Az-Zour North Phase 1: Municipal Desalination Plant of the Year 2017
Extract GWI:
"Distinction: Az-Zour North 1, Kuwait
What is it?
A 486,400m³/d multiple effect distillation plant in Kuwait. The first privately owned desalination plant in the country, it forms the water desalination element of the first stage of the Az-Zour North independent power and water project.
Who is involved?
The desalination plant was delivered by EPC contractor SIDEM (Veolia) on behalf of the plant’s owner, a consortium comprising Engie (17.5%), Sumitomo (17.5%), A.H. Al-Sagar & Brothers (5%) and the Kuwaiti government (60%). Water is supplied to Kuwait’s Ministry of Energy and Water.
What makes it special?
- By showcasing the very pinnacle of what MED has to offer, the contractor delivered a massive asset that requires a minimum of handling. Combining low O&M costs with a limited requirement for scaling treatment, the plant allows its owners to push the margins of performance and profitability – a key condition for the country’s pathfinder water PPP.
- The plant redefines efficiency in thermal desalination. An ultra-low electrical consumption of around 1 kWh/m3 keeps its reliance on external power sources to a minimum. SIDEM’s in-house MED expertise allows the plant to use relatively low-pressure steam, freeing up energy and resources at the attached power facility.
- The location of the plant meant it had to be configured to handle extreme levels of seawater salinity and a wide range of feedwater temperatures ranging from 13°C to 38°C. The delivery of a truly flexible plant of this size is a stunning paean to engineering excellence."