Partnership between"environment" And Union Water and Electricity to develop wastewater treatment infrastructure in Sharjah
Sharjah, July 13, 2017 – Bee’ah, a leader in the field of sustainability and innovation, and Etihad Water and Electricity, through its development and investment arm, announced the signing of a joint development agreement to cooperate in operating and expanding wastewater treatment projects in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Under the agreement, the two parties will cooperate in operating existing wastewater treatment facilities and working to double their capacity, in addition to developing all the infrastructure and sewage networks necessary to support future expansion plans efficiently and sustainably.
The agreement stipulates the establishment of two specialized companies to support the implementation of the project. The first includes a company that will undertake the development and implementation of the expansion works, owned equally by Bee’ah and the development and investment arm of the Union Water and Electricity, with a share of 50% for each party, while the second company is responsible for operating and maintaining the assets, managing the facilities in the long term and ensuring the continuity of services, so that the development and investment arm of the Union for Water and Electricity owns a 60% share, compared to 40% for Bee’ah.
Fahd Ali Shuhail, CEO – Sustainability at Bee’ah, said on this occasion that wastewater treatment has become an essential pillar in building cities that are more efficient and sustainable in managing their resources, noting that the partnership with Union Water and Electricity reflects an integrated approach to developing water infrastructure in the UAE, based on the conviction that waste management and the circular water economy must form an essential part of the national infrastructure system.
He expressed Bee’ah’s aspiration to develop and operate world-class wastewater treatment facilities that are flexible and efficient and contribute to meeting the needs of the Emirate of Sharjah in the long term.
For his part, Engineer Yousef Ahmed Al Ali, CEO of Union Water and Electricity and Chairman of the Board of Directors of its development and investment arm, said that this partnership represents an important step in the process of developing vital infrastructure in the northern Emirates, in light of the increasing growth in demand for utility services and the national commitment to promoting sustainable development paths.
He added that, through cooperation with Bee’ah, work is being done to support a strategic project in the Emirate of Sharjah, which will raise the readiness of infrastructure and contribute to achieving the goals of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.
The agreement is consistent with the UAE’s efforts to raise the rate of reuse of treated water to 95% by 2036, as part of the shift towards enhancing water security and reducing dependence on desalinated water and limited groundwater sources.
These initiatives focus on recycling treated water and using it in non-potable applications, such as irrigation of green spaces, agriculture, and cooling systems, which contributes to maximizing the use of water resources and improving their efficiency within the circular economy system.
The agreement is based on the specialized expertise enjoyed by both parties, as Bee’ah manages the industrial wastewater treatment facility at the Bee’ah Waste Management Complex in Sharjah, which treats up to 350 cubic meters of industrial wastewater per day using advanced technologies that include physical, chemical and biological treatment, to produce water that conforms to approved standards for use in irrigation of green spaces and safe drainage.
In contrast, the development and investment arm of Union Water and Electricity has extensive experience in implementing water infrastructure projects in the northern Emirates, including recently signing an engineering, procurement and construction contract worth AED 1.046 billion to develop the first Fujairah desalination plant.
By integrating the latest wastewater treatment technologies with the development of an integrated infrastructure network, the project will contribute to meeting the growing demand for water services in the Emirate of Sharjah, and strengthening its position as a leading center for investment in circular infrastructure projects and environmental sustainability.
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