A Dh2.3 billion ($620 million) desalination plant jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, better known as Taqa, and France’s Engie has reached financial closing.
In February, Emirates Water and Electricity Company awarded the contract to develop the plant to Taqa and Engie.
The Mirfa 2 Reverse Osmosis project is primarily funded through debt financing from local and international banks, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Taqa is proud to invest in the development, ownership and operation of this critical water project in Abu Dhabi, which will contribute to the UAE’s decarbonisation efforts as well as Taqa’s own emissions reductions targets,” said Farid Al Awlaqi, Taqa's executive director of generation.
“Critically, this project also sees Taqa continuing to expand on its O&M [operations and maintenance] capabilities, which is a core part of our strategic growth ambition for 2030.”
Reverse osmosis is a membrane-based method of desalination that uses less energy than the thermal process of producing fresh water. The method helps to lower the energy intensity of an industry that takes up a significant share of regional power consumption.
The project, which is expected to become fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2025, will use low-carbon technology to produce up to 550,000 cubic metres of potable water a day.
It will be 60 per cent owned by Taqa, while the remaining 40 per cent will be held by French utility company Engie. Ewec will procure the water supplied from the plant for 30 years.
“Mirfa 2 RO is Ewec’s fifth low-carbon intensive RO desalination project to date and will be the third largest RO plant in the UAE once fully operational,” said Othman Al Ali, chief executive of Ewec.
“Creating a pipeline of RO projects that attract investment in the sector is an integral part of Ewec’s strategic initiative to decouple water and power generation.”
Ewec expects more than 90 per cent of its water production to be from RO technology by 2030, resulting in an 88 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, Mr Al Ali said.
The UAE, Opec's third-largest oil producer, aims to become carbon neutral by 2050 and is focusing on the development of clean energy projects.
The country has Dh600 billion ($163.3 billion) worth of clean and renewable energy investments planned over the next three decades.
“With a global target to achieve net zero by 2045, Engie continues to explore ways to decarbonise our current operations,” said Frederic Claux, managing director, flexible generation and retail AMEA, Engie.
“We … look forward to commencing build and ultimately operations.”
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0
