SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia's Al Khobar 2 desalination plant, located on the east coast, will begin full-capacity operations in April 2024, producing 600,000 m3/d. ACCIONA, which manages the plant, celebrated achieving 14 million man-hours without lost-time injuries (LTI). Al Khobar 2 is the largest seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant in Saudi Arabia, awarded under an EPC contract by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) to ACCIONA and RTCC in 2020. Upon commissioning, the plant will provide water to three million residents. (ZAWYA)
Trina Solar has powered a major desalination plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, with its Vertex N 700W+ series solar PV modules. The photovoltaic power station, with an installed capacity of 45.5 MW, was integrated into the grid by SEPCOIII, a subsidiary of Power China. The Jubail 3A Independent Water Plant aims to reduce carbon emissions by 60,000 tonnes annually, highlighting its significant environmental impact. (Utilities Middle East)
MOROCCO – Morocco's Minister of Infrastructure and Water, Nizar Baraka, announced an ambitious desalination project aiming to produce 1.4 billion m³ of water by 2030 to address the country's structural water deficit exacerbated by global warming. By 2030, desalination is expected to provide 50% of Morocco's drinking water, with plans to build multiple desalination plants. OCP will desalinate 560 million m³, with 500 million m³ designated for agriculture and the rest for drinking water. Coastal towns will get desalination plants through public-private partnerships, freeing dam water for inland towns and rural irrigation. The government is promoting solidarity between coastal and inland areas by extending water supply channels and alleviating pressure on dams. (Smart Water Magazine)
PORTUGAL – The Portuguese environment agency APA issued a favorable Environmental Impact Statement for the Algarve Seawater Desalination Plant, contingent on several conditions. This assessment, part of the Algarve Regional Water Efficiency Plan under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, included a 30-day public consultation and involved various environmental and governmental bodies. Concerns about brine's impact on marine ecosystems were addressed, with requirements for mitigation measures included in the decision. The project still requires a second environmental assessment at the execution stage before it can be licensed and construction can begin. (Portugal Resident)
U.S.A. – State officials approved a permit for a desalination plant off La Quinta Channel in Corpus Christi, allowing the diversion of up to 754,650 m3/d, with plans to produce about 151,416 m3/d of treated water. Proponents argue this will support regional growth and address drought threats, while critics claim it primarily benefits heavy industry and poses environmental risks. The permit focuses on water rights, not discharge, with a separate discharge permit for La Quinta Channel still under review. The city is also progressing on a second desalination plant at the Inner Harbor, which has already received a water rights permit and awaits further approval for its discharge permit. (Caller Times)
IRAQ – Power China Group has been contracted to build a major seawater desalination plant in the Southern Iraqi Faw Port. The project is expected to produce 1 million m3/d for Basra, benefiting nearly four million residents. The project also includes constructing a power plant to operate the desalination facility and provide electricity to nearby areas. This initiative, part of the federal budget, involves collaboration with the local Al Rida Investment Group. The project was transferred from the Ministry of Construction and Housing to Basra Governorate per a Cabinet decision on August 1, 2023. Discussions about the project were held between Farhan Al-Fartoosi, Director of the General Company for Ports in Iraq, and Power China representatives. (ZAWYA)
Power China Group has been contracted to build a major seawater desalination plant in the Southern Iraqi Faw Port. Credit ZAWYA
INDIA – The Nemmeli desalination plant in India has been inaugurated, boasting a capacity of 150,000 m3/d, and will supply drinking water to over one million people in Chennai. Developed by Cobra-Tedagua and Tecton for the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the project is a major milestone in seawater treatment in India. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, along with local authorities, oversaw the inauguration and inspected the facilities. The plant features advanced pretreatment processes and low electricity consumption, making it adaptable to varying water qualities and environmentally robust. Water from the plant will be distributed to 14 urban areas in southern Chennai, addressing water scarcity and improving living standards for the local population over the next 20 years. (Smart Water Magazine)
SENEGAL – ACWA Power has announced a significant $800 million investment to build a desalination plant in Dakar, Senegal, expanding its presence in Africa. The plant will have a capacity of 400,000 m3/d and will be developed in two phases, each producing 200,000 m3/d using reverse osmosis technology. Under an agreement with Senegal’s Ministry of Water and Sanitation and the National Water Company, ACWA Power will manage the project's development, financing, construction, and operation over a 32-year period. The first phase is expected to begin operations by early 2028, with the project anticipated to positively impact ACWA Power's finances. This initiative is part of ACWA Power's broader strategy to triple its size by 2030, supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. (Utilities Middle East)
ALGERIA – Algeria is expanding its desalination capacity along its Mediterranean coast, launching five seawater desalination projects and planning six more. These projects aim to produce 3.6 million m3/d, contributing to the country's goal of self-sufficiency in drinking water. Currently, five plants with a combined capacity of 300,000 m3/d are under construction, with six additional plants to be initiated soon. The total number of desalination facilities on the northern coastline will reach 19, according to Mohammed Taibi, Director General of the Algerian Energy Company. (ZAWYA)
EGYPT – Egypt's Gabal El Asfar wastewater treatment plant, already one of the largest in Africa, will receive $66.78 million from the Agence française de développement (AFD) and the European Union (EU) to further increase its capacity. Initially commissioned in 2005 with a capacity of 500,000 m³/d, the plant expanded in 2018 to handle 2.5 million m³/d. The new funding will enable a third expansion phase, boosting capacity to 3.5 million m³/d to serve 17.5 million people by 2040, up from 5 million currently. This expansion will incorporate advanced technology for triple treatment of effluent, which will be used to irrigate crops amid ongoing droughts. Additionally, the plant generates 56,000 MWh of electricity annually from biogas extracted from sewage sludge. (Afrik21)