Latest news with #desalination
Al Arabiya
12 minutes ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
UAE begins pipeline project to ease Gaza water shortage
The United Arab Emirates has begun construction on a major pipeline to carry desalinated water from Egypt to southern Gaza, according to multiple sources. Technical teams sent by the UAE have started transporting equipment needed for the project, the Emirati state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday. The nearly seven-kilometer (4.5-mile) pipeline aims to help alleviate what WAM described as a 'water crisis' in the Gaza Strip. Earlier this week, COGAT -- the Israeli defense ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories -- said construction of the pipeline would begin in the coming days and was expected to take weeks. The project would link a desalination plant in Egypt to the Al-Mawasi area along Gaza's coast and could supply about 600,000 people daily, COGAT said. WAM said the UAE had launched 'several initiatives to drill and rehabilitate potable water wells.' Access to clean drinking water is extremely limited across Gaza, forcing its 2.4 million residents to rely on salty, often undrinkable water or irregular aid deliveries. More than 80 percent of Gaza's water infrastructure has been damaged during the war between Israel and Hamas, according to estimates from the Palestinian Water Authority. After Israeli supply cuts, most Gazans rely on polluted wells or sporadic NGO water deliveries, hindered by limited aid access. 'The water crisis in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly amid a severe fuel shortage, extensive infrastructure damage, and inaccessible water sources,' said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Deir el-Balah desalination plant in central Gaza resumed full operations at the weekend after being reconnected to the Israeli electricity grid for the first time since spring. Humanitarian organizations have been warning for months of an impending public health catastrophe, particularly in southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering. On Tuesday, UN agencies called for a surge in food aid, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying 'the trickle of aid must become an ocean.' UN-backed experts warned Tuesday that a 'worst-case scenario' famine is 'now unfolding' in Gaza that cannot be reversed unless humanitarian groups get immediate and 'unimpeded' access.
Zawya
6 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
More than a coat of paint: Rethinking corrosion protection in Oman
Across Oman's energy, marine, and infrastructure sectors, corrosion is a quiet but costly adversary. While cathodic protection systems and smart monitoring technologies play a vital role, the first—and often most critical—line of defense is simpler than it seems: a coat of paint. Or more accurately, a high-performance anti-corrosion coating engineered to withstand one of the harshest environments on Earth. According to the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), corrosion-related economic losses consume between 3% to 5% of GDP in Gulf countries, owing to the region's aggressive combination of high heat, humidity, salt spray, and dust. For Oman, that translates to hundreds of millions of Omani rials annually, with the oil and gas, desalination, and marine infrastructure sectors bearing the brunt of the damage. Globally, corrosion is estimated to cost over $2.5 trillion each year—but experts believe that up to 35% of these losses are preventable with proactive measures such as improved coatings, local standards, and QA/QC procedures. As Oman strengthens its industrial and coastal infrastructure, there is a growing opportunity to build local expertise in corrosion protection. While many coatings are currently imported, industry assessments across the Gulf show that over 60% of failures stem from application issues—such as poor surface preparation—rather than flaws in the coatings themselves. This highlights a valuable area for improvement: by enhancing training, certification, and local application standards, Oman can ensure that even the most advanced coatings perform to their full potential. Despite the presence of global industry players like Jotun Paints, which operates a manufacturing facility at Rusayl Industrial Estate, and Hempel, which supplies protective coatings to marine and offshore platforms, coating selection across Oman is still too often driven by availability and price rather than performance and environmental fit. Globally, the anti-corrosion coatings market is projected to reach $42 billion by 2028, with the Middle East accounting for a growing share—particularly in oil, gas, and maritime sectors (Statista, 2024). Yet in Oman, many assets are still coated with systems that offer a service life of just 3 to 5 years, especially if not applied under optimal conditions. In contrast, high-performance systems—such as zinc-rich epoxy primers paired with polyurethane topcoats—can extend protection to 7 to 10 years or more, provided they are installed correctly. Oman's geography presents a compelling case for home-grown solutions. Its coastal regions—Suhar, Duqm, Salalah—are prime development zones, but also among the most corrosive environments in the country. Without proper protection, even newly built infrastructure can begin to degrade within months, driving up operating and maintenance costs and compromising safety. Oman's coatings sector may still be developing, but its potential is vast. With targeted investment in accredited testing facilities, specialised training for certified applicators, and Gulf-adapted coating standards, the country has a real opportunity to lead the region in climate-resilient corrosion protection. Experts from AMPP suggest that such measures could recover up to 30% of corrosion-related losses—a substantial return on relatively modest interventions, and a smart step toward long-term savings. While technologies like cathodic protection and real-time corrosion monitoring play vital roles, coatings remain the most accessible, scalable, and cost-effective defense—especially for large, exposed assets such as pipelines, oil tanks, cranes, and marine infrastructure. In Oman's next chapter of industrial growth—from hydrogen hubs to coastal mega-projects—high-performance coatings are more than just a protective layer. They are a strategic enabler. When selected and applied with care, coatings don't just preserve structures—they protect progress, fuel resilience, and extend the value of every investment. In the end, a coat of paint isn't just where protection begins. It's where Oman's leadership in corrosion innovation can take shape. 2025 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
DEWA wins Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year 2024 award for Hassyan desalination plant project
Dubai, UAE: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has received the 'Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year 2024' award from Project Finance International (PFI), a leading publication specialising in tracking and analysing global projects, financial transactions and project deals. DEWA was recognised for its 180 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination project in Hassyan. The project is the largest of its kind in the world using RO technology under the independent water producer (IWP) model, with an investment of AED 3.377 billion. 'The Hassyan seawater desalination project plays a pivotal role in achieving Dubai's ambitious target to produce 100% of desalinated water using a mix of clean energy and waste heat by 2030. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to provide 100% of energy production capacity from clean sources by 2050. The project reflects our commitment to meeting growing demand for electricity and water services, enhancing water security from sustainable sources, and increasing Dubai's desalination capacity to 735 MIGD through advanced technologies and innovative solutions,' said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. 'Implementing the project under the IWP model enhances Dubai's global competitiveness and has enabled us to secure the world's lowest tariff for desalinated water. DEWA has developed the project in collaboration with ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia. The project has achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of 0.36536 USD per cubic metre of desalinated water,' added Al Tayer. -Ends- For more information, please contact: Shaikha Almheiri / Mohammad Almheiri / Ribal Dayekh Mariam Mikhail / Esraa Hamed Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Seen Media / / mariam@ / esraa@
Emirates 24/7
a day ago
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
DEWA wins Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year 2024 award for Hassyan desalination plant project
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has received the 'Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year 2024' award from Project Finance International (PFI), a leading publication specialising in tracking and analysing global projects, financial transactions and project deals. DEWA was recognised for its 180 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination project in Hassyan. The project is the largest of its kind in the world using RO technology under the independent water producer (IWP) model, with an investment of AED 3.377 billion. 'The Hassyan seawater desalination project plays a pivotal role in achieving Dubai's ambitious target to produce 100% of desalinated water using a mix of clean energy and waste heat by 2030. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to provide 100% of energy production capacity from clean sources by 2050. The project reflects our commitment to meeting growing demand for electricity and water services, enhancing water security from sustainable sources, and increasing Dubai's desalination capacity to 735 MIGD through advanced technologies and innovative solutions,' said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. 'Implementing the project under the IWP model enhances Dubai's global competitiveness and has enabled us to secure the world's lowest tariff for desalinated water. DEWA has developed the project in collaboration with ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia. The project has achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of 0.36536 USD per cubic metre of desalinated water,' added Al Tayer. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's water resources in focus
The Ethiopian government recently announced the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and extended invitations to several countries, including Egypt, to attend the official inauguration ceremony scheduled for September 2025. This announcement has sparked widespread concern and disapproval in Egypt, particularly given the ongoing fears about the dam's potential negative impact on the country's historic share of Nile River water, which is Egypt's primary lifeline. In this Factsheet, we will shed light on the changes in Egypt's water resources since the first fill of the GERD in 2020. We will also highlight the efforts made by the Egyptian government to secure the country's water needs, chief among them the expansion of seawater desalination projects. The Nile River is Egypt's key source of freshwater, with 55.5 billion cubic meters (bcm), representing 93% of freshwater sources, followed by 2.5 bcm coming from deep groundwater, 1.3 bcm from rains, and 0.38 bcm from seawater desalination. In addition to natural water resources, Egypt treats water. In fiscal year (FY) 2023/24, the country produced 21.95 bcm by treating surface groundwater and wastewater. The number of water treatment stations in Egypt increased over the past five years from 2,742 in FY2019/20 to 2,795 in FY2023/24. This represents around 2% increase over the mentioned period. As a result of expanding water stations, clean water production grew by 5.2% from 110 bcm in FY2019/20 to 115.7 bcm in FY2023/24. Cairo came on top of clean water-producing governorates, with 1.9 bcm in FY2023/24. Water consumption hiked from 8.5 bcm in FY2019/20 to 9.1 bcm last year, recording 7% growth rate. Despite the increase in produced water, the per capita consumption declined from 110.1 cubic meters (m3) in FY2019/20 to 108.6 m3 in FY2023/24. Notably, in the past FY, the New Valley governorate had the highest per capita consumption with 359.3 m3. On the other hand, Minya governorate came last with a per capita of 55.9 m3. In FY2023/24, water consumed for agriculture irrigation hit 62.13 bcm or 76% of Egypt's water resources, followed by 11.48 bcm used for drinking, and 5.52 bcm in the industrial sector. To overcome the projected repercussions of the GRED, the Egyptian government expanded its plans for seawater desalination projects. Currently, Egypt has around 100 stations with a production capacity of 1.2 million cubic meters (mcm). © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
