New RAK plant to add 30 million gallons of water a day raising total output to 70 million gallons a day
Ras Al Khaimah/Dubai: Utico, the Middle East’s leading full service utility and the only private water and power company in the UAE today said it will be hiring 100 new employees this year with a new AED 750 million desalination facility coming on stream in 2020.
In a statement, Utico said that most of the jobs will be in senior and mid-level management in the UAE and for its operations in new markets of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Singapore. The company said it has set a target of maximum hire in the next six months.
“We see an exciting 12 months ahead with capacity expansions, forays into new markets in the region and beyond, and new projects, including significant developments in renewables supporting environment and cyclical economy,” said Mr. Richard Menezes, CEO of Utico.
The new desalination facility at Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah within the proximity of the company’s existing operations will make available 30 million gallons of water more every day to consumers of RAK, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah in the Northern Emirates.
On commissioning of the new facility, the total output of Utico will be 70 million gallons per day.
Water will be supplied from RAK through Utico’s trans-emirates pipeline which it developed last year at an investment of US$100 million. “The high quality drinking water will be available to 2.5 million customers in RAK, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah,” Mr. Menezes said.
At 100 Imperial gallons per day per person, which is the highest per capita consumption in the world, the total requirement is about 250million gallons per day in the four emirates. Of this, currently Sharjah produces 85-90 million gallons, FEWA 35-40 million gallons, Utico 30-40, Abu Dhabi 25-35 and rest from open and bore wells.
Mr. Menezes said that a great amount of water was lost through leakages and other losses termed Non Revenue water (NRW) in these four emirates. This amounts to about 9-30% in some cases (about 20 to 30million gallons per day) which is a waste of energy and does not support climate change mitigation, apart from loss of capital on a daily basis.
Utico’s NRW is only about 2% which is the best in the Middle East. This also makes it the most sustainable.
He said these high per capita consumption and losses in networks particularly has great significance, since UAE Federal authorities and Abu Dhabi have announced a goal of 30 per cent reduction in water and power consumption by 2025, which would then bring the per capita consumption of water to 70 imperial gallons per day per person, similar to the levels as in the US.
“With the achievement of the goal, total demand will drop to 175 million gallons per day. This will mean excess water capacity of 15million gallons per day by 2025. With a 2% increase in population per year, the additional water demand at 70 gallons per day per person, there will be additional 20million gallons per day demand in 2030, which is aligned to the UAE’s national goal of reduction in high consumption,” Mr. Menezes said.
The scope of employment in the context of these goals of conservation and capacity building is high because positions in these areas of expertise and mitigation require skilled and qualified personnel with emphasis on mitigation of the impact of climate change. Sustainability in food security will also be a significant concern for which Utico has been investing in supplying water to farms.
About Utico
Utico is a leading private utility company in the United Arab Emirates. It was founded in 2005 by Mr. Richard Menezes. It has since developed into a fully integrated privately owned utility provider. Utico owns and operates three IWPPs in Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi with a total desalination ownership capacity of approximately [300,000 m3] /days of potable water, power generation capacity of [120 MW] and [500] km of network. For more information, please visit www.uticome.com
For queries if any, contact
Jayakrishnan Bhaskaran
Corporate Communications,
UTICO FZC
Tel: +971 07 2434610
Mob:+971 50 2102831
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
