SAUDI ARABIA – The Saline Water Conversion Corporation has awarded ACCIONA and RTCC the contract for the design and construction of the Shuqaiq 1 desalination plant on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia. The $384 million reverse osmosis plant, once completed, will have a daily capacity of 400,000 m3/d. The project is expected to be completed in 2023 and will be ACCIONA’s fifth desalination plant in Saudi Arabia and the third awarded by SWCC. (Zawya)
13 mobile desalination plants in Saudi Arabia achieved a world record low energy consumption of 2.2 kWh. This was revealed during an inspection from the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) and a number of the SWCC’s Board of directors. The plants operating on reverse osmosis and applying pioneering techniques are part of development projects in the kingdom’s Eastern Region. (Utilities Middle East)
U.S.A. – A desalination plant proposed near Doheny State Beach continues to be delayed as it enters its 20th year of planning and preparation. Board members of the South Coast Water District have ordered new feasibility studies to get a better understanding on eventual consumer costs and explore cheaper energy sources for the plant. In May the district board approved a $73,000 study of a scaled-down version of a plant that would produce 7,570 m3/d and cost between $70 million to $75 million, replacing the original proposal of an 18,927 m3/d plant costing $120 million to $130 million.
The Doheny beach proposal has two advantages over the larger Huntington Beach plant proposal, with its more environment friendly design and the areas greater potential need for water. While the size of the Doheny plant is still under consideration, the baseline model is around one tenth the capacity and cost of Poseidon’s Huntington Beach proposal. The district did get good news on the financing side with Congress approving a funding bill, on Dec 21, which included an $11.7 million water infrastructure grant for the project. This will be on top of an $8.3 million federal grant approved in 2019 and a $10 million state grant approved in 2018.
The study of the scaled-down version as well as hydrogeology and energy studies are expected to be completed by late spring 2021. Despite the process taking longer than anticipated, the district is moving forward with permitting and the district is in the process of responding to Regional Water Quality Control Board questions arising from its permit request. The district is hoping to have final permits in hand as early as late fall or early winter 2021. (The Orange County Register)
The proposal for a desalination plant along the Thane creek has been shelved by the Thane Municipal Corporation. Credit: Praful Gangurde/HT photo)
INDIA – The Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department announced plans for 2021, to build a desalination plant in Chennai with a production capacity of 400,000 m3/d. In addition a desalination plant with a capacity of 60,000 m3/d will be set up in Villupuram district. (The Hindu)
The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has shelved its plans for a desalination plant along the Thane creek converting creek water into potable water. The plant estimated to cost $20.7 million was scrapped as it was deemed too expensive for the city. (Hindustan Times)