Two utility projects, totally valued at $450 million, will be up for bidding in Ras Al-Khaimah to meet the growing demand as well as to enable new developers to participate in the development of utility infrastructure.
The power tender will be an initial tender to supply 20MW of solar power.
A separate tender for the water project will focus on the supply of approximately 22 million gallons of water per day.
According to Utico, the local private utility responsible for floating the tenders, the projects will be located at various locations in Ras Al-Khaimah.
It is anticipated that the emirate will require more than 100 million gallons of water in the coming years in view of its strategic location and growing regional demand.
A top Utico official said that the opening of the tenders to all companies in the region and beyond would ensure sustainable growth in the emirate as well as to enable other developers and technology providers to participate in such developments in a profitable and sustainable manner.
The tenders follow the recent initiative taken by the RAK Sewage Authority for privatizing the emirate’s sewerage services.
Several international companies participated in the tender.
There will also be further tenders worth millions of dollars for transmission and distribution, storage tanks, and pumping stations in the coming months. Major tenders will also be out once the construction of the $550 million clean coal power project gets under way early next year.
The project is the first of its kind in the world, and once complete, it will generate over 270 MW power.
Strict environmental compliance is being attached to this project. TUV Nord of Germany recently completed the environment impact assessment of the project, a key necessity for its construction.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has lately announced a similar clean coal power and carbon capture project of its own, which is set to be the largest such project in the world. Several companies are vying to lead the project on behalf of DEWA.
Further initiatives for water and power are being supported to meet Ras Al-Khaimah’s growing demand and its planning needs for up to 2018.
The power and water projects have assumed greater significance, given the emirate’s drive to achieve total self-sufficiency and support private initiatives.
Ras Al-Khaimah seeks bids for $450m utility projects
