Dewa awards Dh1.2b deals to construct 15 substations

Dubai  — The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has awarded contracts worth Dh1.2 billion to build 15 substations in Dubai, it was announced on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, Dewa’s managing director and chief executive officer, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, had said that the authority will invest Dh60 billion in utility projects by 2020 that will increase the power generation capacity of the Dubai utility by 20 per cent.

The emirate has been witnessing a five per cent year on year growth in energy demand and to meet this demand an addition 2,100MW of generating capacity is required by 2021, according to Dewa. Dewa will build three more stations in Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali for Expo Dubai 2020. The first of these three stations will be completed in 2017 and the other two in 2019.

The 132kV substations will meet the growing demand in all areas of the emirate. The project meets the growing demand for electricity and fulfils the ambitious needs of development, economic, and social projects. It also enhances Dubai’s leading position in the region as a role model in the effectiveness and efficiency of electricity and water infrastructure that meets current and future requirements, particularly Expo Dubai 2020, and all developments in the emirate. The project supports Dewa’s strategy to increase the efficiency and reliability of transmission networks to meet economic growth.

“Dewa continues to implement its development projects for all its operations, and increase and upgrade the capacity of its infrastructure to keep up with the growth in demand for its services. This supports its strategy to take these services to the highest levels of efficiency and reliability. The efforts support the UAE Vision 2021, and Dubai Plan 2021, which has set a roadmap that includes ambitious initiatives and development projects. The move also helps Dewa achieve its vision to become a sustainable innovative world class utility,” said Al Tayer. New substationswill be built in Umm Suqeim 3, Naif, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Al Safouh 2, Dubailand, Za’abeel 2, Nad Al Hamar, Jebel Ali Port, Umm Hurair 2, Al Yalayis, and Al Barsha South 1.

“Additionally, we have completed the final report for awarding contracts for extending 94km of 132kV ground cables at an estimated cost of Dh435 million. We are also studying and reviewing bids for a project to implement 132/11kV substations over the next 4 years,” informed Al Tayer.

In 2015, Dewa commissioned four 132kV substations by extending an additional 12.5km of ground cables at a cost of Dh430 million. This has increased the number of 132kV substations in operation to 205. Other projects that Dewa is currently implementing include 34, 132kV substations in different areas of the emirate.

“We harness excellence and creativity in our daily work to improve performance and efficiency. We also work to provide excellent government services and adopt the best international practices to achieve the highest levels of people’s satisfaction and happiness,” the managing director said.

  — abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com