A persistent shortage of potable water in the City of Algiers,
Algeria was eased today as the US $250 million Hamma Seawater
Desalination Plant (SWDP) was officially opened by Algerian President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Jeff Garwood president and CEO, GE Water &
Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE).
Completed on time and on budget in 24 months, the Hamma SWDP uses GE´s
advanced ecomagination-certified reverse osmosis membranes to purify
up to 200,000 cubic meters (53 million gallons) of seawater per day --
providing as many as two million residents of Algiers with a reliable
and drought-proof supply of fresh water.
For many years adequate water supplies in Algiers were nearly
unattainable, as residential and industrial demand has significantly
outstripped supply. More than 2.5 million rural dwellers have
resettled in the City of Algiers over the past half-century, inflating
the population and severely straining the city´s water supplies and
infrastructure. As a result, residents faced serious water shortages,
and often received water for only a few hours each day or sometimes
only once every three days.
"We are proud to be a partner in the Hamma Seawater Desalination
Plant -- it is a great example of how private and public partnerships
can help solve urgent water needs," said Garwood. "Partnerships like
this one, with the Algerian Government and AEC, combined with our
global scale, financing capabilities, and broad portfolio of
equipment, chemicals and services put GE in a unique position to
provide solutions for the world´s growing water challenges. Our
momentum continues to build and in 2008 we expect to grow GE´s large
structured projects, like Hamma, by 80 percent. We are excited about
our prospects in the coming year and we look forward to delivering
affordable, on-time and on-budget water treatment solutions to
customers around the globe."
Hamma SWDP is also North Africa´s first large-scale reverse
osmosis desalination plant to be funded by a joint venture that
combines public and private equity investment. The special project
company, Hamma Water Desalination SpA combines 70 percent funding from
General Electric and 30 percent from the state-owned Algerian Energy
Company. The Overseas Private Investment Company, which helps U.S.
businesses invest in new and emerging overseas markets, financed U.S.
$200 million towards the project. GE was also awarded a 25-year
contract to operate and maintain the plant.
With the opening of the Hamma SWDP, GE continues to extend its
leadership position in delivering large-scale seawater desalination
plants that use advanced, ecomagination-certified membrane technology
to create new sources of clean, fresh water. GE desalination
technology is currently used in over 1,500 plants worldwide, providing
more than two billion gallons of freshwater per day for municipal,
industrial and agricultural use. GE´s ecomagination products are
independently verified to help solve tough environmental challenges by
producing abundant sources of clean water; cleaner, more efficient
sources of energy; and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information, please visit www.ge.com/water.
ABOUT GE WATER & PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
A world leader in water, water reuse, wastewater treatment and
process solutions, GE Water & Process Technologies brings the best
technologies to enhance our customers´ efficiency while protecting our
environment. GE offers the broadest portfolio of water and process
technologies, including: separation equipment; membrane & filtration
technology; diagnostic tools; specialty chemicals; mobile water
capabilities; service; and financing. GE is your single source no
matter what your water or process need. GE is committed to develop and
bring to market technologies that promote energy efficiency, lower
harmful emissions, increase supplies of water, and reduce our use of
fossil fuel--it´s called ecomagination. For more information visit
www.ge.com/water.
