UAE - Mubasher: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced UAE-based Utico FZC as a preferred bidder to build and run the 120 million gallons per day (MIGD) Hassyan Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Plant.

Expected to start its production in 2024, the SWRO Plant is DEWA's first Independent Water Producer (IWP) project, according to a press release on Wednesday.

DEWA, which has achieved a new world record for the lowest Levelised water tariff of $0.277 per cubic meter, released the tender for the project in October 2019 and issued a retender in May 2020.

The Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, said: "The project is part of DEWA’s strategy to increase the water desalination capacity in Dubai to 750 MIGD, from 470 MIGD at present."

Al Tayer added: "This is based on innovation and sound scientific planning so that we contribute to making the UAE the world’s leading nation by its centennial in 2071."