Water. Desalination + reuse
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/792465
24 On Site March 2017 Water. desalination + reuse The teams from Hyundai Heavy Industries, Sidem and project owners line up in front of a GE steam turbine at Az Zour North IWPP Phase One They are all super keen for it to happen yesterday. Not much happens in Kuwait in terms of investment. This is a big deal. Andy Biff en, chief executive, Shamal Az Zour Despite shipments coming from two diff erent locations — China and UAE — the 10 Sidem distillers used at Az Zhour North are all identical MED considered a proven technology to desalt Gulf water UPSIDES • No pretreatment required for MED process • Plant produces 30 per cent of Kuwait's water demand and 20 per cent in peak summer months • Water quality meets World Health Organisation standards DOWNSIDES • Brine is fl ushed out to sea contributing to an ongoing rise in Gulf salinity levels The desalination plant utilises MED using waste heat from the power generation plant, partly because this was considered a proven technology by KAPP. The system comprises 10 Sidem multiple e• ect distillation units Multiple eff ect distillation KAPP prepares to transfer its 50 per share to citizens SHARE SALE • Project completion is estimated to happen in May 2017 • Kuwait is preparing for this unusual investment opportunity to come to market • Proceeds from the share sale will help to fi nance phase two of the IWPP NEXT STEPS • Two bidders have been invited into talks to deliver the next phase of the IWPP • Project award is expected in March 2017 • Sumitomo among bidders for phase two Mom and pop investors each of 10.84 MIGD (50,000 m3/d). "Reverse osmosis has improved tremendously, but it's not so robust as a technology in the Gulf region, where you get a lot of algae blooms and organic matter in the feedwater," says Bi• en. "With MED, there's no pretreatment required." The produced water must comply with Ministry of Electricty and Water speciŽ cations set out in the PPP contract. "As a shorthand, we say it complies with World Health Organisation standards," says Bi• en. In the summer months when demand for water in Kuwait is at its peak, the plant supplies about 20 per cent, and at other times it's 30 per cent of demand. The brine from the process is continuously • ushed out to sea. "There is about a three per cent increase in salinity. It is an environmental impact, and that has to be considered, but you have natural evaporation in the Gulf at very high ambient temperatures anyway. While the salinity is increasing, it's probably nothing compared to the natural e• ect of evaporation in the Gulf, where you've got a closed volume of water." The 50 per cent of stock owned by KAPP is due to be sold to Kuwaiti citizen investors in 2017, once the project reaches completion. This aspect was built into the project structure from the start, partly as a way to smooth the path of private Ž rms entering the Kuwaiti market. "It was always envisaged they would sell or transfer the KAPP shares at par value to the mom and pop-type investors. So the next stage of our project is to make sure our company is structured to enable that," says Bi• en. "They're all super keen for it to happen yesterday. Not much happens in Kuwait in terms of investment. This is a really big deal for them, they want it to happen quickly, and for that money to go back to the government so that KAPP can invest in the next phase of the project." Bi• en estimates project completion in May 2017. Two consortia are currently in talks with KAPP for phase two of the IWPP, with the project award expected in March 2017. Sumitomo Corporation is among the preferred bidders, while Engie has not bid.