MOROCCO – Russian company Rosatom and Moroccan firm Water and Energy Solutions have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on water desalination, conditioning, and purification projects. The agreement, signed during the second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum, will see Rosatom's subsidiary Rusatom Smart Utilities work on the development projects in Morocco. Morocco, which has been facing drought for several years, has committed $37.6 billion over 30 years to strengthen its water supply infrastructure. (Atalayar)
SINGAPORE – Starting in early 2025, private water suppliers in Singapore, including those harvesting rainwater and desalinating seawater on a large scale, will be subject to taxes imposed by the national water agency Public Utilities Board (PUB). This tax will apply to suppliers providing non-potable water for their own use or for sale, impacting entities such as country clubs, golf courses, and industrial facilities. The move aims to manage water demand effectively as it is expected to nearly double by 2065. (The Business Time)
U.S.A. – The City of Corpus Christi's Inner Harbor desalination project permit application is temporarily withdrawn without prejudice, following a request for additional information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps set a 30-day deadline for the submission of the required information, which ended on August 1. The city's water department professionals, along with engineering firm Freese and Nichols, plan to provide the requested information to the Corps project management team in the coming weeks. Once the information is submitted, the permit application can be reinstated and prioritized. (City of Corpus Christi)
PORTUGAL – Membrion, a company headquartered between Lisbon and Seattle, has secured $12.7 million in a Series B funding round led by investors such as Indico, Samsung Ventures, Lam Capital, PureTerra, GiantLeap, Freeflow, and Safar Partners. Membrion specializes in electro-ceramic desalination technology to treat challenging water effluents from industrial facilities in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner. The funding will support Membrion's growth plans, including a future expansion to Europe, where it aims to address global demand for sustainable water solutions. Membrion, founded in 2016 as a spin-out from the University of Washington, developed the world's first desalination membrane made of ceramic materials, offering advantages in performance and longevity. The technology is particularly beneficial for industries such as electric battery production and food & beverage, enabling the recovery of up to 98% of water in harsh conditions. (EU-Startups)
Workers at a Membrion facility. Credit: Membrion
INDIA – Torrent Power Ltd., through its subsidiary Torrent Urja 8 Private Limited, has signed a Power Transfer Agreement with subsidiaries of Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Private Limited (SPCPL) to supply 132 MW of solar power for desalination plants in Gujarat. The project is valued at $93 million. Torrent Power is the integrated power utility of the Torrent Group, with a market cap of approximately $12 billion. (Saur Energy International)
QATAR – Qatar University's Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) Director, Professor Mohammad Irshidat, has outlined measures to make water desalination in the country more sustainable. Irshidat suggested integrating renewable energy, such as solar power, and optimizing energy consumption with regular maintenance to promote efficiency. Other measures include proper brine management and disposal to minimize impact on the marine ecosystem, brine reuse options, comprehensive water conservation measures, and demand management strategies. CAM has contributed to these efforts through the UNESCO Chair in Desalination and Water Treatment for Sustainable Water Security, which focuses on research and development of innovative desalination and water treatment technologies. (The Peninsula)
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS – The St Kitts and Nevis administration is set to construct a 9,092 m3/d capacity desalination plant as part of measures to address water challenges in the country, according to Minister of Public Infrastructure Konris Maynard. The construction is expected to alleviate water issues in the Basseterre area. (Searchlight)