Shamal Azzour Al-Oula KSC has announced the on-schedule crossing of the 664.2 megawatt power production milestone, representing 40 per cent of total power output by its Azzour North One power and water desalination plant.

The plant is Kuwait’s first independently owned plant established under Kuwait’s Public Private Partnerships (PPP) law of 2008.

Azzour North One power and water plant is the first gas-fired combined cycle power and water desalination plant in Kuwait, and will have a capacity exceeding 1,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity and 107 million imperial gallons of water per day (MIGD) once completed by the fourth quarter of 2016. This represents 10 per cent of Kuwait's power capacity and 20 per cent of Kuwait's water capacity.

The ceremony was attended by HE Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Electricity and Water Sheikh Mohammad Al Sabah and President of Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects Adel Al Roumi. The ceremony was also attended by Shamal Azzour Al-Oula partners and primary contractors.

Shamal Azzour Al-Oula chairman Yousef Al Hajri said: “We are very proud to announce the crossing of this major milestone today and we are on schedule to operate at 100 per cent capacity by the last quarter of next year. The ongoing achievements of the project is a testament to the success of the various government and private partnerships that this company was founded on.”

Shamal Azzour Al-Oula CEO Andrew Biffen said: “This milestone is the direct result of the great work and cooperation by everyone working at Azzour North plant, our government and private shareholders, and our construction partners Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Societe Internationale De Dessalement (SIDEM) Sidem, for without them today’s announcement wouldn’t have been possible. I would like to thank everyone who had a role in bringing us to cross the 50 per cent power production milestone on schedule and we look forward to announcing the 100 per cent power production milestone by this time next year.”
                                                
                                    
The plant aims to meet Kuwait’s plan to significantly increase capacity over the coming years, in a larger effort to meet an anticipated peak demand of 25 gigawatts (GW) by 2025.

The treated water and the power produced from the plant will be entirely supplied to the country’s national power and water grid operated by the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) under a 40-year long-term Energy Conversion and Water Purchase Agreement (ECWPA). ENGIE and Sumitomo will undertake the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the plant on an equal share basis. – TradeArabia News Service