Utility sector meets growing demand

President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is pursuing a sound and balanced policy to provide citizens with the best services, has devoted a lot of attention to the Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority (Adewa).

Since its establishment in 1998, Adewa has carried out a number of projects which have contributed in providing distinct services in the electricity and water sector.

Adewa, which has in recent years carried a general reform in its administrative structure to improve its services, is fully owned by the Abu Dhabi government. It is a corporate entity with financial and administrative independence.

Adewa was established according to Law No. 2 in 1998. It is run by a nine-member board of directors, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Dhiyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, director of the Presidential Court, who has focused on administrative structure and has established it on modern lines, which enabled the authority to build a reliable and modern geographical data base of all its various affiliated bodies.

Adewa has followed scientific methods in job description for its intake of manpower and taking into consideration the qualifications of nationals for the jobs.

Adewa has taken a giant stride in the privatisation drive of its sector by entering into joint-ventures with foreign companies, which operate and maintain its utilities.

Through this policy, eight companies have been established as per the law, each functioning according to its specialisation.

These are the power companies of Taweela A2, which cost Dh2.7 billion and produces 710 megawatts of electricity and 50 million gallons of water per day, Taweela A1, which costs Dh5billion and produces 1350 megawatts of electricity and 84 million gallons of water per day.

The privatisation of Shuwaihat S1, which is expected to produce 1500 megawatts of electricity and 100 million gallons of water per day, has been very successful.

Although its financing came during a time when the world was going through a difficult business climate caused by the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, but Abu Dhabi's international reputation in stability drew a number of international banks to complete feverishly to finance the project at a cost of Dh1.285 billion.

Twelve local and international banks financed the project, with the local banks providing 40 per cent of the fund.

The Umm Al Nar project is expected to follow in the privatisation drive. Targeting a production ceiling of 1,550 megawatts of electricity and 95 million gallons of water, consultants have prepared the necessary documents for the invitation of tenders.

Adewa is confident of putting into use its previous experience on the Taweela A1, as well as the Taweela A2 projects, which are expected to be completed in the summer of 2006, to ensure the success of the Umm Al Nar project.

Adewa has succeeded in attracting to the electricity and water sector huge investments, totalling about Dh14billion, with Dh3billion going to Taweela A2, Taweela A1 got Dh5 billion, while Shuweihat got Dh6 billion.

By adopting the privatisation policy, the government has been spared the trouble of having to shoulder the responsibility of funding these projects.

Adewa has carried out a number of important projects in the field of production, transport and distribution of water and electricity.

The expansion of the Taweelah power and water desalination plant was taken up by using a new technology, with a total capacity of 732 megawatts and daily production of 76 million gallons of water. It consists of two gas units, each with an output of 100 mega watts, and 143 MWS steamer.

Adewa has also executed a water distillery project at Umm Al Nar at a total cost of Dh1.7 billion to produce 5.62 million gallons of water per day, in addition to a similar facility in marfa at a cost of Dh600 million, which will produce 22.5 million gallons of water per day.

In the field of energy transmission, Adewa has strengthened its electricity transmission network with 400kv, 220kv and 132kv transmission lines at a total cost of Dh425million. It has also expanded some of its stations at a total cost of Dh242million.

Adewa is currently executing the biggest of its stations in Al Ain at a cost of Dh304million. This include a 65-km line of 400kv and a 55-km line of 22kv.

Adewa has executed a number of similar electricity transmission projects in Abu Dhabi and Mussafah.

Adewa has embarked on a water supply project to Al Ain. At a total cost of Dh2billion, the project will supply 76 million gallons of water a day to the city from the Taweela 'B' station through a dual pipeline of about 135km.

Adewa has also executed several water distribution networks in all the suburbs of Al Ain. This has cost Adewa Dh130million. A similar project for the city of Al Ain itself cost Adewa Dh124million.

Adewa has supplied and installed transformers and compact units with a total output of 33 and 11 kilowatts respectively in Al Ain and its suburbs in order to avoid pressure on the main distribution networks during summer. The total cost of the project was Dh 158 million.

Adewa has set up a very sophisticated laboratory to control water quality in accordance with international standards, based on rules issued by Word Health Organisation (WHO). The authority has also set up a laboratory, fully equipped with modern technology that carries out chemical analysis.

Adewa's efforts reflects the commitment of the UAE to protect the environment, a move which has won the country the applause and admiration of all the countries of the world, leading to the awarding of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan a number of international awards for showing great commitment to the protection of the environment.

Before embarking on the construction of any other station, Adewa always remains committed to presenting the plans and designs of those projects to all the government's environment related bodies, including the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, ERWDA, for their approval. Adewa also ensures that other independent energy bodies seeks approval for their projects before execution.

Being an executive member and the technical committee of the ERWDA, Adewa participates in every annual environment exhibitions being held in the country.

It also contests with other energy companies, affiliated to the ERWDA, in several environmental protection contests, aimed at encouraging those companies to play meaningful roles in the country's environmental protection drive.

Record shows that demand for electricity was growing at a rate of 10 per cent per annum. This is a very high rate compared to the regional and international growth.

The 10 per cent growth demands a sharp increase in output of 400 megawatts per annum, while the demand for water was growing at 15 per cent per annum, which demands addition output of 32.5million gallons of water per annum. This alarming rates means the need for increased investment in this sector.

Adewa is preparing to usher into next year with a number of important projects, which will reiterate Adewa's serious approach to its ambitiou