Mena Renewable Energy 2012

Despite having considerable solar and wind potential, renewable energy makes a minimal contribution to power generation across most of the MENA region, and in particular in the GCC where traditionally low cost oil and gas production has stifled its development.

According to the latest report by MEED Insight, Mena Renewable Energy 2012, states right across the region are now planning a substantial hike in renewable energy capacity over the coming decade to meet high power demand growth, limit the use of oil and gas feedstock in power generation, and take advantage of a forecast drop in solar and wind generated electricity.

UAE redoubles efforts to contain cholera in Somalia

The United Arabe Emirates intensified its medical efforts to contain the spread of an outbreak of cholera as an threatened tens of thousands of people fleeing the famine-hit areas of Somalia to pack into the crowded camps in the country’s capital, Mogadishu.

Several people have died from suspected cholera cases in the single hospital existing in Mogadishu, and there have been many other confirmed cholera outbreaks across the country according to the UN World Health Organisation.

Israel: water shortage greater than previously thought

New plan calls for an investment of Euro 10.47 billion in the coming decade to develop water production and supply systems to deal with the dwindling precipitation and the rise in the salinity of the groundwater which considerably exceeds previous estimates, according to a master plan for water now being finalized.

The master plan, drafted by a Water Authority task force with the help of environmental organizations, was submitted this week to the National Planning and Building Council.

About 80 percent of this development will be financed by water prices; the state will provide the rest. But the rise in water prices will not need to be significant, as the number of consumers will rise, due to population increases.

Israel’s water consumption per capita has declined sharply, from more than 110 cubic meters annually in the past to 90 cubic meters today, mainly due to water-saving campaigns and the rise in water prices, the task force said.

Environmental organizations object to this conclusion, saying that water saving must be consistently encouraged. This could obviate the need for some desalination facilities, which, in addition to high costs, have negative environmental effects, such as energy consumption and occupying large areas of the coastal region.

But in any case, the master plan’s implementation faces significant stumbling blocks. One of these is the absence of a government body in charge of policy on issues like population growth and dispersal. The Water Authority also lacks the clout to ensure that enough desalination plants are built, and it is severely short of professional personnel.

Source: Haaretz.com, May 10, 2011

Dubai : Mounting Demand, Major Challenges and Opportunities

The Environmental Practice at Frost & Sullivan, a Global Growth Partnership Company, is hosting an Analyst Briefing titled ‘Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in  Middle East and North Africa: Mounting Demand, Major Challenges and Opportunities’, on April 19th, 2011.

Frost & Sullivan will soon release a report called ‘Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Market in Middle East and North African Countries’. This report will provide an overview and assessment of the water and wastewater infrastructure market in the MENA region. The report evaluate the main challenges, drivers and restrains faced in the MENA market and provides a comprehensive analysis of the present market status as well as the forecast for future developments. This study also provides competitive analysis of water and wastewater treatment solution providers. The base year is 2010 with forecasts running until 2015.

The MENA region is a pioneer in Desalination plants. The region has witnessed huge investments in the water and wastewater sector in the recent years. The growth in this sector has been impressive and the participants are preparing to grab the opportunities and take advantage of the promising market dynamics.

To participate in this briefing, or for an interview, contact Tanu Chopra(tanu.chopra@frost.com/ Nimisha Iyer (niyer@frost.com) with full name, company name, title, telephone number, office e-mail id, address, city, state, and country.

Contact:

Tanu Chopra (tanu.chopra@frost.com), Corporate Communications – Middle East and North Africa

P: +91.22. 6607 2037/ F: +91.22.2832 4713

Nimisha Iyer (niyer@frost.com),  Corporate Communications –Middle East, North Africa and South Asia

P: +91 98200 50519/ F: +91 22 2832 4713

http://www.frost.com

Source: ZAWYA , 14 Apr 2011.

Palestine: Thirst for Justice

A campaign called “Thirsting for Justice” was launched the 22th of March, World Water Day which calls on European governments to put pressure on Israel to respect international law and Palestinian right access to water and sanitation.

Behind this campaign launched, is the Emergency Water Sanitation and Hygiene group (EWASH), a coalition of 30 leading humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam.

“Israel policies and practices limit Palestinians’ access to the water they are entitled to under international law” says Ziyaad Lunat. He remarks that under the Oslo Accords Israel controls all sources of fresh water in the West Bank whereas Palestinians are only allowed to take 20 percent of the “estimated potential” of the Mountain Aquifer underneath the West Bank and Israel extracts the balance. As a result, “Palestinians in the West Bank are forced to purchase over half of their water from Israel” and “Israel takes this water from the Mountain Aquifer over which Palestinians have rights to an equitable share”, say the spokesman for EWASH to PNN.

According to the Thirsting for Justice Campaign, in Gaza 90 to 95 percent of the Coastal Aquifer, the only one source of fresh water available for its inhabitants, is contaminated due to over extraction and sewage contamination, making it unfit for human consumption. For Ziyaad Lunat “the restrictions imposed by Israel as part of its ongoing blockade make the rehabilitation of the aquifer and the search for alternatives extremely difficult”.

The campaign itself targets the European governments and citizens. “They do have a stake in the situation here because they fund a lot of the projects that have been destroyed by the Israeli army.” Ziyaad Lunat also says: “We hope there will be a change in attitudes and behaviours.  EU member states have closer ties with Israel and they are in a strong position to affect change”.

Related news:

• The Remarkable Miracle Continues to Happen, 18 April 2011
• Palestinian Detainees Go on Hunger Strike Marking Prisoner’s Day, 17 April 2011

Source: Palestine News Network, Ziyaad Lunat: Palestinian People Thirst for Justice, 14 April 2011

Iraq: Empty Quarter project starts pumping water to Najran

A project to exploit underground water in the Empty Quarter started pumping water to many districts of Najran on the 1^st of April 2011.

“Water supplied by 17 wells in the Empty Quarter are collected at a location 130 kilometers east of Najran city before supplying to various districts,” Director General of the Water Department in Najran province Saleh Heshlan said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency.

The wells are now capable of pumping 50,000 cubic meters of water daily and the pumped water is collected in the first pumping station in Nuqaiha, 125 kilometers east of Najran, and then pumped with the help of boosting stations, he said.

The project will benefit Al-Fahd and Athayabah districts, districts on both sides of King Abdulaziz and King Abdullah roads from the Holiday Inn to the Al-Shalal intersection.

The minister told local Arabic daily Al-Madinah that there would not be any change in water tariffs despite the fact that demands will tremendously increase in the next five years due to an increase in population and development projects.

“The ministry is currently considering plans to specify the areas in which there is a need for treated sewage water,” he added.

Source: Iraq Daily Journal, April 2, 2011

Water treatment technology showcased

ConocoPhillips, an international and integrated energy company based in the US has created an ‘innovative display’ that caught the visitors’ attention for its innovative design and content, as it reflects the work of one of the company’s major ventures in support and service of the environment, the Global Water Sustainability Center (GWSC).

GWSC is a collaborative effort between ConocoPhillips & General Electric Water Technologies, located at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) for the development of innovative, more efficient and cost-effective technologies for the treatment of petroleum by-product water.

The ConocoPhillips displayed also a children’s play area, a plantation area, a marina and desert life area, a cultural area, food outlets as well as school performances throughout the event. The display carried four story boards to explain the global and local water resources, desalination, formation water, reclaimed water and showcase the activities of GWSC/COP.

Dr Adham, GWSC managing director said, “Qatar has very limited ground water and rainfall but has abundant sea water. Hence 99% of Qatar’s household water comes from seawater desalination plants which remove salt & impurities from sea-water resulting in clean, fresh water that is safe for drinking as well as for use in construction, hospitals, factories, irrigation, lawns and landscaping.”

The collected “produced water,” is usually highly saline and may contain hydrocarbons, minerals or metals rendering it impossible to use without treatment.

“Managing the treatment and disposal of the “produced water” is a challenge for our industry,” explained Dr Adham.

Source:aeCERT, April 3, 2011

Iraq: Drinking water project for Amedi of $90 million

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Kurdistan Ministry of Municipality and Tourism sealed Monday a contract for construction of drinking water project for Amedi area within Dohuk province.

The minister, Samir Abdullah Mustafa, singed the contract priced at 90,000,000 U.S. Dollars with the Lebanese Ster Group and Homan Ederson companies according to astatement issued by the ministry.

With this project getting underway, the town of Amedi and the townships of Deraluk, Sarsing, Qadash, and Bamarne, as well as four surrounding villages will receive 2,400 cubic meters of drinking water pre hour on average.

The project will get started soon and finished in almost two years.

Amedi area, 70 km northeast of Dohuk, 467 km north Baghdad, encompasses five townships including Bamarne, Deraluk, Sarsing.

Source: Iraq Daily Journal, February 23, 2011

Iran: Holding International Water, Wastewater Confab Late April

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The International Conference on Water and Wastewater with focus on privatization and benchmarking will be held in Tehran’s Milad Tower on April 27 to 28 in cooperation with National Water and Wastewater Engineering Co. (NWWE).

Bahrain: Residents cry foul over pipe burst

Residents of Manama, are complaining of an unbearable smell due to a burst sewerage water pipe for the last three days. 

They say the area is so full of the foul-smelling water that many of residents have no choice but to plod across it to reach their homes or even enter shops. 

One resident claimed several complaints to the authorities had gone unanswered.

“When we complain to the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), they tell us to go to the Works Ministry, and when we go there, they say go to the EWA,” said Saji Abraham. 

“Some people have come and had a look and told us they will fix the leak, but nothing seems to be happening.”

A Works Ministry official said they were aware of the problem and were trying to fix it as soon as possible. “We will have it fixed possibly in the next two days,” he said.

Source: Gulf Daily news, 11 January 2011