US-based Aquatech has won a $82 million contract from the UAE's Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) to provide a 15 MIGD seawater reverse osmosis-based desalination facility in Ras Al Khaimah.

Aquatech is a leader in water purification technology for industrial and infrastructure markets with a focus on desalination, water reuse, and zero liquid discharge.

The project, located at Ghalilah, is scheduled to be operational in late 2013 and is aimed at providing drinking water for Ras Al Khaimah, said a Aquatech statement.

The project will be executed by Aquatech on a complete EPC basis including civil works, buildings, balance of plant, and electrical and mechanical installation.

In addition to the core reverse osmosis plant, the scope of supply consists of the seawater intake, dissolved air flotation, ultrafiltration, and post treatment packages, it stated.

A sophisticated DCS System for performance enhancement and data monitoring will also be supplied, ensuring that Fewa is equipped with the best technologies and a world-class facility, it added.

Devesh Sharma, chief commercial officer of Aquatech, said the company has a track record in leveraging its deep technology portfolio to offer competitive solutions to the key markets.

"Whether it's making zero liquid discharge more affordable, or increasing the economic viability of oil and gas extraction through cost-effective produced water treatment, we are very focused on finding innovative ways to deliver the optimal lifecycle cost to our clients," Sharma explained.

"The Fewa award is further validation of these efforts for the very important desalination marketplace," it added.

With this win, Aquatech bolsters its list of major projects in desalination and water reuse in the Middle East.

Aquatech has thermal and membrane based desalination plants throughout the GCC including Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, said Sharma.

"It is also among the first companies in the region to work with the oil and gas industry to recycle and reuse wastewater."

"Aquatech has recently completed a landmark oil field water reuse project in Oman and is currently executing one of the region's first petrochemical wastewater reuse projects in Kuwait," he added.-TradeArabia News Service