Saudi Arabia remains the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. “The desalination plants produced 955 million cubic meters of water in 2012 which is an increase of 7.8 percent compared to the previous year,” said Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ibrahim, governor of Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC).
Speaking at the Saudi Water and Power Forum Al-Ibrahim said that the SWCC has maintained its position as a leader in the field of the desalination water industry for decades. He said that the SWCC is providing water to all the major regions in the Kingdom through its 26 plants located along the Arabian Sea and Red Sea. There are 6 plants on the east coast producing 504 million cubic meters of desalinated water making up about 52.8 percent of the total water produced in the Kingdom. Another 20 plants are located on the Red Sea which cater to Jeddah, Makkah and Taif and produce about 451 cubic million cubic meters of water.
Al-Ibrahim said that the Jeddah plants produce 129 million cubic meters of water catering to the city of Jeddah.
The Yanbu plant along the same coast produces about 124 million cubic meters of water, and supplies it to Madinah, Yanbu and the surrounding areas. The Shuqaiq plant produces 11 million cubic meters and supplies it to Asir and Jazan.
The governor said that the Jubail plant in the Arabian Sea produces 363.4 million cubic meters of water supplying it to Riyadh and Jubail. The Alkhobar plant along the same coastline also produces 132 million cubic meters of water fulfilling the needs of the Eastern Province and Al-Ahsa. The Al-Khafji plant produces 7.6 million cubic meters of water meeting the needs of the Al-Khafji governorate.
The SWCC supplies drinking water through a 5,390 km network of pipes. There are 46 pumping stations which ensure the smooth and uninterrupted flow of water, he added.
Al-Ibrahim stated that expansion works in all the major plants to increase water production are under way to meet the growing demand.
The Ras Al-Khair plant will produce 1,025,000 cubic meters per day; the Yanbu plant (phase 3) will have a capacity of 500,000 cubic meters and the Jeddah plant will have a capacity of 240,000 cubic meters per day.
SWCC’s desalinated water output is world’s largest
