Emirates Water & Electricity Company (EWEC) has awarded the 120 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) Mirfa 2 independent water project (IWP) to Engie, according to a source close to the tender.

A total of 4 bids for the 80 and 120 MIGD versions of the project were submitted in June (2022).

Engie submitted the lowest bid – $0.4832/m3 – for the topline capacity of 120 MIGD, but only the second lowest for the smaller 80 MIGD design.

The French infra developer has been named the preferred bidder for the larger of the 2 capacities, a source told IJGlobal.

The 120 MIDG bids submitted in June (2022) were:

• Engie – $0.4832/m3
• Acciona – $0.5228/m3
• GS – $0.5341/m3
• ACWA Power – $0.5359/m3

The project will be developed 110km west of Abu Dhabi.

 A 40% stake will be offered to the chosen developer consortium – following the model for the $1.2 billion Taweelah IWP which was put to financial close on 19 November 2019.

The new IWP is the follow up to the $1.8 billion Mirfa IWPP – Engie (then GDF Suez) had also won this scheme and put it to FC on 2 October 2014.

Mirfa 2 IWP is expected to begin commercial operations in Q2 2025.

EWEC is being advised by:

• Alderbrook – financial
• White & Case – legal
• Fichtner – technical

Engie was approached for comment, but had not replied by the time of publication.