EGYPT – The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has paid 67.79 ($75.76 million) to the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces as part of the cost of building a desalination plant in the southern area of the trade hub. The vice president of SCZone stated that the desalination plant will have a production capacity of 100,000 m³/d and will cost $102.57 million. In addition the Arab Organization for Industrialization will build a 35,000 m³/d sewage treatment station in SCZone over three stages, with the first stage scheduled to be...

SINGAPORE –   Malayan Banking Bhd. has terminated a collaboration agreement with Tuaspring and Hyflux Limited. Hyflux said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange that the termination of the agreement is expected to have a material impact on the company’s financial performance.

Hyflux and Tuaspring had agreed to execute a binding agreement with a successful bidder or investor for the full settlement and discharge of Malayan Banking’s total liabilities. Failing to execute the pact by the deadline constituted a violation under...

SINGAPORE – The Tuas Desalination Plant—the first plant to be owned and operated by Singapore’s national water agency Public Utility Board (PUB)—has won Desalination Plant of the Year in the Global Water Awards. The award was presented last week at the Global Water Summit in London.^[1]  

SINGAPORE – Hyflux has filed a lawsuit against SM Investments in the Singapore High Court, stating that the investor has reneged on the rescue deal. The company announced that it has filed a writ of summons in the Singapore High Court after SM...

SOUTH AFRICA – Since last May, the City of Cape Town has been operating a temporary 2,000 m³/d desalination plant at the Waterfront. Now, Growthpoint Properties is building a new desalination plant to ensure the water supply of its premier investment, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. Growthpoint owns a half-share of this property that is worth $535 million.

The company is also examining the location and water sourcing of a separate 180,000 m³/d desalination facility that is set to be operational in 2021, when the...

SINGAPORE – Last week Hyflux revealed it has received an arbitration request from Algerian Energy Company (AEC) that pertains to its Souk Tleta desalination plant in Algeria. The request, which was filed with the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration in Paris, concerns disputes dating back to 2007. Hyflux stated that it has until April 20 to file a response to the arbitration request, which will be overseen by the ICC in accordance with the terms of the 2007 agreements.^[1]   

U.S.A. – ...

U.S.A. – Poseidon Water’s Huntington Beach desalination project is finally nearing the conclusion of its approval process. The Regional Water Quality Control Board has scheduled a vote for Oct 25 for one of the final two permits needed by Poseidon. The board was expected to vote last year on this permit, but ongoing issues consistently delayed the approval process. If Poseidon succeeds in securing this permit, it will then proceed with the process to acquire a California Coastal Commission permit and to finalise a water purchase agreement...

KUWAIT – The director general of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research has revealed that the government is set to launch a solar powered desalination project on a 630,000 m² plot of land north of Kuwait Bay. The plan was revealed last week at the Gulf Water Conference.^[1]

PHILIPPINES – Metro Cebu Water District (MDWD) is planning to develop a new dam and new desalination project to improve the region’s water supply. The proposed dam would generate 80,000 m³ of water per day at the Mananga River in Talisay City. MCWD is planning...

SAUDI ARABIA – ACWA Power has reached a $700m financing deal for the 600,000 m³/d Rabigh 3 IWP, which is will become one of the largest desalination projects in the world.  It will be developed in a consortium—Rabigh 3—with Saudi Brothers Commercial Company (SBCC). ACWA Power owns a 70% stake in the project company, while SBCC owns 30%. The Rabigh 3 facility is planned for commercial operation by the end of 2021 and will supply water to the Makkah Al Mukarramah and Jeddah areas.^[1]

SINGAPORE – Last week Singapore’s Public Utilities...

ISRAEL – Mekorot National Water Company and the Israeli government have developed a four-year plan for renovation and privatization of the Ashdod desalination plant, consisting of a two-year tender process followed by two years of plant renovation at a cost of $52.49 million.  

The $330 million plant has already incurred $430 million in losses to Mekorot, and continues to annual incur losses of $20 million. Government sources expect that privatization of the plant will halt the plant’s financial losses and achieve profitability within...

U.S.A. – The Hawaii State Department of Budget and Finance may issue up to $100 million in special purpose revenue bonds that could be used to aid the construction of two new desalinations plants powered exclusively by solar power. The special purpose revenue bonds would allow the state to support private capital improvement projects that are in the public interest; and it would be possible for private investors to purchase them.  

The legislation is now awaiting a vote by the Senate and House or Representatives.  The funds raised...

DUBAI – The head of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) revealed that Dubai is planning to build its first solar-powered desalination plant. The emirate will seek partners for the construction of the plant this year, which is expected to produce 545,530 m³/d by 2024. DEWA is also developing a 27.3 million m³ water reservoir to expand on its current stores of 3.18 million.^[1]

SOUTH KOREA – Busan city is planning to put the Gijang plant back into operation. City officials in charge of the water supply have developed a plan...

SINGAPORE – The Securities Investors Association of Singapore (Sias) has raised questions regarding the large remuneration of Hyflux’s chief executive, Olivia Lum, in the face of significant debt and losses racked up by the firm. In 2017, while Hyflux reported losses of $115.6 million, Ms. Lum received between $750,000 and $1 million in salary, benefits, and bonuses.

Sias also found ‘material faults and defects’ in almost every Hyflux asset, and many projects are either loss-making or suffering from operational problems. This is the case for...

SAUDI ARABIA – Acciona and a consortium of partners have won a $859 million contract to finance, design and build the new Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant. The contract was awarded by Water and Electricity Company (WEC) and will be implemented under a build, own, and operate model.  Shuqaiq 3 will be one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest desalination plants with a capacity of 450,000 m³/d. To limit power consumption, the facility will utilize a solar photovoltaic facility. The plant is scheduled for completion in 2021^.[1]

PERU – Yokogawa...

AUSTRALIA – For the first time in seven years, Sydney’s Kurnell desalination plant has resumed operations. Last Sunday dam water levels dropped below the 60% threshold that trigger the plant’s reactivation.  The plant will not deliver actual drinking water until at least April, however, and it will take up to eight months for the plant to reach its maximum capacity of 250,000 m³/d. The plant must stay operational for at least 14 months, and potentially until dam water levels are restored to 70%.^[1]

INDIA – The Construction of...

BRAZIL – ArcelorMittal SA, the largest steel manufacturer in the world, is planning to build a desalination facility at its plant in the eastern state of Espírito Santo. The plant will allow the company to be less dependent on state water utility company Cesan and prevent production cuts at times of water shortage. The company will be picking a firm to build the plant in the next month, with companies from India, the United States, and Spain among those interested.

The plant will have an initial capacity of 12,000 m³/d and can be...

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia has awarded a contract to ACWA Power International and Saudi Brothers Commercial Company to build the 600,000 m3/d Rabigh 3 IWP SWRO. The plant will be delivered under a 25-year BOO contract at a water tariff of $0.53/m3.  Commercial operation is set to commence on 31 December 2021. ^[1]

USA – A Sacramento Superior Court judge has rejected a lawsuit requiring a new environmental report for the Poseidon desalination plant proposed for Huntington Beach, California. Three environmental groups filed the...

JORDAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are providing support to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) to expand the As Samra wastewater treatment facility in Jordan. The EU is making a $34.31 million grant available to co-finance an EBRD investment, which is expected to be signed next year. The investment will enable the facility’s current capacity of 365,000 m³/d to be expanded by 100,000 m³/d.^[1]

PAKISTAN – Members in the upper house of the Parliament have expressed...

SAUDI ARABIA ACWA Power, the Saudi water and energy developer, has been awarded a contract to build the world’s largest independent desalination plant. The plant will be located in Rabigh, on the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast, and will boast a capacity of 600,000 m3/d. ACWA Power submitted the lowest tariff at $0.53/m3 and was chosen to develop Rabigh 3 IWP alongside the Saudi Brothers Commercial Company. The plant will serve the water needs of Makkah and Jeddah. The project has been procured under a 25-year-build-own-operate (BOO) contract...

U.S.A. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $100 million fund to launch an Energy-Water Desalination Hub to tackle the nation’s water security issues. The Hub will emphasize early stage research and development for energy-sparing and cost-effective desalination technologies. It will also focus on treating non-traditional water sources for multiple end-use purposes.

The DOE will fund one five-year award. The recipient of this award will excel in four technical areas: materials research and development, new processes...

IRAN – Construction of the largest water desalination facility in Iran is now complete. Located in Bandar Abbas, the plant was launched earlier this month in the presence of First Vice President Jahangiri. The facility was funded by the private sector at a cost of $204 million. It will have an initial production capacity of 20,000 m³/d during phase one, and eventually produce 100,000 m³/d.^[1]

EGYPT – The Egyptian government has signed an agreement with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to receive $50 million for the...

USA – The city of Corpus Christi, Texas, is looking to build desalination plants to address the city’s growing demand for water. In 2017 ExxonMobil announced plans to build one of the largest chemical plants north of Corpus Christi. In the first six years of operation the project is projected to inject $50 million into the city’s economy.  This economic growth is expected to meet a growing demand for industrial water.  Several public and private entities are considering plans to build seawater desalination plants to meet...

AUSTRALIA – The Kurnell Desalination Plant is set to be activated later this week due to Sydney’s falling dam levels. Earlier this week water levels were only 0.4 percent above the 60% threshold that triggers the activation order for the plant.

The $1.8 billion plant has been dormant since it was constructed in 2010. It costs $195 million to maintain annually, at a cost of $85 per year per household; and if the plant is turned on this cost will rise to $130 per household.

The plant’s maximum capacity is 250,000 m³/d but it will take months...

INDIA – The State Government of Gujarat is planning to set up the largest desalination plant in the state at Jamnagar, with a capacity of 100,000 m³/d. The state-owned Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited signed an agreement with an Essel Infraprojects/Abeinsa (Abengoa) team to develop the $98.448 million project under a Public Private Partnership. The plant is expected to become operational in 2021 or 2022.^[1]

U.A.E. – The Federal Electricity and Water Authority and MDC Power Holding Company have announced plans to build three new...

U.S.A. – Seven Seas Water is hoping to build a seawater desalination plant on the coast of the city of Port Aransas in Texas. The plant would be designed to have a production capacity ranging from 91,000 to 273,000 m³/day. The company already possesses 16 desalination plants around the world and is currently deliberating whether to build another plant at Harbor Island in Port Aransas. 

Seven Seas Water is already leasing land on Harbor Island and is working on getting the appropriate permits. Some residents of Port Aransas, however, are...

ISRAEL – After an eight-year delay, government officials are making progress with the development of the Sorek B desalination plant. The Ministry of Finance, the Israel Water Authority, and the Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Resources recently published the tender documents for the facility. The plant will have a production capacity of 548,000 m³/d and will bring Israel’s total desalinated water production capacity to 2.15 million m³/d.  

Tender documents allow for the possibility of building a private power...

ISRAEL – A special report by the Israeli State Comptroller has claimed that better long-term planning and water management could have averted the country’s current water crisis. The report criticizes failure of the Israeli Water Authority to manage water supplies and to meet a government-mandated target to produce 750 million m³/yr of desalinated water by 2020. At present Israel’s five desalination facilities produce 585 million m³/yr, a shortfall that could produce costs of $300 million per year.^[1]

U.A.E. – The Abu Dhabi...

EGYPT – Fluence’s Egyptian joint venture, International Co. for Water Services & Infrastructure (IWSI), has closed a USD 7.6 million deal for the delivery of three seawater desalination plants for the Egyptian Ministry of Housing. The plants’ combined capacity of 12,000 m³/day will supply water to Egypt’s north, serving communities along the Mediterranean coast. The desalination facilities will consist of 12 Nirobox SW- XL units (pictured), enabling compact localised water treatment solutions in remote regions. In contrast to...

Iran – The Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) and China’s ZSM Company have signed a deal for the exchange of technical knowledge and the purchase of high-tech reverse osmosis equipment. The agreement will lead to the production of 50,000 desalination membrane filters annually at a specially constructed facility. The factory is expected to be launched within 18 months and will cost USD 24 billion dollars.

Additionally, at the 14^th International Water and Wastewater Exhibition in Tehran, representatives of Iran’s...

SCIENCE – A new study led by the University of New South Wales showed that saline outflow from the Sydney Desalination plant does not harm surrounding marine life. Researchers examined marine life at six underwater locations over a six-year period – during which the Sydney Desalination plant was under construction, operational, and then idle – allowing for the comprehensive examination of the effects of pumping large amounts of hypersaline water into the ocean.  The results of their analysis refute the common belief that high saline...

PHILLIPPINES – The government of Davao Oriental province has proposed using seawater desalination to help the region’s coconut farmers as their plantations suffer the effects of extremely hot weather. 

Davao Oriental’s proximity to the Pacific, and the farmers’ reliance on salt as a fertilizer, suggest that desalination could be a viable option. If the national government supports the plan to establish a desalination plant in the province, it is likely that coconut farmers will spend less on salt importation and benefit from a more...