The UAE's Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) has announced plans to increase the availability of water through independent water production (IWP) or seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) projects.

In alignment with its strategic objectives, Fewa previously qualified 13 consortia to bid for the construction of a reverse osmosis desalination plant in Umm Al Quwain with a capacity of 45 million gallons per day, said a Wam news agency report.

It will also bid to increase the capacity of the Ghalilah plant from 15 million to 45 million gallons per day and will construct a desalination plant in Al Zawra, Ajman, with a total capacity of 30 million gallons per day, it said.

Fewa plans to study opportunities to export some volume of water at competitive prices as the new plants come onstream with capacities reaching up to 250 million gallons per day, the report added.

Fewa provides electricity and potable water for the population of the Northern Emirates of the UAE.