A desalination plant is to be built at a cost of $195.7m in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, under an Emirati-Spanish joint venture, it has been announced.
Al Hamra Company, a 60:40 partnership between Utico Middle East and Spanish firm Grupo Cobra, plans to construct the facility in the Al Hamra Jazeerah area. It is billed as the world’s most environmentally friendly desalination plant.
Upon completion in 2017, the Al Hamra Water Company plant will generate 22 million gallons (83 million litres) of water per day to meet the needs of Ras Al Khaimah, it was announced.
The construction phase of the project is expected to create an additional 300 jobs and a further 80 permanent jobs once the project is fully operational. Between 20 to 25% of these jobs will be offered to Emirati nationals upon completion of a yearlong training programme.
“The project is a path-breaking development and comes at the right time especially when governments are removing subsidies for fuel and services,” said Rashid Al Baloushi, Chairman of Utico.
Richard Menezes, Utico’s Managing Director, said the plant will have one of the lowest power-consumption levels in the region, according to state news agency WAM.