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26/10/2009 - GDF SUEZ begins commercial operation of the world's largest power and desalination project in Saudi Arabia
On October 27th, GDF SUEZ will mark the commercial operation of the first power and desalination units of the Marafiq Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP) in the presence of HRH Prince Philippe of Belgium, Vincent Van Quickenborne, Minister of Economy and Reform, Jean-François Cirelli, Vice-Chairman and President of GDF SUEZ, Dirk Beeuwsaert, Vice-President of GDF SUEZ in charge of Energy Europe & International and Guy Richelle, Regional Manager of GDF SUEZ Energy Middle East-Asia & Africa.
Construction on the Marafiq project began in April 2007 and due to the record peak demand for both electricity and water, the Project has been supplying in excess of 500 MW and 100,000 Cubic meters per day of water to the Jubail Industrial City since July.
The 3.4 billion USD Marafiq IWPP will be fully operational in the course of 2010. The plant will then have a 2,750 MW power capacity and 800,000 m³/day seawater desalination facility, making it the world’s major combined power and desalination plant.
The Marafiq IWPP will supply water and electricity to industrial and non-industrial customers of Jubail Industrial City, 95 km north of Dammam and to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The sale of the plant’s entire energy and water output to the off-taker Marafiq is guaranteed in a 20 year Power and Water purchase agreement.
The exceptionally high water output will be sufficient to satisfy the daily needs of 5.5 million persons. The power capacity represents approximately 10% of the current installed capacity in Saudi Arabia of 29,000 MW which is planned to increase to 60,000 MW by 2020 to meet the Kingdom’s rapidly increasing energy demand.
For the engineering studies and the follow up of the construction, GDF SUEZ took advantage of the know-how and expertise of one of its services subsidiaries, Tractebel Engineering.
With over 15 years of experience in the Gulf countries, GDF SUEZ is the leading private power developer with a direct equity interest in nearly 14,000 MW and more than 2.5 million m³ of water per day of desalination capacity. The Group also treats over 400,000 m3 /day of recycled and reused water and offers engineering and waste management solutions.
| About GDF SUEZ | |
| One of the leading energy providers in the world, GDF SUEZ is active across the entire energy value chain, in electricity and natural gas, upstream to downstream. It develops its businesses (energy, energy services and environment) around a responsible-growth model to take up the great challenges: responding to energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, fighting against climate change and maximizing the use of resources. GDF SUEZ relies on diversified supply sources as well as flexible and high-performance power generation in order to provide innovative energy solutions to individuals, cities and businesses. The Group employs 200,000 people worldwide and achieved revenues of €83.1 billion in 2008. GDF SUEZ is listed on the Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Stoxx 50, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe and ASPI Eurozone.
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