SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) and the Shuqaiq Three Company for Water (S3CW) have marked a milestone at Shuqaiq 3 IWP desalination plant in Shuqaiq in the Jizan region, clocking two million man-hours without Lost Time Injuries and 50% completion on the construction of the project. According to EPC contractor Acciona, the safety milestone was achieved due to risk prevention and correct implementation of health and safety measure for all workers. The Shuqaiq 3 IWP plant will produce 450,000 m3/d of water and will provide water to the cities of Abha and Jiza once completed in the last quarter of 2021. (Construction Week)
EGYPT – The Egyptian government has granted a $188.7 million guarantee to the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater to implement seawater desalination projects in the Marsa Matrouh, Safaga, Queseir and Marsa Alam cities. According to the Egyptian Minister of Finance, the $188.7 million guarantee is granted under the new law recently promulgated by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, which aims to preserve freshwater resources. The most important point of this resource preservation policy is the reuse of treated wastewater and the construction of seawater desalination plants. (Afrik 21)
As part of Egypt’s extensive plan to build 47 desalination plants by 2030, at least 19 seawater desalination plants will be commissioned by 2022, to supply water to people in coastal cities. The first part of the plan consists of the following projects: Nabq, Ras Sidr, Abu Zanima, Dahab, Nueiba, Arish 1, Arish 2, Arish 3, Arish 4, Sheikh Zowayed 1, Sheikh Zowayed 2, Sidi Barani, Port Said West, Dabaa, Marina 1, Marina 2, Marbella and New Mansoura. The 19 plants will provide a total of 550,000 m3/d and will cost $693.3 million.
At least 67 desalination plants are expected to be constructed in Egypt by 2050 and the plan will require an investment of $27.4 billion. The plan includes 14 plants with a capacity of 250,000 m3/d in the Matrouh governorate, 18 plants with a capacity of 109,000 m3/d in the Red Sea governorate, 21 plants with a capacity of 20,000 m3/d in North Sinai and 9 plants with a capacity of 75,000 m3/d in South Sinai. One plant will be constructed in Ismailiyah and two others in the Suez governorate. (Afrik 21)