TDIC awards public-private deal for district cooling on Saadiyat
The Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of tourism, cultural and residential projects in Abu Dhabi, has awarded a public private partnership (PPP) concession for a district cooling plant operation on Saadiyat
The Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of tourism, cultural and residential projects in Abu Dhabi, has awarded a public private partnership (PPP) concession for a district cooling plant operation on Saadiyat to a joint venture partnership between Dalkia and Arcapita.
The PPP concession is the first contract of its kind to be awarded on Saadiyat. The project will incorporate three plants, and will be one of the Middle East's largest district cooling plant operations, providing a combined capacity of 50,000 tonnes of refrigeration (177 MW), and servicing a 27 square km area.
Dalkia and Arcapita have been awarded a 29-year concession, with responsibility for the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of the plants.
The facility will provide cooling to the hotels in the Saadiyat Beach District, including the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, and St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, both of which are due to open this year, in addition to the Saadiyat Marina Apartments and Saadiyat Cultural District, comprising the Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Performing Arts Centre.
Important step
Two of the three cooling plants on Saadiyat will be completed by 2012, with the third, in Saadiyat Beach District, to be completed in 2016 as further projects reach completion.
Andrew Seymour, Director of Infrastructure, TDIC, said, "The awarding of contracts for the cooling plants is an important step forward in the infrastructure development of Saadiyat, as we prepare for the opening of the island's first hotels later this year, and look forward to further projects coming on line in the near future. TDIC's objective in the cooling element of Saadiyat's infrastructure was to develop a strategy that will provide cost-effective, efficient cooling services across the 1.6 million square metre built-up area, while managing the issues of water conservation and environmental output. Dalkia and Arcapita's expertise in district cooling made them the most appropriate fit for Saadiyat's cooling needs."
During the concession period, Arcapita will provide financing for the project, while Dalkia will perform engineaering works, manage the construction of the plants and operations.
