Saudi’s ACWA Power, SEWA ink deal for Sharjah’s first IWP

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has partnered with the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) to develop the emirate’s first independent water project (IWP).

The Hamriyah Independent Water Project will address the emirate’s growing demand for potable water.

Utilising seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology, the Hamriyah IWP will initially produce 272,000 cubic metres per day (m3/day) of desalinated water by Q2 2027, reaching full capacity of 410,000 m3/day by Q2 2028.

Once fully operational, the plant will provide enough water to meet the needs of 1.4 million people.

Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al Shamsi, DG – SEWA, highlighted the project’s alignment with Sharjah’s water sector development strategy. “This partnership represents one of the largest investments in water at the emirate level, leveraging the latest desalination and post-treatment technologies,” he stated. The project will also enhance Sharjah’s water storage capacity by 90 million gallons and consume just 3.2 kilowatt-hours per cubic metre of water produced.

Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, noting, “This landmark project brings our total UAE portfolio to eight power and water projects and reinforces ACWA Power’s global leadership in water desalination.”

ACWA Power will design, build and operate the IWP in Sharjah

The Saudi-based company will design, build, own, operate, and maintain the plant. The Hamriyah IWP will share existing intake and outfall facilities on the site.

This project aligns with SEWA’s broader strategy to enhance water security and operational efficiency across Sharjah. SEWA’s initiatives include using satellite survey technologies to detect water leaks, modernising water networks, and increasing storage capacity.

ACWA Power’s extensive portfolio includes 19 water desalination projects worldwide, with a daily production capacity of 8 million cubic metres of desalinated water. The company integrates clean energy into its desalination processes, contributing to several regional mega projects.

In other news, ACWA Power recently reported its financial results for H1 2024. The clean energy company’s net profit attributable to equity holders surged by 36 per cent to SAR927m, an increase of SAR243m compared to the same period in 2023.