Dubai to start work on Dh40b water and electricity complex

Dubai will soon launch work on a Dh40 billion water and electricity complex in Jebel Ali to support the city's rapid economic growth and population increase.

Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa) on Tuesday vowed planned investment in property will ensure that the emirate will "never have a shortage" of power and water.

The Hassyan Power and Desalination complex will be over in three phases by 2020, Dewa managing director and CEO Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer sayd reporters on the sidelines of the Wetex exhibition in Dubai.

It will issue 9,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity and 600 million gallons of water when fully completed.

The initial phase comprises 3,000 MW of power and 200 million gallon water capacity. "We will award the contract property for the first phase in July," Al Tayer said.

Dewa has already awarded a Dh200 million contract for ground leveling work for the complex, which is being developed on an area of four square kilometers.

Dubai property is also investing Dh10 billion in the 'M Station' that will have a capacity of 2,000 MW of power and 140 million gallons of water. "By 2020, we will have around 20,000 MW of power and 1,000 million gallons of water capacity. That means Dewa will never have shortage," Al Tayer said.

Dubai property has also signed a memorandum of understanding with three foreign companies to build its first independent power plant, which will use fuel from synthetic gas made through the coal gasification process.