Big jump in Saudi desal water supply

Saudi Arabia remains the largest supplier of desalinated water in the world producing 18 percent of the total global output.
SWCC’s 27 plants on the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf produced 855.9 million cubic meters of water and 15.6 million megawatt/hour in 2012, registering a 6.3 percent increase in production compared to 2011.
Plants along the Arabian Gulf supplied 487.6 million cm or 55 percent of the total SWCC output while Red Sea plants pumped 398.3 million cm. SWCC has constructed about 4,000 km of pipeline to distribute water.
It was revealed by an annual report issued by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation yesterday.
Highlighting ongoing projects, it said the Ras Al-Khair plant would supply more than a million cubic meters of water daily and generate 2400MW. The new RO plant in Jeddah will produce 240,000 cm daily.
New projects in Shuqaiq, Alkhobar, Yanbu, Baha and Al-Laith will also boost supply.
The report referred to privatization of some desalination projects in Shuaiba, near Jeddah, Jubail, Shuqaiq and Yanbu.
Desalination plants on the Red Sea supply 126.9 million cm of water to Makkah, the holy sites, Jeddah and Taif while Jeddah plants supply 133 million cm of water to meet the city’s requirements.