UAE's largest gas-fired power plant set to start by 2022 in Fujairah

Dubai — The UAE's largest gas-fired power plant is expected to start generation by the summer of 2022, and reach full capacity a year later, Abu Dhabi National Energy Co., known as Taqa, said July 7.

The Dirham 4.2 billion ($1.1 billion) Fujairah F3 independent power producer project will have a capacity of 2.4 GW, enough power for 380,000 UAE households, Taqa said in a statement.

The natural gas will come from the "UAE network, which taps multiple sources," Farid Al Awlaqi, Taqa's executive director of generation, said. "The Fujairah F3 power plant is designed as a mid-merit dispatch rather than for continuous base load. During peak load, the plant uses 40% less natural gas than other gas-fired power plants."

The power purchase agreement was signed by Abu Dhabi Power Corp., Emirates Water & Electricity Co., Mubadala Investment Co., and Marubeni Corp., Taqa said. Taqa combined its assets with Abu Dhabi Power on July 1.

The plant will be located in the Qidfa area of Fujairah, between the existing Fujairah F1 and Fujairah F2 water and electricity plants. Taqa and Mubadala will jointly hold a 60% equity interest in the project, while the remaining 40% will be held by Marubeni.