ABU DHABI, 18th Jan. 2011 (WAM) - H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, and Vice-Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, attended today a ceremony held by Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) to mark the inauguration of works on the deep sewer tunnel, which is part of the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP), at Mahawi Bridge area on the Abu Dhabi Al Ain highway.
Attending the ceremony were H.H Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and a number of senior officials. "As per the directives of H.H. General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Executive Council, the government of Abu Dhabi is constantly setting policies and strategies for development. It also catalyses the adoption of high-tech work procedures to guarantee the implementation of developmental projects to the highest international standards," Sheikh Hazza said. "The aim is to attain a well-developed and comprehensive infrastructure in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi that establishes integration between different urban development areas and cities. Such projects play a key role in raising the living standards for families in our beloved country on the social level, and lay grounds for attracting investments by implementing international best practices in addition to catalysing the involvement of the private sector for sustained growth," he added. "Projects such as this constitute a key element in the preparation of city infrastructure that will improve the quality of life for future generations. It also opens doors for attracting investments and enhancing the role of the private sector to utilise internationally-recognised best practices," he concluded. In his keynote speech at the event, Abdullah Musleh Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) and Assistant Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Executive Council (GSEC), highlighted the importance of the deep sewer tunnel. As part of the ADSSC five-year strategy 2010-2015, the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) will be at the core of creating a state-of-the-art infrastructure that supports the stability and well-being of society as per the directives President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Al Ahbabi emphasised the vision of ADSSC, to prepare a solid infrastructure that caters to the needs of Abu Dhabi residents and prepare for future expansion and the challenges this presents for the Emirate. The expansion also plays an integral role in socio-economic development in the Emirate by sustaining the unprecedented boom in all aspects of life. "It is quite fortunate that our ceremony to launch this ambitious project coincides with the hosting of the "World Future Energy Summit 2011" by our beloved capital Abu Dhabi and the presentation of the "Zayed Future Energy Prize". Our horizons meet as we support efforts of Abu Dhabi to reduce the Emirates carbon footprint and introduce viable and environmentally-friendly alternative solutions," he said. The AED5.7 billion Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) is one of the longest gravity-driven wastewater tunnels in the world. STEP addresses the need for the efficient collection and conveyance of used water from the expected population growth in currently developed areas and in the development of new areas. The project will reduce power and maintenance costs through the decommissioning of 34 existing pumping stations across Abu Dhabi Island and Mainland, and play an important role in protecting the environment and sustaining high sanitation standards. STEP constitutes a milestone project for ADSSC as the best practical and economical solution for the long term growth of Abu Dhabi island and mainland. The system will be fully operational by the end of 2014, providing for the expected flow of 800,000 cubic metres/day at that time. Ultimately, STEP has the built-in capacity to provide for the flows of 1.7 million cubic metres/day that are forecast for the year 2030. All treated water will be returned to the urban area for irrigation purposes under other ADSSC capital projects. The 41-kilometre long STEP project comprises 80-metre deep sewer tunnels with a diameter reaching 5.5 metres. The secondary network of pipes feeding the tunnels extends to more 50 kilometres with a diameter reaching 3 metres. At the end of the tunnel, a powerful pumping station is placed with a capacity to pump 30 cubic metres/second. The gravity-driven tunnels will meet the future development needs of Abu Dhabi in the next century and provide an environmentally-friendly solution. The event included a contract signing ceremony with the Italian construction group Impregilo, which won the AED725 million Tunnel Contract 02 of the project.Abdullah Musleh Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) signed the contract with Paolo Moder, International Operations Director at Impregilo.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
