AUSTRALIA – Osmoflo has been awarded a $39 million contract by Rio Tinto to develop the Dampier seawater desalination plant. The plant, set to produce 10,959 m3/d, is crucial for Rio Tinto's water security strategy in the West Pilbara. Osmoflo will handle the design, procurement, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and training for the plant, with water production expected by 2026. This project is one of Osmoflo's most significant, aligning with its mission to provide sustainable water solutions. Osmoflo's CEO highlighted the project's importance for both Rio Tinto's operations and local communities. (Smart Water Magazine)
Water Corporation is preparing to build a new seawater desalination plant in Alkimos to reduce dependency on rainfall and groundwater. The plant will produce 136,986 m3/d, with the potential to expand to 273,972 m3/d. It will feature a 33.5-kilometer pipeline to transport drinking water to Wanneroo Reservoir for Perth’s water supply. The project includes built-up, vegetated sand dunes to minimize visual and noise impacts and provisions for a groundwater treatment plant. This new plant will be Water Corporation's third desalination facility, following those in Kwinana and Binningup. (Pipeliner)
U.S.A. – Primeval Energy and Global Water Farms (GWF) have partnered to develop a geothermal-powered desalination project in Southern California. Primeval Energy will provide the necessary geothermal assistance for the energy-intensive project, which aims to supply clean water and produce salt-based construction blocks from the desalination by-product. This collaboration is expected to enhance water flow in the Colorado River and establish a flagship location at the Salton Sea, with potential for international expansion. This partnership is seen as a model for combining desalination and geothermal energy to address global water stress issues. (Think Geoenergy)
PANAMA – The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is launching a pilot plan to test desalination due to increased salt levels in Gatun Lake, caused by drought from the El Niño phenomenon. The plan involves a desalination plant in Escobal, Colon, with a capacity to supply 6,000 people daily and will run for six months to maintain water quality for human consumption. Recent rains have improved water levels, allowing an increase in the daily number of ships passing through the canal starting in June. In May, maintenance will temporarily reduce the number of transits through the Panamax locks. (MercoPress.)
The Panama Canal Authority is launching a pilot plan to test desalination due to increased salt levels in Gatun Lake. Credit MercoPress.
SAUDI ARABIA – LG Chem plans to invest $86.6 million with Alkhorayef Group to build its first overseas water desalination device plant in Saudi Arabia by 2026. The partnership will also focus on sales, marketing, and exploring new business opportunities in the water treatment industry. LG Chem's RO membranes boast a 99.89% salt removal rate, and Saudi Arabia, relying on desalination for over 70% of its water, is the largest global buyer of these membranes. (Korea JoongAng Daily)
Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Company has secured a $453.25 million, 15-year contract with the National Water Company for operating and maintaining sewage treatment plants in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The contract includes the design, rehabilitation, testing, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and handover of three existing plants (Al Hafuf STP 1, Al Oyun STP, and Al Omran STP) and the new Al Hafuf STP 2. Rehabilitation will be completed in two phases over 36 months. The project's total design treatment capacity will increase from 457,500 m3/d to 472,000 m3/d. (ZAWYA)
U.A.E. – The Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority (SEWA) in Kalba ensures uninterrupted operation of its desalination plants, maintaining high reliability. Specialized maintenance teams have restored the plants' operations, achieving a production capacity of 28,413 m3/d using reverse osmosis technology. Engineer Youssef Al Hammadi, Director of the Kalba Department at SEWA, confirmed that all necessary resources, including water transport tanks, have been mobilized to compensate for any temporary supply loss. (SHARJAH)
SCIENCE – A team led by MIT developed a novel PV-powered desalination system using time-variant electrodialysis reversal (EDR) technology, which reduces the levelized cost of water compared to conventional methods. This system is designed to handle intermittent solar energy by adjusting voltage and flow rates in real-time, optimizing water production. In tests, the flexible EDR system utilized 77% of solar energy on average, a significant improvement over traditional systems, and required substantially less battery capacity. The cost analysis showed a 22% reduction in water cost compared to current PV-EDR systems and 46% compared to conventional ones. The researchers aim to explore long-term performance and broader applications of this technology for global water and waste treatment challenges. (PVmagazine)