Abu Dhabi: The water and electricity supply sector in the northern emirates will be expanded with an investment of Dh5.7 billion (around $1.55 billion).
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the investment.
The move follows the tour of the northern emirates to study the conditions and needs of UAE citizens carried out last month under the directives of Shaikh Khalifa by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Electricity supply is to be provided to buildings and shops belonging to citizens in the northern emirates, the President ordered, with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) being instructed to supply the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) with around 1,300 megawatts (MW) of power to meet projected demand.
Water pipeline
Shaikh Khalifa also issued instructions for the construction of a 100-kilometre main water pipeline from Kalba, at the southern end of the UAE's East Coast, to Dibba, in the north, passing through the cities of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan estimated to cost Dh900 million.
The pipeline will supply 23 million imperial gallons per day (Migd) to Fujairah, 5 Migd each to Khor Fakkan, Dibba and Kalba and 3 Migd to Dhadnah.
Another 60-km pipeline, costing Dh300 million, will be built to supply 18 Migd of water to the emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
The water will be supplied from the Adwea power and desalination plants in Fujairah.
Sharjah supply
Another order provides for the supply by Adwea of 700 MW to the emirate of Sharjah, construction of a new main transmission station, with a capacity of 400 kV and costing Dh500 million, in the city of Sharjah and for the supply of an additional 10 Migd of water to Sharjah, to meet local requirements.
The President has also issued an order for the establishing of a special committee comprising representatives from Adwea, Fewa and the municipalities in the northern emirates. The committee is tasked with studying anticipated demand for additional water and electricity supplies and with laying down suitable standards and measures to guarantee the implementation of the appropriate solutions.
Shaikh Khalifa had earlier ordered the construction of a 36-kilometre main pipeline, costing Dh158 million, to supply water to Ras Al Khaimah. This is expected to be operational by October 2011. He had also given instructions for the construction of two power plants with the capacity of 132 KV in Kalba and Khor Fakkan at the cost of Dh220 million. These are to be linked to the Adwea grid.
Adwea has so far invested around Dh4 billion in the development of its power grid in the northern emirates. It has also constructed two water desalination and power generation projects in Fujairah at the cost of Dh16 billion, through joint ventures with companies from Japan, Singapore and Britain.
Of these, the newest, the Fujairah F2 Plant, is a greenfield power generation and seawater desalination plant with 2,000 MW of net power capacity and 130 Migd of net water capacity. It started operating in December 2010, increasing production capacity in Adwea's Fujairah plants to 2850 MW of power and 230 Migd of water.
The investments ordered by the President are in accordance with the desire of the country's leadership to give priority to the needs of the UAE's citizens, to make use of all resources to develop the infrastructure, to enhance essential services and to provide satisfactory living standards for citizens.
