Nov. 10--ABU DHABI PLANS STRATEGIC WATER RESERVES: Abu Dhabi is planning to implement strategic water reserves, the Secretary General of the Environment Agency Majid Al Mansouri told delegates at the MEED Abu Dhabi Conference. By 2020 the emirate plans to have set up two strategic reserves; one for the Eastern region and one for the Western region. Each will hold enough water to keep these going for three months. In addition, all water pipes will be underground, eliminating 60 percent of waste from evaporation.

EAGC AND H. OIL SIGN MOU: Ebrahim Abdulaal Group of Companies (EAGC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish H. Oil Group. EAG's CEO said the joint venture was an excellent opportunity for the GCC to reach the sub-Saharan Africa market. The two companies will form HE Holding WLL to be registered in Bahrain. Proposed activities of the new group will include housing, energy, oil and gas concessions, trading, communications and project financing.

SAUDI-FRENCH DEAL DELAYED: French oil major Total's $12bn joint venture with Saudi Aramco could face a delay as the two firms seek to cut costs. The two firms said in June they would award all the packages for the construction of the 400,000 barrels-per-day Jubail refinery in the first quarter of 2009. But the launch of many oil-related projects in the world's largest oil exporter could be delayed to 2009.

RAK'S DESALINATION PLANT TO RE-OPEN: According to officials from the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA), the Al Galeelah desalination plant in Ras Al Khaimah is set to reopen after being closed for ten days. The sea water treated at the Al Galeelah plant had bacterial pollution and the water had become smelly and reddish. The Ministry of Environment and Water has formed a committee to monitor and find out the cause of the red tide.

ABU DHABI TO FUND PNG DEAL: Papua New Guinea is close to reaching a deal with Abu Dhabi fund International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) to raise $1.68bn through exchangeable bonds for Oil Search Ltd to fund its stake in an $11bn LNG project.

ADNOC IN KUWAIT PRODUCTIVITY DEAL: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's (Adnoc) subsidiary, Esnaad has signed a business collaboration agreement with Kuwait's Napesco International Petroleum Company, Gulf News has rpeorted. Under the deal, Napesco will provide oil well stimulation and other services to another Adnoc unit -- Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations. Napesco is initially targeting 50 wells for stimulation in the first year of their alliance.

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