Water scarcity continues to drive multi-billion dollar investment across the Middle East region

'Alongside power generation, water is the top priority for governments - the Middle East has one of the world's highest demands for power generation and clean water due to remarkable population growth rates and determined economic diversification efforts,' said Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director - Exhibitions at IIR Middle East, organisers of the Middle East Electricity exhibition which has a growing focus on the water sector.

'Conservative estimates project that in the GCC $100bn of investment is necessary over the next 10 years to sustain continued economic growth, and this element of urgency has resulted in an increased move towards private investment.'

Specially designed as a forum where the region's key decision makers can interface with world leading companies from the water, desalination and wastewater industries, Water at Middle East Electricity is regarded as an invaluable event by industry professionals, who appreciate the opportunity to evaluate a comprehensive range of products, services, solutions and project references.

Due to the staggering increase in demand for water in the GCC countries, and with conventional water resources such as fresh surface water and renewable groundwater extremely limited, alternative sources such as wastewater reclamation and desalination have been adopted since the 1960's.

'To put the scale of the challenge in real perspective, the UAE currently consumes more water per person than any other country in the world with the exception of the United States and Canada,' added Woodbridge.

Official statistics show that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest producer of desalinated water, accounts for some 30% of global production, pumping almost 600 million gallons per day, which meets 70% of the Kingdom's drinking water needs. It also produces 5.5 million cmd (cubic metres per day) of drinkable water and treats two million cmd of wastewater. However, an estimated $53bn is required to increase its desalination capacity to 10.7 million cubic metres per day by 2020 to meet demand.

Recent initiatives have seen Saudi Arabia set up a water company to oversee the privatisation of costly sewerage services and maximise efforts to save dwindling water resources. It will assume control of all the Kingdom's groundwater wells, sewage and desalination plants and will also take charge of privatising urban water and sewerage services. The winner of a tender for Jeddah will be announced within the next three months and further tenders will be held for Saudi Arabia's other big cities within three years. An as yet unnamed foreign firm has been appointed to manage the national water network as part of a five-year contract that includes incentives to devise ways of preventing water wastage. Currently, around 20% (one million cubic metres per day) is lost in pipeline leakage.

'Water demand is expected to exceed 11 million cmd in the next 20 years', said Abdullah Al-Husayn, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Water and Electricity. 'In order to meet that demand, wastewater collection and treatment will reach more than 5 million cmd in 5 years using tertiary treatment, which makes it reusable. Sewage treatment services also will be provided to 90% of the population by that time,' he added.

In Dubai, DEWA is also developing a number of water supply projects, including water supply lines with a total length of 150km to improve the supply of water from Jebel Ali power station to various areas in Dubai, and to increase water capacity, DEWA is also set to construct water desalination projects in addition to water transmission, water distribution and water tank projects. The total cost of water supply projects currently underway is estimated to be in the region of Dhs1bn.

DEWA also plans to expand its water supply network over the next few years to meet the growing demand for water in Dubai, and this will see a water supply network with a total length of 1,000km built at a total cost of Dhs. 325 million.

Water at Middle East Electricity, which takes place at Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 10-13 February 2008, will once again present the Middle East's only comprehensive showcase of water industry-related product and service innovations. This year's show will once again feature big name internationals such as Aqualyng, Salzburg AG Utilities, LLC, Balance Group International, Ion Exchange Ltd., and ITT Industries alongside major regional companies such as Jengan Est., Ahmed Ramadhan Juma Est., Dutco Tennant, Flownetix MENA and EMAS for Water Treatment Systems.

Supported by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority and The UAE Ministry of Energy, The IPWA (International Private Water Association) and EDS (European Desalination Society), Water at Middle East Electricity runs from 10-13 February at Dubai International Exhibition Centre and is open to trade professionals from 10am to 6pm.