Palestine wastewater plant contract goes to US power management firm

US multinational power management firm Eaton has secured a contract to provide power distribution and industrial control solutions for a Gaza water treatment plant in Palestine.

Aiming to provide more than 9 million annually recharged cubic metres of treated wastewater for the residents of Khan Younis in Palestine’s Gaza Strip – providing access to cleaner water for agriculture purposes while rejuvenating the local environment – the $58 million UNDP-backed Khan Younis Waste Water Treatment Plant commenced in 2015 after nearly two decades in the pipe-line.

“Access to clean water is a fundamental human right. Yet, many people in Gaza face acute water shortages on a daily basis,” said Roberto Valent, UNDP special representative. “UNDP, along with its partners, have fully embraced and supported this project, recognising its impact that will go beyond serving and improving the lives of over 360,000 people in Gaza and generating around 40,000 working days for unemployed Palestinians.”

Now, in the latest project development, the US multinational power management firm Eaton has been awarded a contract to provide complete ‘xEnergy LV Systems, Power Distribution Components and Industrial Control solutions’ – together with local partner SAM Engineering of Jordan. It follows another sizeable contract awarded to the firm last year for the Administration Facility at Sabah Al-Salem University City development in Kuwait.

“This is a very important project that has been established in Gaza which gives will provide adequate and clean water,” said Eaton Middle East Managing Director Ashraf Yehia, who was appointed to the role earlier this year. “Low-voltage power distribution systems are fundamental for such an expansive development and will improve reliability, increase efficiency and enhance safety while our low-voltage electrical equipment will distribute, monitor and manage power throughout the waste water treatment plant.”

Established over 100 years ago, Eaton – a global technology leader in diversified power products and power management systems – exceeded $21 billion in global revenues in its last financial year with a world-wide workforce pushing the 100,000 mark – 300 of those said to be employed in eight countries across its Middle East arm, which has its headquarters and prime manufacturing hub based in Dubai.

“The Middle East is one of our key markets and is witnessing a strong growth,” said Tim Darkes, Eaton EMEA President for Corporate and Electrical, adding, “Eaton is ideally positioned to make an even greater contribution to the sustainable growth of the region.” According to the firm, Eaton has operated in the Middle East for more than four decades, including via its legacy firms such as the distribution and control business unit of Westinghouse which it purchased in 1994.