Sharjah, UAE, 27 May 2019: Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has officially started the construction of QATRA, a joint venture with BESIX Group, to develop a new water reuse plant in Sharjah’s Al Saja’a industrial area, the government body said through a Press communiqué. 

Set for a January 2020 completion, the plant will produce 5,000 cubic metres per day of high-quality water for non-drinking purposes out of treated effluent from Al Saja’a Sewerage Treatment Plant, the communiqué said. The water will be ideal for industrial and domestic uses, such as landscaping, and will be a sustainable alternative to desalinated water with four times less energy consumed in its production process, the communiqué added.

H.E. Marwan Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman, Shurooq, said: “Since its establishment, Shurooq has been committed to transforming its visions and strategic plans into tangible projects and initiatives. This includes strengthening existing partnerships and entering into fruitful new ventures that help in achieving our goal to better serve the diverse communities and companies in Sharjah. Such partnerships enable us to find advanced solutions that align with current consumer trends in Sharjah, the UAE, and the region at large.

“This initiative underlines our priority to build a sustainable future, while focusing on economic and human development and taking into account our eco-footprint through our partnership with BESIX Group, which is among the leading companies specialised in providing sustainable energy solutions.

“Effluent treatment and improving treatment processes are part of Sharjah’s strategic development, which highlights its position and aspiration to provide a research and development platform for a number of resources, products, technologies and solutions that help better the daily lives of residents, nationals and companies in Sharjah. This is in line with the UAE’s vision to build a sustainable future and use resources more optimally.”

Gurvan Dersel, General Manager of QATRA, added “There is a vital need to reuse water for non-drinking applications to reduce the demand on borewell and desalinated water. Hence, investments such as these, provide a new sustainable source of water supply for the community. This is the first project under the Shurooq and BESIX alliance, and it will be followed by many like it both in the wastewater treatment and water reuse. “Treated sewage effluent (TSE) has tremendous potential in supplementing the ever-growing demand of water. Typically, used for watering parks and landscaping purposes, this new treatment solution will allow for a wider usage.”