Abu Dhabi – Mubasher: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), GS Inima, and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), concluded the financial process of AED 1.60 billion ($444 million) low-carbon intensive Shuweihat 4 Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination project (S4 RO).
S4 RO marks TAQA’s second utility-scale reverse osmosis plant to reach financial close in 2023 and the second major reverse osmosis project awarded by EWEC this year, following the Mirfa 2 Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination project.
The joint project is 71% funded through debt financing from both local and international banks, including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH (KFW) and The Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).
S4 RO will supply up to 70 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water, which is equivalent to nearly 320,000 cubic metres on a daily basis, according to a press release.
Located within the Shuweihat Power and Water Complex, the plant will enhance the security of the water supply in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, commercial operations are expected to commence in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, with EWEC procuring water supplied by the S4 RO plant for 30 years.
TAQA holds a 60% equity ownership in the S4 RO project, while GS Inima acquires the remaining 40% stake. Both companies will take on the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the plant, with 60% of the O&M company owned by GS Inima and 40% by TAQA.
Farid Al Awlaqi, Executive Director of Generation at TAQA, said: “S4 RO will further enhance our existing portfolio and our strong pipeline of RO projects that are bringing us closer to meeting our 2030 target for deploying efficient RO technology within our water generation portfolio.”
“RO plants play a key role in supporting our 2030 ESG targets, with the decoupling of power and water production allowing us to significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint of our water generation operations, advancing the UAE’s net-zero targets and positioning Abu Dhabi as a low-carbon desalination leader,” Al Awlaqi mentioned.
Othman Al Ali, CEO of EWEC, commented: “S4 RO will grow EWEC’s RO production capacity and strengthen security of supply, becoming our sixth RO project.”
Al Ali highlighted: “Coupled with our plans for a 600% increase in solar power generation capacity by 2030, we are actively driving the achievement of Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Targets 2035, and the UAE’s NetZero by 2050 strategic initiative.”
In the first nine months (9M) of 2023, the ADX-listed company recorded net profits valued at AED 15.19 billion, an annual leap from AED 6.57 billion.
