DEWA approves Dh22.873bn budget for 2015

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has approved a total budget of Dh 22.873 billion for 2015, compared to Dh 20.560 billion in 2014, aimed at ensuring a reliable supply of electricity and water to meet Dubai's development plans in all its operations in line with the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The budget will enable DEWA to adopt the best and latest technologies across all its operations to maintain its leading position on a national and international level by providing electricity and water at the highest levels of reliability, efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
As detailed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, Dh 8.28 billion is assigned for capital purchases and projects, compared with Dh 7.057 billion in 2014. The 2015 budget includes a number of key projects, the most prominent of which is increasing production capacity of the electricity generation and water desalination plant at K-Station in Jebel Ali by adding two gas turbines to generate 500MW.
The production capacity of the electricity and water generation plant at M-Station in Jebel Ali will also be increased by 700 MW. Other projects include building 12 new 132kV substations, extending 272km of 132kV cables, other power transmission and distribution projects, and smart communication networks.
Al Tayer noted that Dh 590 million are allocated to water network projects including water reservoirs and transmission networks. Dh 175 million are dedicated to developing the water network. This includes extending new networks and introducing a district meter system to monitor leakage and reduce water losses.
DEWA's operational budget for 2015 is Dh 13.465 billion, compared to Dh 13.151 billion in 2014. The administrative capital budget has been increased to Dh 1.380 billion in 2015 from Dh 352 million in 2014.
DEWA's current installed capacity is 9,656 MW of electricity and 470 MIGD of desalinated water. Peak demand for electricity reached 7233 MW in 2014, compared to 6857 MW in 2013, which means there is a reserve margin of approximately 2423 MW.
Al Tayer explained that water peak demand in 2014 reached 316 MIGD, compared to 296 MIGD in 2013, with a reserve margin of 154 MIGD. Electricity and water reserves contribute to meeting the requirements of Dubai's large ambitious projects including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City and other economic and developmental projects. "This important strategic reserve will significantly contribute to meeting the electricity and water requirements of the economic, commercial, industrial, urban and tourism development projects, reaffirming DEWA's ability to deliver the Emirate's water and electricity needs according to the highest standards of efficiency and reliability," he added.