Abu Dhabi Department of Energy has prequalified 11 groups to participate in the tender for the largest planned seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant in the world, the 200 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD) Taweelah independent water project (IWP).

MEED reported in April that the project team for the planned IWP had drawn up the prequalification list and was waiting for final approval before finalising the list and issuing request for proposals (RFP). More than 20 developers submitted prequalification documents on 19 March.

The unconditionally prequalified firms are:

• Acciona (Spain)/ PAL Systems
• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)
• Cobra (Spain)/Samsung (South Korea)
• Hyflux (Singapore)/ China Harbour
• FCC Aqualia (Spain)
• Suez (France)
• Valoriza (Spain)
• Engie (France)/ Marubeni (Japan)
• JGC (Japan)
• Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan)
• Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)/Malakoff (Malaysia)/ Veolia (France)

The standalone desalination plant will be developed on a build, own and operate basis, with the successful bidder to take a 40 per cent stake in the project company formed to develop the scheme. A wholly owned subsidiary of Adwea will take the remaining 60 per cent stake.

The IWP will be located at the existing Taweelah power and water facility, 45km north of Abu Dhabi city. The plant will use reverse osmosis technology.

Abu Dhabi has appointed ILF Consulting Engineers as technical adviser, Alderbrook Finance as financial adviser and White & Case as legal adviser for the Taweelah scheme.

While Abu Dhabi has implemented several independent water and power projects (IWPPs) over the past 20 years, the planned IWP would be the emirate’s first privately financed standalone desalination plant.