floor, Room A-M03, Qatar Petroleum Doha, Qatar. Tender documents will be released only to authorized company representatives with following documentations: (i) Letter of authorization on company letterhead (ii) Valid Qatar I.D. (iii) Valid copy of Commercial Registration. The non-refundable tender fee is payable to: Doha Bank Ltd. QP branch, Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar OR Qatar National Bank QP branch, 2nd floor, Al Sadd Plaza, Doha, Qatar. Bid bond is QR 200,000. Bond validity is (150) days from the bid closing date till January 21, 2010 and offer validity is (120) days from the bid closing date till June 21, 2010. Potable Water Works 435/2009-O Desalination Plant Extension Project - 2 Oman Name: Public Authority for Electricity & Water (Oman) Address: Ministries Road, Al Khoweir Area City: Muscat Postal/Zip Code: 106 Country: Oman Tel: (+968) 2460 3906 / 2460 3800 Fax: (+968) 2460 7076 Description Carrying out extension of desalination plant with capacity of 200 cubic metres a day, including operation and maintenance for an electricity & water authority. H2O is available on subscription basis. To qualify for FREE annual subscription, please fill the form, below, and fax to +971 4 4341906 or e-mail to purwanti@cpi-industry.com. Should you have any colleagues who would want to receive the magazine, please copy and pass on this form. If you do not qualify for a free annual subscription, the following rates will apply: UAE: GCC: Middle East (non GCC): Outside Middle East: $70 $80 $90 $100 Name: job title: Company: Industry sector: No. of employees: my purchasing below US$10,000 authority is:between US$10,000 and US$50,000 above US$50,000 Address: PO Box: City: Country: Tel. No.: Fax No.: E-mail: Mobile No.: Signature: Date: DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 49 TENDERS PROJECTS Tender Cost $ Closing Date Period Remarks 970 February 15, 2010 15/02/2011 Tender No. 435/2009 This project is at Lima in Musandam Governorate of Oman. Tender documents can be obtained from: Public Authority for Electricity & Water Muscat, Oman. The last date to purchase tender document is January 7, 2010. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Project Number Project Name Territory Client Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories TPR8764-SA Treatment Station Expansion Project Saudi Arabia Name: Water Directorate (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11195 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 476 1377 Fax: (+966-1) 401 2365 Carrying out expansion of treatment station for a water directorate. 2670 March 7, 2010 This project calls for expansion of treatment station at Jarodiya West of Alqateef in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Procurement & Tenders Department, Eastern Province Water Directorate Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Potable Water Works Project Number 425/2009-O Project Name Rass Al-Hadd Disribution Network O&M Project Territory Oman Client Name: Public Authority for Electricity & Water (Oman) Address: Ministries Road, Al Khoweir Area City: Muscat Postal/Zip Code: 106 Country: Oman Tel: (+968) 2460 3906 / 2460 3800 Fax: (+968) 2460 7076 Description Carrying out operation and maintenance of Rass AlHadd distribution network for an electricity & water authority. Tender Cost $ 515 Closing Date February 15, 2010 Remarks Tender No. 425/2009 This project is in Oman. The tender is open to contractors classified in First Class grade. Tender documents can be obtained from: Public Authority for Electricity & Water Muscat, Oman. The last date to purchase tender documents is January 27, 2010. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Power Generation & Distribution Project Number Project Name Territory Client Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories 744/1431/1430-SA Water Leakage Detection Project Saudi Arabia Name: Ministry of Water & Electricity (Saudi Arabia) Address: King Fahd Road City: Riyadh 11127 Postal/Zip Code: 5729 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 205 6666/ 205 2981 Fax: (+966-1) 205 0557 E-mail: info@mowe.gov.ae Website: http://www.mow.gov.sa Carrying out detection of water leakage for water networks, including calculation of loss percentage for a water & electrical company. 535 February 13, 2010 Tender No. 744/1431/1430 This project is at Jizan in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Tenders & Procurement Department, Ministry of Water & Electricity Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Potable Water Works Project Number 3/31/32-SA Project Name Water Meters-18 Territory Saudi Arabia 50 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 middleeasttenders.com / +971 2 634 8495 Client Name: Water Directorate (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11195 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 476 1377 Fax: (+966-1) 401 2365 Description Supply of water meters for a water directorate. Tender Cost $ 55 Closing Date February 2, 2010 Remarks Tender No. 3/31/32 This tender supply is in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Procurement, Alqassim Water Directorate Alqassim, Saudi Arabia. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Project Number Project Name Territory Client Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories 1W/09 Water Tanks & Pumping Station Project - 1 Northern Emirates Name: Federal Electricity & Water Authority - FEWA (Dubai) Address: Al Nahda Road City: Dubai Postal/Zip Code: 1672 Country: United Arab Emirates Tel: (+971-4) 231 5555 Fax: (+971-4) 280 9977 E-mail: cs@fewa.gov.ae Website: http://www.fewa.gov.ae Supply and installation of (2 Nos.) RCC water tanks with capacity of 10 million imperial gallons and construction of pumping station at a central plant for an electricity & water authority. 1,365 February 10, 2010 Tender No. 1W/09 This project is at Al Zawrah in Ajman. The tender is open to bona fide firms who are qualified and licensed by concerned authorities. The tenderer must be a U.A.E National, individual or a company owned by nationals or a company in which 51% of the share capital is owned by nationals or Free Zone Company. Tender documents can be obtained from: Purchase Office, Federal Electricity & Water Authority Dubai, UAE. The last date to purchase tender documents is February 3, 2010. Offers should be accompanied by an unconditional Bid Bond of 5% of the total value of the offer. The said Bid Bond should be valid for (180) days from the last date of tender submission and the same should be issued by a bank operating in U.A.E. Offers to be submitted in one original and two duplicates in a plain sealed envelope and are to be deposited in Tender Box at the Authority’s head office in Dubai. Potable Water Works Project Number TPR8710-SA Project Name Water Boosting Stations Implementation Project Territory Saudi Arabia Client Name: Water Directorate (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11195 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 476 1377 Fax: (+966-1) 401 2365 Description Implementation of water boosting stations for a water directorate. Tender Cost $ 270 Closing Date February 2, 2010 Remarks This project is at Alkhobar in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Procurement & Tenders Department, Eastern Province Water Directorate Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Project Number 51/1430/SA Project Name Waste Water Treatment O&M Works Project Territory Saudi Arabia Client Name: Makkah Water Directorate (Saudi Arabia) Address: Bin Zomah Bldg., Bab Ibrahim St Off Makkah Road City: Jeddah 21413 Country: Saudi Arabia TENDERS Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories PROJECTS Tel: (+966-2) 688 0775 / 689 6839 Fax: (+966-2) 687 7904 Carrying out operation and maintenance of waste water treatment station for a water directorates. 2670 February 14, 2010 Tender No. 51/1430 This project is in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Operation & Maintenance Department, Makkah Water Directorate Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Potable Water Works Project Number 935-SA Project Name Water Transmission Line Construction Project - 1 Territory Saudi Arabia Client Name: Water Directorate (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11195 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 476 1377 Fax: (+966-1) 401 2365 Description Construction of water transmission line at water purification station. Tender Cost $ 1,335 Closing Date February 14, 2010 Remarks Tender No. 935 This project is in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Tenders and Procurement Department, Aseer Water Directorate Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Project Number 941-SA/1 Project Name Ohud Rufaidah Water Distribution Station Maintenance Works Territory Saudi Arabia Client Name: Water Directorate (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11195 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 476 1377 Fax: (+966-1) 401 2365 Description Carrying out maintenance of water distribution station at Ohud Rufaidah. Tender Cost $ 135 Closing Date January 31, 2010 Remarks Tender No. 941 This tender service is in Saudi Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Tenders and Procurement Department, Aseer Water Directorate Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tender Categories Potable Water Works Project Number Project Name Territory Client Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories TPR8726-SA Steel Pipes-19 Saudi Arabia Name: Saline Water Conversion Corporation - SWCC (Saudi Arabia) City: Riyadh 11691 Postal/Zip Code: 85369 Country: Saudi Arabia Tel: (+966-1) 463 1111/ 463 4546/ 463 0503 Fax: (+966-1) 464 3235 E-mail: info@swcc.gov.sa Website: http://www.swcc.gov.sa Fabrication and supply of steel pipes for water transmission system. 2,6670 May 2, 2010 This tender supply is at Ras Alzoor and Hafr Albatin in Sauid Arabia. Tender documents can be obtained from: Procurement Department, Saline Water Conversion Corporation Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Potable Water Works Project Number HT/197-K Project Name Rainwater Discharge System Construction Project Territory Kuwait Client Name: Ministry of Public Works (Kuwait) Address: Murgab, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Street City: Safat 13001 52 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 middleeasttenders.com / +971 2 634 8495 Description Tender Cost $ Closing Date Remarks Tender Categories Postal/Zip Code: 8 Country: Kuwait Tel: (+965) 539 4479 / 538 5520 Fax: (+965) 539 4419 Construction, completion and maintenance of rainwater discharge system for a public works authority. 2,145 February 2, 2010 Tender No. HT/197 This project is in Kuwait. The tender is open to prequalified contractors only. Tender documents can be obtained from: Central Tenders Committee Safat 13011, Kuwait. Tel No. (+965) 240 1200 Fax No. (+965) 241 6574. A pre-bid meeting will be held on December 21, 2009. Bid bond is KD 44,000. Sewerage & Drainage Project Number OPR392-U Project Name Shamkha South Infrastructure Works Project Territory Abu Dhabi Client Name: Abu Dhabi Centre for Housing & Service Facilities Development Address: Former Municipalities & Agriculture Department Bldg., Old Airport Road Intersection with Delma St. City: Abu Dhabi Country: United Arab Emirates Tel: (+971-2) 407 0184 Fax: (+971-2) 446 6110 Description Implementation of infrastructure works for Shamkha South consisting of approximately 80 kilometres of arterial roads and 270 kilometres of internal neighbourhood roads, street-lighting and signal lights, storm water drainage system, potable water and fire-fighting network, 22kV power supply network and telecommunications, sewerage network with deep sewers. Tender Cost $ 10,900 Closing Date February 10, 2010 Remarks This project is in Abu Dhabi. South Shamkha development is an area of approximately 40 square kilometres, located 50 kilometres from the City centre designed to become a new residential area for villas with retail, commercial and residential facilities. Participating Contractors shall be operating in Abu Dhabi Emirate and should be classified in category SPECIAL for Main Roads, Streets and related works, and have knowledge and working experience of not less than 5 years for similar projects. Bidders are requested to present the said classification certificate and prove their experience prior to collecting the tender documents. The brief scope mentioned above shall be tendered through 4 separate LOTS, each LOT representing a separate package. Bidders can tender for any or all lots/ packages. Tender documents can be collected from: Procurement & Contracts Division, Abu Dhabi Center for Housing & Service Facilities Development (ADCH) Abu Dhabi, UAE. The last date to purchase tender documents is January 07, 2010. The specified Tender Fees shall be paid to ADCH bank account prior to collecting the tender documents. Number of the account can be collected from ADHC Finance Department. Tendering shall be processed through four separate lots and construction works shall be scheduled to meet the milestone completion as stated on the tender documents. Overall project completion shall be 36 months from the commencement date. A Bid Bond of AED 50,000,000/- (Fifty million AED) for each LOT/Package shall be submitted along with the bid offer and the same shall be valid for (120) days from the date of submission. Bid Bond shall be submitted as per the form enclosed in the tender documents. Communications/ Telecommunications Potable Water Works Power Generation & Distribution Public Works, Roads & Earthworks Tender Categories Sewerage & Drainage Order your cop Climate y of the Guide & Control Dire 2010 nowctory ! Fre decision e to m $30 othe akers, rwise Looking for HVACR/District cooling suppliers? The reference of the HVACR industry in the Middle East US$30 For more details, contact Tel: +971 4 3756833 • Fax: +971 4 4341906 Mobile: +971 50 7147204 www.cpi-industry.com www.thegreenhouse.ae www.ccube.org eventsCALENDAR january Jan 18-21, 2010, Abu Dhabi World Future Energy Abu Dhabi will be the venue for the largest and most diverse gathering of world leaders, investors, policy makers, researchers, financial institutions and experts dedicated to the sector from January 18-21, 2010. The anticipation surrounding WFES 2010 is set to increase following the decision in June to base the global headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. More than 50 countries have confirmed participation. The summit conference is expected to attract 3,000 delegates and 100 high-level speakers. The organizers have reported increase in exhibition space at WFES 2010 by 51 per cent to 45,000 square metres. Contact: Shadi Reslan Tel: +971 2 4090 335 Mob: +971 50 452 8167 Fax: +971 2 4443768 Email: hayete.jemai@reedexpo.ae URL: www. worldfutureenergysummit.com January 19-20, 2010, Dubai MENA Water Resources World The MENA Water Resource World conference, a global forum dedicated to water supply issues and solutions in the Middle East and North Africa region, will meet in Dubai on January 19-20, 2010. The conference is held under the patronage of H.E. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE’s Minister of Environment & Water, who will deliver the keynote address on, ‘Water Policies, Opportunities & Challenges in the UAE.’ Invited government representatives from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria will unveil upcoming investment opportunities while experts will 54 DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 address financing, public-private partnerships, water management tools and solutions in the region including leakage management, desalination, sludge management and wastewater treatment. Contact: Jaime Ng Centre for Management Technology Tel: +65 6346 9116 Fax: +65 6345 5928 Email: mimi@cmtsp.com.sg URL: www.cmtevents.com January 24-25,2010, Bahrain Sustainable Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Sustainable Water and Wastewater Infrastructure will bring together water and wastewater practitioners, key suppliers in the Middle East to facilitate and encourage the sharing of ideas and practical advice. Key speakers include Dr Benno Boer Ecological Advisor, UNESCO; Sarfraz Dairkee, Sub Committee Chairman, Emirates Green Building Council – Water & Energy; Khalil Issa, CEO, Energy Central Company; Sameer Affouni, Director of Material Engineering Directorate, Ministry of Works, Bahrain and Eng. Nashat Sabah, Research Scientist, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority. Contact: Justine Leong Senior Marketing Executive marcus evans Tel:(603) 2723 6611 Fax:(603) 2723 6622 Email:JustineL@marcusevanskl.com URL: www.marcusevansassets. com/doc/pdfs/Ep_16052.pdf FEBRuary February 8-10, 2010 Gulf Wastewater Treatment & Re-use The key topics planned for the conference include implementation & Initiatives of stringent regulations by government bodies for a green environment, Building a stateof-the-art sewerage treatment plant; centralised and decentralised wastewater treatment; selecting the right technology for successfully running a Wastewater treatment plant, strategies to minimise costs of Wastewater treatment and putting treated Wastewater to the most optimum reuse – Keeping in mind Public Health issues. Contact: Maria Luminita Tel: + 971 4 6091575 Fax: + 971 4 6091589/90 Email: saqlain.azhar@ jacobfleming.com URL: www.fleminggulf.com Feb 9– 11, 2010, Dubai Middle East Electricity 2010 One of the largest energy events in the world, the 2010 edition of Middle East Electricity has Germany as the official featured country. All sectors of the energy industry will be comprehensively covered, with focus areas including water, lighting, new and renewable and nuclear energy, bringing essential expertise to the region. Contact: IIR Holdings Tel: +971-4-407-2472 Fax: +971-4-3353526 Email: register@iirme.com URL: www.middleeastelectricity.com MARCH March 9-11, 2010, Dubai WETEX 2010 WETEX 2010 is an important regional resourcing platform for national and international companies to access wide range of latest technology and management solutions. This event also provides avenue for industry leaders to keep abreast of the latest developments in the Gulf region in the field of Water, Energy and Environment, as well to network and tie up with strategic partners to pursue innovative solutions WETEX 2010 will hold the 2010 convergence of decisionmakers, representatives from government organisations, policy makers, trade associations and chamber of commerce around the world. Contact: Hina Ali Tel: +971 4 3072275 Fax +971 4 3248111, 3244922 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae URL: www.wetex.ae March 29-31, 2010, Abu Dhabi Arabian Power & Water Summit H.E. Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Director of Privatisation Directorate at the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA), which is the patron and exclusive partner of Arabian Power & Water Summit (APWS) will deliver the keynote address. The event will be held at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi city. Chairman of Libya’s General Desalination Corporation, Ahmed Gumatti, will speak about the ambitious power and water plans in Libya. Kamel Sid from Sonelgaz will provide an update about developments in Algeria. The summit will also be preceded by an Alternative Energy Forum which will be held on 29 March 2010 at the same conference venue. This will provide vital fresh information and insights about trends in the GCC and an assessment of the implications for the region of the Copenhagen Climate Change conference held in December. Expert speakers from across the region and internationally will address the forum. Contact: Cassie Start MEED Tel: +971 4 390 0045 Fax: +971 4 368 8023 Email: cassie.start@meeddubai.com URL: www.meed.com EAGLE ELECTROMECHANICAL CO. L.L.C. ”The Best Entrepreneurial Company of the Year for Middle East Water & Waste Water Treatment Market 2009” FROST & SULLIVAN Sewage Treatment Plants Electromechanical Works for Residential Buildings Water/Sewerage/Pumping Stations & Networks Electrical HV, LV Network & Substations Operation & Maintenance of Sewage & Water Works Dubai PO box 19973 Tel +971 4 2672269 Fax +971 4 2672289 Email alhijaz@emirates.net.ae Website www.eagle.ae ISO 9001/14001:2004/OHSAS 18001:1999 How can we treat more water for more people without consuming more energy? And even produce energy from waste? Our green solutions help increase energy efficiency and reduce costs – throughout your wastewater plant’s life cycle. Wastewater treatment is an energy-intensive process. Siemens can help reduce your operating costs with intelligent and innovative technologies. Our integrated solutions can slash your energy costs by up to 30 %, reduce your biosolids volume by up to 40% and even generate valuable biogas to fuel your plant. www.siemens.com/waterandenergy Answers for the environment.