MUSCAT, APRIL 21 - With the RO 60 million cost the Salalah Independent Water Project (SIWP) signed last week, Veolia Middle East and Africa has chalked out its ambitious growth plans in the region with similar and high-budgeted projects across the region. In a tête-à-tête with the Observer before signing the agreement with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP, Member of Nama Group) the sole procurer of all electricity and water capacity in the Sultanate, along with an ACWA Power led consortium and DIDIC to establish the Salalah Independent Water Project (IWP), Patrice Fonlladosa (pictured), President and Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Middle East and Africa (MENA) said the agreement is a sign of quality in similar projects in the region.
“We are very glad to have partnered with ACWA Power and DIDIC for the Salalah IWP and we are committed to extending the delivery of optimal operations and plant performance to OPWP”, said Patrice Fonlladosa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Middle East and Africa.
Veolia Middle East, with an ACWA Power led consortium and DIDIC has been awarded the Salalah Independent Water Project by the OPWP late last year and the official signing ceremony was held last week in Salalah. The plant, 2nd of its kind after the Sur Desalination Plant, will have a capacity to generate 100,000 cubic metres (26 million gallons) per day of desalinated water using reverse osmosis technology and is procured by OPWP under a Build-Own-Operate framework on the back of a 20-year Water Purchase Agreement (WPA). The project will be vital in meeting Dhofar Governorate’s increasing demand for water, which is expected to be at an average of six per cent per annum over the next seven years.
Dhofar Desalination Company SAOC, the project company established for the execution of this contract, will be owned by ACWA Power, Veolia Middle East and Dhofar International Development & Investment Holding Co SAOG (DIDIC).
Patrice praised Oman’s potable water distribution network calling it ‘one of the best in the world’ while the issues with the distribution is a global phenomenon as the demand for potable water increasing worldwide.
“Oman has brighter future in terms of smart water systems in the city including the prepaid meter system which is a part of the global best practises of water desalination,” he added.
The engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant will be handled by a consortium of Fisia Italimpianti SpA and Abeinsa Infraestructuras Medioambiente S A while the operations and maintenance of the plant will be undertaken by a consortium led by Veolia Middle East with NOMAC Oman and DIDIC.
“The long-term operations and maintenance of the first independent water desalination procurement in the Governorate of Dhofar will be led by Veolia in partnership with NOMAC. We are expecting to commence commercial operations 2020. This project is a major milestone for us to undertake even bigger projects in this region and elsewhere”, Patrice said.
KABEER YOUSUF
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