Experts call for desalination regulator

Regulating desalination is becoming a priority in the UAE

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Experts have called for a national regulatory body under the UAE Federal Government to monitor and regulate the desalination industry.

A workshop, held during the IDA World Congress 2009 and opened by Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE Minster of Environment & Water provoked a discussion that a regulator should be set up to ensure desalination projects adopt best practices and minimise effects on the environment.

“This workshop gave us an opportunity to engage with the top minds in the industry to find solutions and set a strategic direction for the future. We are very pleased with the overall response from all participants and hope our proposed framework will go a long way in promoting sustainable practices in the desalination industry not just in the country but also the region,” said Ras Al Khaimah Municipality general director Mohammed Saqr Al Asam, who moderated the sessions.

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Divided into five main sessions, the workshop saw 15 papers being presented and discussed by 72 participants representing federal and local governments, academies, institutes, organisations, environment authorities and the private sector.