Dubai amends laws to permit IWPPs

Following its announcement of its first independent power and water project (IWPP) at Hassyan with a 454,000 m³/d desalination plant, Dubai has amended the royal decree that set up the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) in 1992 to allow more IWPPs. 

A notice from the DEWA treasury director, Nasser Akil Abbas, on the Nasdaq Dubai website dated 15 June 2011, announced the amendment of Decree No 1 and also the passing of a new regulation, Law No (6) of 2011 Regulating the Participation of the Private Sector in Electricity and Water Production in the Emirate of Dubai. 

"Pursuant to the DEWA Decree Amendment, DEWA may develop independent power and water projects on a limited recourse basis in conjunction with third parties or on its own," says the director. "DEWA will however remain the sole offtaker of electricity and water in the Emirate of Dubai."