The Fujairah F2 Power and Seawater Desalination Plant is the second largest of its type in the world, according to officials.
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, jointly inaugurated the $2.8 billion plant.
The new facility in the UAE, which could meet the increasing needs for water and power, can generate 2,000MW of electricity and 130 million gallons of water per day.
The F2 plant, owned and maintained by the Fujairah Asia Power Company, has been operating successfully since January this year.
“The plant comes within President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's keenness to create balanced development nationwide and ensure good living conditions for citizens across the country,” said Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan after the opening ceremony.
He underlined that the strategic project will not only benefit the UAE, but also the region, indicating that the plant will be one of the major components of the power network link among Gulf states.
“The plant is a model for the economic partnership success set up by the UAE with the specialized international corporations to woo more foreign investment and advanced technology to help the country develop local cadres,” Sheikh Mansour said.
He said in a statement that the Qidfa plant would support new economic and investment projects, which were awaiting water and power.
The plant is powered by gas and utilizes three gas turbine combined-cycle blocks, which incorporate five gas turbines and three steam turbines, a 100-MIGD Multiple Effect Distillation desalination plant based on 12 8.3 MIGD MED units, and a 30-MIGD reverse osmosis desalination section.
