Fujairah: The Development and Investment Arm of Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) has signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement with NMDC Infra and Lantania Aguas for the Fujairah I Independent Water Producer (IWP) project, a 60 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant, with a total investment value of AED1.046 billion. The signing ceremony was held at the Make It In the Emirates exhibition.
According to Emirates News Agency, the agreement was signed by Mohammed Al Shehhi, Chief Executive Officer of the EtihadWE Development and Investment Arm; Haris Giatsos, Chief Executive Officer of NMDC Infra; and Pedro Almagro, Chief Executive Officer of Lantania Aguas. The agreement was witnessed by Yousif Ahmed Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EtihadWE and Chairman of the development company, and Dr. Yasser Zaghloul, Group Chief Executive Officer of NMDC Group.
The Fujairah I IWP project is the second project being procured by EtihadWE in partnership with the private sector under the PPP model, following Naqa'a IWP, which has a capacity of 150 MIGD. The plant will be located within the Port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, with access to key maritime and land infrastructure. It will have a contracted production capacity of 60 MIGD of desalinated water and will be supported by storage capacity equivalent to 18 hours of production.
Once operational, the plant will provide a dependable supply of desalinated water to support households, businesses and strategic industries in Fujairah and across EtihadWE's service areas, particularly during periods of peak demand. The project will strengthen the resilience of essential water infrastructure and support continuity of supply. The project is expected to be delivered over approximately 30 months, covering civil works, process systems and commissioning. Initial operations are expected to begin at partial capacity, followed by full production of 60 MIGD upon completion.
Mohammed Al Shehhi, Chief Executive Officer of the development and investment arm of EtihadWE, stated that the project marks an important step in EtihadWE's journey to develop SWRO capacity across its network. It reflects their commitment to developing reliable, efficient water assets to meet growing demand and support long-term water security.
Haris Giatsos, Chief Executive Officer of NMDC Infra, expressed pride in partnering with EtihadWE on the project, emphasizing the importance of desalination in responding to market demand and supporting the UAE's long-term development priorities. Pedro Almagro, Chief Executive Officer of Lantania Aguas, highlighted the significance of the project as Lantania Aguas' first in the UAE, aligning with their strategic priorities and confirming the value of NMDC Infra's stake in Lantania Aguas.
Lantania NMDC Water was established following NMDC Infra's acquisition of a 51% stake in Lantania Aguas, expanding NMDC Group's capabilities in desalination, water treatment and wastewater infrastructure. The Fujairah I IWP desalination plant forms part of EtihadWE's broader efforts to expand water production capacity through energy-efficient reverse osmosis technology, supporting national water security objectives and long-term sustainable development.