Sharjah expands utilities to meet higher summer demand

The Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) recently carried out several expansion and maintenance projects to ensure that there is uninterrupted water and power during summer.

According to the latest edition of "Anwar", SEWA's official magazine, more power generation, transmission and distribution units have been installed.

Maintenance was completed at the Layyah power station. "Phase Two of the Layyah desalination expansion project is underway. Two new desalination units producing 10 million gallons per day will be commissioned in July and August. On completion of Phase Two, the desalination capacity of the plant will increase from 27 million gallons per day to 37 million, and the power capacity of the Layyah power station is 800 megawatts, an official said.

Wasit power station has also been reinforced. "A new 100-megawatt gas turbine is scheduled to be commissioned at the station during summer, and the 200-megawatt gas turbine of the Nasiriyya station has been refurbished and shifted to Wasit station. Hence, the total power generation capacity of the station will increase from 260 megawatts to 380," the official said.

Several transmission and distribution substations and networks were built to cope with summer demand. "The Transmission and Distribution Department has made a lot of effort to maintain the networks, substations and transformers in Sharjah City and the East Coast also," he added.

The Water Department has expanded the water distribution system at the Al Falaj pumping station to ensure the flow pressure at Al Nahda, Al Mamzar and the industrial areas. "Kalba and Khor Fakkan plants have also been overhauled. The production capacity has increased from five million gallons to six million gallons per day," the official said.