Siemens to build gas power plant in Abu Dhabi

Siemens Energy has been awarded a US $463 million (AED1.7 billion) contract to construct the Shuweihat II combined cycle natural gas-fired power plant 200km west of Abu Dhabi.

As consortium leader, the German firm will build the plant as a turnkey project together with partners Doosan Heavy Industries and Samsung Engineering and Construction.

The plant, which will include an integrated seawater desalination facility, will generate more then 1500MW of electricity and feed approximately 455,000m3 of water into the local drinking water network on a daily basis.

The project is being developed by GDF Suez on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority (Adwea). It is expected to begin operations in September 2011.

“With approximately 1.2km2, Shuweihat II covers a surface area the size of around 180 football fields,” Siemens Energy Fossil Power Generation Division CEO Michael Suess said.

Expansion of the UAE’s energy and water infrastructure network is vital to keep pace with planned population growth.

Last week Dubai Electricity and Water Authority CEO Mohammed Al Tayer said that the department planned to sign a number of major contracts this year despite the economic downturn.

“We won’t be signing as many as we did last year, but that does not mean that we won’t be carrying on with most of the work,” Al Tayer told Construction Week.

Despite the use of natural gas to power the Shuweihat II plant, the Emitrate of Abu Dhabi remains committed to generate 7% of its total power consumption from renewable energy sources by 2020.