The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, ADWEA, is participating as a strategic partner in the International Water Summit, IWS, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. 

The event is being hosted by Masdar as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, to be held from 18th to 21st January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre concerning "Promoting Water Sustainability in Arid Regions". 

The event is expected to attract more than 180 exhibitors from 35 countries, and more than 10,000 visitors from 70 countries, allowing a unique opportunity to explore highly efficient new technologies. The summit shall act as a platform for the exchange of knowledge between parties concerned with the water sector, in order to explore current and future opportunities and challenges, and to accelerate work on new strategies and on the adoption of new innovative technologies with the goal of achieving water sustainability. 

On this occasion, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of ADWEA, said, "Our participation in the International Water Summit as a strategic partner is in line with our objectives, which include achieving sustainable and integrated management of water resources, exchanging global best practice to address some of the most imminent challenges facing the water sector, and keeping abreast of the various changes and rapid developments in this sector." 

"ADWEA is making every effort to achieve water sustainability through continuous innovation, from advanced methods of desalination to the adoption of the latest smart technologies, and through the efficient distribution and management of these resources across the value chain. These efforts are crucial for meeting the emirate's growing demand," Sheikh Abdullah added. 

Faris Obaid Al Dhaheri, Director General of ADWEA, said, "Our participation at IWS is in line with our strategic objectives to secure sustainable water supplies, as water resource management is one of the biggest challenges in arid regions. This makes it critical that we unify our efforts to enhance and improve the ways in which we utilize water resources. IWS will provide an ideal platform for all investors, professionals, and specialists in the water community to explore the business opportunities in this vital sector in Abu Dhabi." 

Aref Hassan Abdullah, Director of Privatisation at ADWEA, highlighted that ADWEA commenced a privatisation programme of the electricity and water sector in 1998. He added that the number of independent projects currently stands at ten plants, three of which are in Shweihat, one in Um Al Nar, two in Fujairah, three in Al Taweelah, and one in Al Mirfa. 

These plants were established in partnership with international companies and institutions with global expertise in the area of generating electricity and desalinating water. Al Mirfa is the latest plant to be privatised, with a target electrical capacity of 1600 megawatts and a daily water production capacity of 52.5 million gallons. The first phase of this project is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2016, with the second phase to be completed by the second half of 2017. 

One of the new projects currently being undertaken by ADWEA is the expansion of the Fujairah F1 plant, by adding a production capacity of 30 million gallons of water per day using reverse osmosis technology. This project entered into the operation and production stage at the end of 2015. The total value of investments in all projects since 1998 has reached almost 70 billion dirhams, and the total production capacity is 15,000 megawatts and 907 million gallons of water daily. 

All projects implemented since 1998 have provided Abu Dhabi with secure and reliable supplies of water and power during a time when the emirate witnessed the greatest and fastest economic growth in its history. 

ADWEA also recently announced the launch of its first renewable energy project, a 350 megawatts power plant using photovoltaic energy technology in the Sweihan area of Abu Dhabi. 

"This project will further cement the UAE and Abu Dhabi's position as a leader in the evolving global energy market. The new project, which will be tendered soon, falls within the privatization program" said Al Dhaheri". A long-term power purchase agreement will be entered into by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC), as purchaser of generated electricity in the Emirate, and it will purchase the net electricity produced by the plant.