A consortium of Paris-based Technip and Dubai-based Dodsal has won the $610m contract to build a 131-kilometre-long pipeline from Fujairah to Al-Ain.

Abu Dhabi is building power and water capacity in Fujairah as part of a plan to spread plants throughout the UAE, and ensure supply to the northern emirates.

The engineering, procurement and construction contract covers the installation of a 64-inch steel pipeline from the Fujairah F2 independent water and power project, which is being built, to a water storage facility at Al-Hayer, close to Al-Ain.

The pipeline will pass through 55 kilometres of mountainous terrain, 71 wadis and 15 roads.

As part of the project, two fibre-optic cable systems will also be installed along the route of the pipeline as part of a communications network. The project should be completed by 2011.

The scope of works also covers five main pumping stations with a flow rate of 5,000 cubic metres an hour, five water booster stations with a flow rate of 6,000 cubic metres an hour, six valve stations, 10 tap-off stations and a cooling water system.

The consultant on the scheme is Germany's ILF Engineers.

The client is Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company (Transco), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (Adwea).