MOROCCO – Sand To Green, a Franco-Moroccan company, has installed a solar-powered desalination unit in Morocco's Guelmim-Oued Noun region to support its regenerative agriculture project. The unit, provided by the French start-up Osmosun through the Osmosun Maroc joint venture, produces 140 m³ of fresh water daily to irrigate a 38-hectare ecological plantation. This initiative aims to reverse soil degradation in the desert, making the land fertile for fig, pomegranate, carob, geranium, and rosemary plants. The low-carbon desalination...

TUNISIA – The town of Zarat in Tunisia now hosts a new seawater desalination plant, built by the Indian company Va Tech Wabag, which will supply drinking water to around 1 million people across three governorates. Inaugurated on July 7, the plant has an initial capacity of 50,000 m³/d, with plans to expand to 100,000 m³/d by 2027. The facility includes a pumping station, storage tanks, and a brine discharge system to manage waste. This project aims to reduce groundwater overexploitation, which has been exacerbated by drought. Funded with...

PALESTINE – Israel has started boosting electric power to a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip to increase water production for a designated humanitarian zone, where most of Gaza's population is currently located. This action, which involves Israeli-Palestinian cooperation, aims to prevent a severe humanitarian crisis amid ongoing conflict with Hamas, as the facility will significantly increase its water output from 1,500 to 20,000 m³/d. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has emphasized the humanitarian need for this project as part of Israel's...

TAIWAN – China Technical Consultants Inc. (CTCI) has won a $543 million contract to build a desalination plant in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in collaboration with the Suez Group. The plant, expected to produce 113,300 m³/d, is scheduled for completion in 2028 and will be Taiwan's first large-scale desalination facility. This project is one of eight planned desalination plants prioritized by the Taiwanese government. The plant will supply water for residential and high-tech industrial use in Hsinchu. CTCI will incorporate advanced technologies to...

U.S.A. – U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono announced $18.9 million in federal funding for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply's new desalination facility. The Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Project will use reverse osmosis to convert seawater into potable water, reducing reliance on Central Oahu's water transfers and groundwater sources during droughts. Funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Program, the facility will initially produce 6,435 m³/d, with future expansion plans for up to 18,927 m³/d....

MOROCCO – Acciona, a Spanish contractor, has begun construction on Africa’s largest desalination plant in Morocco, located south of Casablanca at Lamharza Essahel. The $650 million project, a public-private partnership, will produce 547,945 m³/d starting in 2026, eventually increasing to 821,917 m³/d, sufficient for 7.5 million people. The plant, which will be powered entirely by wind energy, includes ancillary works worth $300 million, such as a storage reservoir and pipelines. The project is part of Morocco's $14.3 billion climate change...

BAHRAIN – Bahrain's Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has announced a tender for a new seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant to be built on Hawar Island. The plant will have the capacity to produce 4,546 to 9,092 m³/d of potable water and will include two ground storage tanks and forwarding pumps. The project, set to be completed within a year under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract, aims to enhance Bahrain's water supply. Bidders must demonstrate significant experience in SWRO desalination...

INDIA – VA TECH WABAG has secured major projects in Tunisia, Nepal, and Oman, highlighting its technical expertise and commitment to sustainable solutions. In Tunisia, WABAG won a $36.9 million design, build, and operate a 36,000 m³/d wastewater treatment plant in Sousse Hamdoun II, with funding from the French Development Agency, European Investment Bank, and the EU. In Nepal, WABAG secured a $49 million contract to design, build, and operate three wastewater treatment plants in Kathmandu, aiming to treat 69,000 m³/d of wastewater and...

AUSTRALIA – The Australian federal government has announced funding for a $230 million project to deliver desalinated water to support renewable industries in South Australia. The Northern Water Supply project aims to construct a 260,000 m³/d desalination plant in the Spencer Gulf and a 600 km pipeline to the state’s far north. This project will provide a climate-independent water source, reducing pressure on groundwater and the Murray River. Federal funds of $65 million will contribute to a $230 million package, with additional funding from...

SPAIN – A consortium led by ACCIONA and Aqualia has secured a $15.41 million contract to operate and maintain three desalination plants in Ibiza for the next four years, with a potential one-year extension. The contract, awarded by The Balearic Water and Environmental Quality Agency (Abaqua), covers the plants in Ibiza Town, Santa Eulària, and San Antonio, as well as the interconnecting network of 74 kilometers of pipelines. These plants collectively produce 44,500 m³/d and serve five municipalities on the island. ACCIONA and Aqualia are...

EGYPT – In July 2024, Egypt will launch a call for tenders to build four new seawater desalination plants, as part of a project aimed at increasing the country's desalinated water supply. The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) has pre-qualified 14 consortia and three companies for the project, which will be overseen by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. The plants, with capacities between 300,000 and 400,000 m³/d, are scheduled to be constructed by mid-2025 and will initially supply 3.35 million cubic meters of water annually....

AUSTRALIA – Osmoflo has been awarded a $39 million contract by Rio Tinto to develop the Dampier seawater desalination plant. The plant, set to produce 10,959 m³/d, is crucial for Rio Tinto's water security strategy in the West Pilbara. Osmoflo will handle the design, procurement, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and training for the plant, with water production expected by 2026. This project is one of Osmoflo's most significant, aligning with its mission to provide sustainable water solutions. Osmoflo's CEO highlighted the project's...

MOROCCO – Morocco's Oriental region plans to build eight new desalination plants to address severe droughts and stabilize drinking water supply. These plants will desalinate brackish water and seawater, targeting five provinces: Driouech, Figuig, Guercif, Jerada, and Nador. An agreement for these plants was adopted on April 17, 2024, and a budget of $10.73 million has been allocated for the project, including the connection of three existing plants to the water and electricity networks. The desalination project aims to boost drinking water...

U.A.E. – The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Saudi-based ACWA Power have announced the financial closure of a major 818,296 m³/d reverse osmosis desalination project in Hassyan, Dubai. Valued at $920 million, this project will be the largest of its kind globally using reverse osmosis technology under the Independent Water Producer (IWP) model. It supports Dubai’s goal to produce 100% of its desalinated water by 2030 using clean energy and waste heat, aligning with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 and Integrated Water Resources...

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has received two bids for the 300,000 m³/day Ras Mohaisen Independent Water Plant (IWP) project located on the Red Sea coast. The bidders are Spain's ACCIONA and a Saudi consortium comprising ACWA Power, Haji Abdullah Alireza & Partners Company, and AlKifah Holding. The project includes storage tanks with a capacity of 600,000 m³ and an electrical substation, with a commercial operation date expected in the second quarter of 2028. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in December...

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia's Al Khobar 2 desalination plant, located on the east coast, will begin full-capacity operations in April 2024, producing 600,000 m³/d. ACCIONA, which manages the plant, celebrated achieving 14 million man-hours without lost-time injuries (LTI). Al Khobar 2 is the largest seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant in Saudi Arabia, awarded under an EPC contract by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) to ACCIONA and RTCC in 2020. Upon commissioning, the plant will provide water to three million residents. (...

SENEGAL – ACWA Power, a Saudi Arabian utility developer, has secured an $800 million agreement with Senegal for a desalination project. The contract involves building a 400,000 m³/d desalination plant in Dakar, Senegal, in partnership with the country's Ministry of Water and Sanitation and Société Nationale des Eaux du Senegal (SONES). ACWA will handle the development, financing, construction, and operation of the seawater desalination plant and its associated infrastructure, with construction planned in two phases. The contract spans 32...

CHILE – Antofagasta Minerals inaugurated a $2 billion desalination plant for its Los Pelambres copper mine in Chile to address severe drought impacting production. It's the first mine in the area to operate with desalinated water, crucial due to a 15-year drought depleting freshwater reservoirs. Chilean President Gabriel Boric commended the project's significance amid climate change, emphasizing the need for responsible mining practices. The plant, located in Los Vilos, Coquimbo, will pump 34,560 m³/d initially, with plans for an additional...

U.A.E. – The UAE has inaugurated one of the world's largest reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants, capable of producing 681,913 m³/d, enhancing the country's water security efforts. Known as the "NAQA'A" plant, it operates under the independent water producer (IWP) model and is situated in Umm Al Quwain. Developed through collaboration between Etihad Water and Electricity, Mubadala, and ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia, the plant underwent two phases, reaching its full production capacity by the end of 2022. The inauguration signifies a...

OMAN – The inauguration of a state-of-the-art water desalination plant in Dhofar, Oman, on March 5, 2024, marks a significant step towards sustainable development in the region, sponsored by the Governor of Dhofar. The plant, located in the Wilayat of Shalim and Al Hallaniyat Islands, has a production capacity of 1,500 m³/d. Funded by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and the Office of the Governor of Dhofar, this initiative underscores a commitment to community development and sustainable practices. By localizing water production, the plant...

ISRAEL – Israel is planning to construct the largest water desalination plant by renovating and expanding the Ashkelon desalination facility. With the current facility treating 301,369 m³/d, the new arrangement aims to double its desalinated water output. After 25 years of operation, the facility is undergoing a new concession bid for operations, including a significant expansion to about 602,739 m³/d. Upon completion, the expanded facility, along with other desalination plants in Israel, is expected to supply almost the entire volume of...

PORTUGAL – Águas do Algarve has launched a $97 million tender for a desalination plant in Albufeira, doubling the initial cost estimates. The plant aims to convert seawater into drinking and irrigation water at an initial rate of 43,835 m³/d, but will have a production capacity of 65,753 m³/d upon completion by the end of 2026. Despite public opposition, the government remains committed to the project, citing it as a solution to the region's water scarcity. (Portugal Resident)

SAUDI ARABIA – The Saline Water Conversion Corporation...

SPAIN – The Marbella seawater desalination plant, initially plagued with construction issues and financial controversies, now serves as a critical water source for the western Costa del Sol, providing half of its water needs amid a severe drought situation. The plant's capacity is set to double in the spring to 32,877 m³/d and potentially triple to 54,794 m³/d by the end of the year, significantly alleviating water scarcity in the region. Plans for expansion involve upgrading filtration systems and potentially adding portable or fixed...

TUNISIA – Tunisia's Zarat desalination plant in Gabes governorate is set to be operational by the end of January 2024, according to Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries Abdelmonem Belati. Desalination plants are planned for Sfax, Sousse, and Djerba to manage water consumption and ensure drinking water rights, especially for future generations. The minister emphasized the importance of optimizing treated wastewater as an additional resource for irrigation. A floating station in the Sidi Saad dam basin, part of the irrigated...

U.K. – Veolia Water Technologies has been chosen to construct and supply a desalination plant for Cornwall in the UK. South West Water, the water and wastewater service provider, selected Veolia for this project, which aims to address water scarcity issues exacerbated by recent droughts in the region. The proposed desalination plant could produce up to 20,000 m³/d of water per day, meeting approximately 40% of Cornwall's current water demand. Veolia will manufacture and deliver the desalination plant, which will extract seawater from St...

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has issued request for proposals (RFPs) for the Jubail 4 & 6 Independent Water Projects (IWP) with a combined capacity of 600,000 m³/day. The projects will utilize reverse osmosis seawater desalination technology and are expected to be operational in Q3 2027. The scope includes finance, development, operation, and maintenance of the seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant, located south of Jubail Industrial City in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Nine leading utility...

U.A.E. – Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), GS Inima, and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) have announced the successful financial closing of the $444 million Shuweihat 4 Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination Project (S4 RO). The project, located within the Shuweihat Power and Water Complex, will supply up to 318,226 m³/d of potable water, enhancing water supply security in Abu Dhabi. The funding, primarily through debt financing (71%), involves local and international banks, including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Commercial...

CHINA – The Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant in Hong Kong is set to become operational on December 22, providing up to five percent of the territory's overall fresh water demand. The first stage of this desalination facility utilizes advanced reverse osmosis technology, offering a stable water source that is resistant to climate change. When fully operational, the plant will have a capacity of 135,000 m³/d. The plant, in conjunction with the Pak Kong Water Treatment Works and the Tseung Kwan O Primary Fresh Water Service Reservoir, will...

U.K. – South West Water (SWW) has selected Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions to deliver Cornwall's first seawater desalination plant. The project, part of a $159 million investment by SWW, includes plans for water treatment works at Restormel. The desalination process involves initial treatment at a plant based in Par, followed by a secondary treatment phase at Restormel, providing water to around 300,000 people in Cornwall. Some locals express concerns about the chosen location, citing potential impacts on wildlife, including the...

AUSTRALIA – The first stage of the Alkimos desalination plant in Western Australia is estimated to cost $2.8 billion, nearly double the $1.6 billion initially proposed in the Water Corporation's development application. Premier Roger Cook announced that the project will be fully funded from the expected 2023-24 surplus. The desalination plant's first stage, operational by 2028, aims to supply 136,986 m³/d. The total cost and completion date for the second stage, which doubles the plant's output to 273,973 m³/d, remain unconfirmed, but Water...