UAE-based Alpha Utilities has won a major contract from Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa) to build a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in the emirate, said a report.

The project, which will have a capacity of 2.2 MIGD (million imperial gallons per day), is being set up on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, according to Thomson Reuters Projects.
 
The new facility will come up at Kalba, a part of the northern emirate of Sharjah, which touches the borders of both its neighbouring emirate Fujairah and the sultanate of Oman.

"This is the second BOT project in Sharjah, but for Sewa this is the first, and the idea is to encourage such things now," said the report citing Sewa’s chairman Rashid Alleem.  

It is part of plans to provide support for new and upcoming projects, such as the Kalba Waterfront Mall and other hospitality developments, he stated.

"Now we are in progress with design," he added.