Work on the 250MW Hatta pumped storage power plant in the UAE has reached 23%, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced.
The plant, which is the first of its kind in the Gulf region, has investments of around AED 1.421 billion (US$387 million). It will have a storage capacity of 1500MWh and a lifespan of 80 years.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA said that the project has so far recorded more than 3.5 million safe working hours without injuries. He said that construction of the power plant uses the latest and safest drilling technologies to fit Hatta’s geological features while following the highest international environmental standards to protect the Hatta Natural Reserve. He noted that the service tunnelling operations were complete, with each tunnel 500m long.
DEWA is also implementing two pioneering projects in Hatta; ‘Dubai Summit’ and ‘Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls.’ The ‘Dubai Summit’ project includes the construction of a 5.4km cable car to transport tourists to the summit of Um Al-Nesoor. At 1300 metres above sea level, it is the highest natural summit in Dubai. The project is expected to be a major tourist attraction in the UAE. The cable car route passes over the Hatta Dam Lake and the Upper Dam Lake for the hydroelectric power station, as well as through mountains, ending at the summit of Um Al Nesoor mountain.
The ‘Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls’ project will use the slope of the upper dam to create a natural waterfall. A waterway will be built along the parking area below the dam. The water used in the waterfall will be collected at the end of the stream, recycled and pumped back to the top of the dam. Fish bred in the stream will provide an additional attraction for tourists and families. The area will be developed to create recreational spaces and restaurants.
