Big Names Join for UAE Power Project

Participants have been named for a joint venture, including Japans fifth biggest trading company and a UK electricity generation company, in a $2.8bn construction project of power and water desalination plants across the United Arab Emirates (UAB).

Japan's Marubeni Corp will join International Power and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority in the 20-year project which will oversee the entire power and water output from the Fujairah F2 IWPP in the UAE.

Fujairah Asia Power Company will own the plant, with Marubeni and International Power holding 20% equity interests – both companies will, however, oversee operations with a 50-50 management stake.

The Greenfield development will, on completion, produce 2000MW of power and 130 MIGD of water, according to International Power CEO Philip Cox.

The plant is expected to be in operation by the end of 2010. It will use five high-efficiency Alstom GT26 gas turbines in combined cycle mode and 12 SIDEM 8.3 MIGD Multi Effect Distillation desalination unties with a 30 MIGD Reverse Osmosis desalination plant.

By Penny Jones