LIBYA – The Derna seawater desalination plant in north-east Libya has resumed operations, providing a vital water supply for 320,000 people. The facility, damaged during storm Daniel in September 2023, was restored by the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) after a month of reconstruction work. The plant, with a daily capacity of 40,000 m3, helps mitigate the risks of waterborne diseases and malnutrition for the affected population. Cases of poisoning from unsafe water rose before the plant's restart, prompting the National Centre for Disease Control to declare a state of emergency for the affected regions in eastern Libya. While progress has been made, additional efforts are needed to stabilize the water network in Derna. (Afrik21)
SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) is set to issue a request for proposals in the first quarter of 2024 for an independent water project (IWP) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The Jubail 4 and 6 IWP scheme, with a total capacity of 600,000 m3/d of seawater treatment, will use reverse osmosis technology. SWPC recently qualified nine companies and consortiums, including ACWA Power, Marubeni Corporation, and Engie, to bid for the project. The desalination plant will be located south of Jubail Industrial City, adjacent to existing units. The successful bidder will sell the entire capacity and output to SWPC under a 25-year water purchase agreement. (MEED)
U.S.A. – The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in California is partnering with startup OceanWell to pilot a new approach to seawater desalination. OceanWell's technology utilizes the weight of the ocean to power a reverse-osmosis process in subsea pods anchored to the ocean floor. These pods, located about 427 meters below the surface, use hydrostatic pressure to push seawater through semi-permeable membranes, producing fresh water on one side. The byproduct released into the ocean is significantly less salty than traditional desalination brine, reducing potential harm to marine life. The pilot project will be conducted in the Las Virgenes Reservoir in Westlake Village next year, with potential benefits for localizing water supply and reducing reliance on imported water. (The Acorn)
NAMIBIA – The Erongo Desalination Plant, Southern Africa's largest reverse osmosis seawater desalination complex, is prepared to support Namibia's growing green hydrogen industry. Namibian President Dr. Hage Geingob visited the plant to assess the infrastructure for the envisioned Green Industrial Valley along the coastal region. The plant, operational since June 2010, has a proven record of providing reliable and safe potable water to the Erongo Region. With the expected increase in freshwater demand driven by the hydrogen economy, the plant's capacity of 54,794 m3/d, expandable to 68,493 m3/d, positions it to meet emerging industry needs. Originally constructed by Orano for its Trekkopje Mine, the plant significantly contributes to local drinking water supplies and supports various industries. (Namibia Economist)
The Erongo desalination plant, Namibia. Credit: Chamber of Mines
SCIENCE – Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) have developed a novel heat transfer fluid based on nanofluids that efficiently transfers heat generated using solar power to desalination systems. The research addresses the global issue of water scarcity by providing a practical solution for producing potable water from seawater. Traditional desalination methods use heat generated by burning fossil fuels, posing economic and environmental challenges. The researchers explored the use of nanofluids, suspensions of nanoparticles in Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES), as an efficient alternative for transferring heat. They achieved enhanced dispersion stability by modifying graphene oxide with an amine functionality, demonstrating outstanding thermal conductivity and stability. (INDIA TODAY)
BARBADOS – The Barbados Water Authority has announced the successful completion of emergency repair work at the desalination plant on the Mighty Grynner Highway. The plant resumed full operations on Friday, and water supply to affected areas is expected to return to normal. (BARBADOS TODAY)
SAUDI ARABIA – ACWA Power, the world's largest private water desalination company listed in Saudi Arabia, has achieved a record-breaking financial milestone, reaching financial closure for projects totaling over $14 billion. Over the past year, ACWA Power has achieved financial closure for 10 significant projects in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Uzbekistan, covering renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen production. Notable projects include the NEOM Green Hydrogen project valued at $8.5 billion, the world's largest utility-scale green hydrogen production facility currently under construction in Saudi Arabia. Financing for these projects has involved various local and international financial institutions and infrastructure development funds. ACWA Power has 75 assets in various stages of development and operation across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. (MEP)