Abu Dhabi awards TotalfinaElf power project

Aug. 4, 2000
The Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority named TotalFinaElf SA winner of an international tender for the acquisition and extension of the $1.5 billion Taweelah A1 power station, the second such project in Abu Dhabi's utility privatization program. The project will increase the plant's electrical generation capacity to 1,350 Mw from 225 Mw and water desalination capacity to about 380,00 cu m/day from about 130,00 cu m/day, making it one of the world's largest cogeneration plants.


PARIS�The Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) named TotalFinaElf SA winner of an international tender for the acquisition and extension of the $1.5 billion Taweelah A1 power station, the second such project in Abu Dhabi's utility privatization program.

The project will increase the plant's electrical generation capacity to 1,350 Mw from 225 Mw and water desalination capacity to about 380,00 cu m/day from about 130,00 cu m/day, making it one of the world's largest cogeneration plants, according to TotalFinaElf. The plant will supply about a fourth of Abu Dhabi's water and power needs.

ADWEA will be the majority shareholder with a 60% share, while a consortium of TotalFinaElf and Belgium's Tractebel, the energy subsiduary of Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, will hold 20% each.

TotalFinaElf said its participation in the power plant marks a new step in the development of the company's gas and electricity activities in the Middle East.

Earlier, CMS Energy Corp., Dearborn, Mich., reported the first two gas-fueled electric generating units totaling 370 Mw at the Taweelah A2 power and desalination facility have begun commercial operation. Al Taweelah A2's first unit began supplying commercial electricity to the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Co. (ADWEC) July 20, while the second unit achieved commercial operation July 24.

Each of the units is capable of generating about 185 Mw of power. The plant's desalination units and remaining electric generating units are all scheduled to be commercially operable by August 2001. CMS holds a 40% ownership interest in the project while the ADWEA owns 60%.

Located on the coast of the Arabian Gulf about 65 km northeast of Abu Dhabi, the A2 project, when completed, will consist of a 710 Mw, natural gas-fueled combined cycle power plant and water desalination facility capable of producing 50 million Imperial gpd.

Power and water from Al Taweelah A2 will be sold to the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Corporation (ADWEC) under a 20-year power and water purchase agreement. CMS is managing engineering, procurement, construction, and operation of the plant under a 20-year agreement.