SAUDI ARABIA – ACCIONA announced that the construction of the Al-Khobar 1 desalination plant has now been completed with the plant producing beyond its normal capacity from December 26. The plant produces 210,000 m3/d drinking water supplying the equivalent of 350,000 people. The testing program and commissioning of the plant was completed remotely using digital twin technology. By using an exact digital copy of the Al-Khobar 1 plant, an expert team in Madrid was able to start the tests and launch the plant remotely, reducing personnel numbers on site to a minimum. (Construction)
OMAN – The developers of the $160 million Salalah desalination project are preparing to bring the plant into full commercial operation. In a recent announcement, Fisia Italimpianti revealed that commission of the Independent Water Project is entering its final stage, with three of the five reverse osmosis units already producing water. Dhofar Desalination Company SAOC and ACWA Power is developing the 113,650 m3/d desalination facility near Mirbat outside Salalah. The plant uses Dissolve Air Flotation (DAFT) technology for pre-treatment and Gravity Limestone Contactors for permeated post-treatment.
The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the plant is being handled by a consortium of Fisia Italimpianti SpA and Abengoa Agua of Spain. Operations and Maintenance (O&M) are being handled by a consortium including Veolia Middle East with NOMAC Oman and Dhofar International Development & Investment Holding Co SAOG (DIDIC). Veolia Middle East and DIDIC are also shareholders in the project company. (Zawya)
Artist rendering of the Salalah desalination project in Oman. Credit: Times of Oman
COOK ISLANDS – Government officials have decided to employ desalination machines to deal with the drought in Penrhyn. Two desalination units have already begun operations. The units were assembled by a team from Infrastructure Cook Islands and are being used to produce water for laundry and grey water purposes. The units are not for commercial use and are not designed to operate 24 hours a day. Infrastructure Cook Islands has ordered a bigger unit that is capable of producing 3.6 m3/d. (Cook Islands News)
EGYPT – A wastewater treatment plant in Marsa Alam, in the Red Sea governorate, recently launched commercial operations. The facility is estimated to cost $446,000 and has a treatment capacity of 700 m3/d and will provide tertiary treatment for the waste water of Marsa Alam. The plant’s effluent will be reusable for 1,080 housing units in the city and will also be used to irrigate green spaces. (Afrik21)
FRANCE – SUEZ announced it has acquired the reverse osmosis membrane product line from specialty chemical company LANXESS. The purchase of LANXESS’ RO product line includes the RO membranes product line and production facility located in Bitterfeld, Germany. The purchase falls in line with SUEZ’s strategy to grow and invest in the industrial water market. (PUMPS AFRICA