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Septech is a leading water infrastructure provider. CEO David Heffernan talks about the company’s regional expansion and innovation drive.

Can you give us a bit of your background and your involvement with Septech?

I have been involved heavily in the industry for over 22 years, ranging from designing, installation, project management and commissions through to the CEO position, running a global water, wastewater and infrastructure business. Today I am still very hands on, but our growth plans have me travelling weekly, whereby my role is more strategic, in a business development role.

Septech’s development reflects the evolution of the regional wastewater sector?

Septech Emirates LLC was incepted in 1997 in the Emirate of Sharjah. The founders, after 15 years’ experience in the precast infrastructure and wastewater-treatment industry in Australia, made a strategic decision to establish operations in the UAE, given the projected population and construction growth poised for the coming decades.

After 13 years of operation, Septech has grown to become a regionally-recognised water and wastewater infrastructure company. The group has grown its operations from its initial purpose-built facility in Sharjah to multi-purpose offices and factories in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khamiah and, more recently, the establishment of its regional and international offices in Australia, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

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Over the last 14 years, Septech has partnered with General Electric, Pacsoft, Bellingham Marine and Shuaa Capital, extending its strategic investments in key emerging markets across the region, with landmark projects including the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Marina, Saadiyat Island, Royal Yas Marina, Dubai Sports City and Atlantis. Septech has a proven track record to tackle challenges and provide innovative and technology-driven water and utility solutions to local governments, ruling families and private developers. In FY2009 Septech undertook the completion of a number of water and wastewater projects in the UAE. Some of the more recognisable projects have included:
• Saadiyat Island, mobile desalination plant, a million litres a day;
• Saadiyat Island, desalination plant, ten million litres a day;
• Royal Yas Island, marina;
• Jumeirah Beach Hotel, marina; and
• Yas Island sewage-treatment plant, 3.5 million litres a day

Regional expansion is an important part of your strategy?

Given the experience and global partnerships created with leading water and wastewater companies, Septech has been able to extend its product offering from its base in the UAE to its established commercial entities in the Middle East. Part of the structure Septech has developed allows for a large selection of its products to be offered on a domestic basis, allowing for competitive pricing and project implementation techniques that are attractive to the local market.

Moving forward into FY2010, Septech is developing a number of innovative packaged treatment solutions for both the clean-water and wastewater industry sectors to assist governments, contractors and associated developers in their projects.

You have just established offices in Oman and Saudi Arabia?

Septech has spent considerable time in FY2009 establishing itself in neighboring GCC countries in view of engaging in projects over the course of FY2010 and many years to come. In FY2009, Septech successfully established its operations in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Australia. In terms of direction, Septech is focusing on a number of projects in the treated sewage and clean water sectors in Oman and Saudi Arabia, along with identifying a number of marine opportunities that are coming online in the GCC towards the middle part of FY2010. In terms of North Africa, Septech is finalising its commercial entity in Libya to cater for the North African marketplace, along with focusing on specific opportunities in Australia.