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Abu Dhabi has issued an expression of interest (EOI) tender for development of the 150 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) Mirfa 2 (M2) Independent Water Project (IWP) in Abu Dhabi.

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the main procurer of water and electricity in Abu Dhabi, has invited developers to submit their interest for the Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant by 4 March 2021, according to an EWEC press statement.

The statement said the M2 project involves the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of a standalone greenfield SWRO plant together with associated infrastructure.

EWEC aims to start commercial operations in the first quarter of 2024, the statement said.

The successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40 percent of the entity while the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government, the statement said.

The M2 RO desalination plant would be located adjacent to the existing Mirfa Independent Water and Power Project.

EWEC's CEO Othman Al Ali said the M2 project would enhance sustainable water supply in the Abu Dhabi emirate.

He said: "RO is a modern technology that desalinates water with high energy efficiency, and cost efficiency. In addition, the desalination technology helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and significantly reduce gas consumption by decoupling power and water production for the winter and summer seasons. "

(Writing by Syed Ameen Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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© ZAWYA 2021