Veolia opens pilot desalination plant in Abu Dhabi

France based Veolia has opened a cost and energy efficient desalination pilot plant for Masdar in Abu Dhabi.

The plant has been built as part of the collaboration between Veolia and Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company.

The companies will jointly operate the plant, which has been producing potable water since last August.

The plant abides by the same operational constraints as a large plant and is capable of handling very harsh seawater conditions – salinity up to 52 g/l, temperature that may exceed 42°C and harmful algal blooms.

So far, Veolia has been able to lower the electrical consumption by 7% compared to the contractual target initially laid out by Masdar.

Veolia Gulf Countries CEO Xavier Joseph said: "As a major player in water desalination for the past several decades, Veolia now aims to develop the next generation of sustainable desalination technologies, helping populations and industries in water-scarce regions access this precious resource in an environmentally sound and energy-efficient way."

Earlier this month, Veolia signed an MoU with Kazyna Capital Management to build a new seawater desalination plant in Kazakhstan.

The new plant will have a capacity of 125,000m3 per day and it will supply water to industries as well as the people of Aktau and Zhanaozen cities.

Under the agreement, Veolia and Kazakhstan Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Centre will jointly undertake a study to identify a business model that allows private sector participation while executing the project.

The study has been supported by French authorities.http://www.veoliawatertechnologies.com/en/press-releases/veolia-unveils-its-energy-efficient-desalination-pilot-plant-masdar-abu-dhabi

http://www.veolia.com/en/veolia-group/media/press-releases/veolia-kazyna-capital-management-sign-memorandum-understanding-seawater-desalination-plant-kazakhstan