How could the oil spill off the UAE coast affect desalination plants?
XYL•An oil spill off the UAE coast has raised concerns about desalination plants, including Naqa'a, whose seawater intake Windward said was threatened. Authorities have not announced any plant shutdowns, and analysts said the potential impact is difficult to assess without more information about the spill.
1. Spill raises plant concerns
The spill, from a vessel shipping sources identified as crude oil tanker Gem No.2, has prompted temporary fishing restrictions and beach closures. Windward said the leak threatened the seawater intake of the Naqa'a desalination plant near the border between Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah; verified footage showed the slick about 2 kilometres from the plant.
2. Water and wildlife risks
Desalinated water accounts for more than 80% of potable water in the UAE. Analysts said the spill's potential impact on plants is difficult to assess without knowing its extent, and the UAE has not announced any shutdowns. Simon Boxall said plants should be shut down as soon as oil gets near them to avoid contamination.
3. Protection and past incidents
Nidal Hilal said the main vulnerability is the seawater intake, which draws raw water into a plant, and recommended several layers of protection. Past oil contamination has disrupted desalination and damaged equipment; a major 1991 Gulf War spill led to plant shutdowns in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Boxall said the UAE spill was not on that scale.
