Ajman Sewerage on schedule for 2009

Olivier Crasson, general manager of Ajman Sewerage Company, told MEED's Wastewater Treatment & Reuse 2007 conference in Abu Dhabi: 'We have just connected the first houses and the sewage treatment plant and half the pumping stations are finished."

Ajman Sewerage has the exclusive concession to build the emirate's integrated sewage collection and treatment system and operate it until 2033. The initial project involves building 240km of sewerage pipes and 22 pumping stations.

The treatment plant has design capacity of 49,000 cubic metres a day. All elements of the network are expected to grow in line with Ajman's population.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract is being implemented by a joint venture of the local Besix, Six Construct of Belgium and Black & Veatch of the US.

In February 2009, Ajman Sewerage aims to hand over management of the system to Moalajah, a joint venture between Veolia of France and Besix which is to operate the system.

The original Ajman sewerage concession agreement was signed in 2001 and construction began in 2003. The project was suspended in 2004 due to resistance among Ajman residents to the compulsory charges levied for connection properties to the new system.

The project was restructured in 2005-06 with Besix taking half of Ajman Sewerage. Veolia and the government of Ajman have 20 per cent each and Black & Veatch has 10 per cent.

The population Ajman Sewerage was mandated to serve is now about 240,000 people compared with 80,000 in 1992. The company expects the population of its original concession area to grow to 390,000 in 2033 and for the total population of Ajman to reach 640,000 by that year.