Prequalified developers have been invited to submit proposals for the planned 45 million-imperial-gallon-a-day (MIGD) desalination plant in the UAE’s northern emirate of Umm al-Quwain.

According to sources close to the project, tender documents have been issued and developers have until 21 March 2017 to submit bids for the project.

MEED reported in early September that Fewa had prequalified 14 groups to participate in the tender for the planned desalination plant.

The client had originally planned to issue tender documents in August, but due to delays documents have only just been issued.

The 14 prequalified groups are believed to be:

• Acciona (Spain)
• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia) / Tecton (UAE)
• Abdul Latif Jameel (Saudi Arabia)
• Aqualia (Spain) / CCC (Lebanon)
• Beijing Enterprises (China)
• GS Inima (Spain) / GS Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Hyflux (Singapore)
• JGC (Japan)
• Malakoff (Malaysia) / Doosan (South Korea)
• Metito (UAE) / Tedagua (Spain)
• Sembcorp (Singapore) / Cadagua (Spain)
• Suez Environnement (France) / Degremont (France)
• Valoriza (Spain)
• Veolia (France) / Marubeni (Japan)

Fewa had received request for qualification (RFQ) documents from developers in June.

The seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant will be located in the northern area of Umm al-Quwain, adjacent to the border with Ras al-Khaimah.

Under the independent water project (IWP), Fewa will appoint a developer to form a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to enter into a long-term water purchase agreement (WPA) and a power supply agreement. Fewa will be the offtaker for all water produced from the facility.

MEED reported in January that Austria’s ILF Consulting Engineers had been awarded the consultancy services deal for an IWP in Umm al-Quwain.

The project will be one of the first IWPs in the UAE, with Abu Dhabi’s public-private partnership (PPP) utility projects to date all being cogeneration facilities with power elements.