Abu Dhabi plans to build at least three new electricity generation and water desalination plants by 2016 to meet surging demand from energy projects and a growing population, a regulatory executive said on Wednesday.

The three plants will have capacity of around 5000 MW of power and about 300 million gallons per day of water in total, said Nick Carter, director general of the Regulation and Supervision Bureau of Abu Dhabi.

"We expect we need at least three more power plants between now and 2016," he told the Meed conference.

Demand for power will peak to around 14000 to 15000 MW in Abu Dhabi in 2016 he said adding that current demand is about 8000 MW. Abu Dhabi's current installed capacity is 10,000 MW.

"The largest driver for power demand will be Adnoc which requires 2500 MW of power by 2014 for its gas and other projects" he said.

The other demand drivers are industry (2000 MW), commercial (1600 MW) and residential.   

Power demand in the emirate is projected to grow at an average 11 percent annually in the next 10 years compared to an average of 7 per cent in the last 20 years said Keith Miller, director, of planning and studies, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (Adwec). - Reuters