SAUDI ARABIA – The Al-Shaqueeq desalination plant has launched operations and is supplying water to the regions of Asir and Jazan at a rate of 42,500 m3/d. The project developed by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) started construction in December last year and reached completion in six months, at one-third of the specified time line. The plant has an energy consumption of 3 KW/m3. (Saudi Gazette)
IRAN – A new reverse osmosis desalination facility is under construction in the village of Ziarat in Hormozgan Province. The plant is launching operations in August and will have a capacity of 3,000 m3/d, according to the managing director of the provincial Water and Wastewater Company. (Financial Tribune)
EGYPT – The Egyptian government is considering a $2.8 billion five-year scheme to build 47 desalination plants. Implementation of the plan will be monitored by the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW), the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) and the General Organization for Physical Planning. The goal is to construct 2.44 million m3/d in new desalination capacity by 2025. /d by 2025.
The first component of the scheme consists of improving water supply to underserved areas, particularly in the governorates of North and South Sinai, the Red Sea and Matrouh. The initial plans are to construct 19 seawater desalination plants with a combined capacity of 312,000 m3/d at a cost of $428.6 million. The second phase of the scheme will add 335,000 m3/d via seven seawater desalination plants at a cost of $413 million. The third component of the plan consists of building 19 reverse osmosis plants with a total capacity of 1.29 million m3/d at a cost of $1.85 billion. The final phase of the project will add 100,000 m3/d capacity through the construction of two desalination plants. (Afrik 21)
The Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Credit: Orange County Register.
U.S.A. – Poseidon Water is required to assume responsibility for the preservation, enhancement and restoration of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, in conjunction with the operation of its proposed Huntington Beach desalination project. This requirement was included in a final draft permit issued by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board on June 30th. The California State Lands Commission identified the Bolsa Chica wetland site as an underfunded restoration project in need of funds. Given the wetland’s close proximity to the proposed desalination project site, the State Lands Commission found Poseidon’s Bolsa Chica preservation plan the ideal long-term funding source to ensure the valuable coastal habitat is preserved and enhanced for the future. The Regional Board is scheduled to vote on the permit on July 30th. (PR Newswire)