The Federal Electricity & Water Authority (Fewa), utilities provider for UAE’s Northern Emirates, has received 26 expressions of interest for two desalination plants which will have a combined total capacity of 75 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD).

Fewa invited contractors to express interest in a 30 MIGD seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant at Ghallilah in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, and a 45 MIGD plant at a site located close to the Emirates Modern Industrial Area in the Umm al-Quwain emirate.

The client is seeking to appoint a contractor for each project to design, supply and install the two desalination projects on a turnkey basis.

The desalination plants are part of Fewa’s efforts to boost its own desalination capacity and reduce the Northern Emirates’ reliance on imports from Abu Dhabi.

MEED reported in June that Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power was Fewa’s preferred bidder to develop a 45 MIGD desalination plant at Umm al-Quwain, under the independent water producer (IWP) model.