Marafiq to set up saline water plant

13/06/2013 07:47 AST

The Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu (Marafiq) has signed a deal with French Sidem and Sidem Saudi Arabia, both affiliated to Veolia Water Company, whereby the latter will undertake the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance works at a new saline water plant at SADARA Petrochemical Complex in Jubail.

The contract was signed by Thamer bin Saud Al-Sharhan, CEO of Marafiq, and Vincent Bujat, CEO of French Sidem, and Johnny Obeid, general manager of Sidem, the Middle East Region, in the presence of a number of officials from the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY). The event was sponsored by RCJY Chairman Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan Al-Saud.

The new plant, to operate on reverse osmosis system and coping with environmentally friendly technologies, will provide SADARA Complex with desalinated water for industrial use at a production capacity estimated at 178,000 cubic meters per day.

The project is expected to produce water in commercial quantities in the third quarter of 2015 and work on build, operate and own (BOO) basis. The contract will cover 20 years and extendable for another 10 years.

Prince Thunayan said the project is a great addition to Marafiq facilities as it (Marafiq) is committed to meet the requirements of its customers, and keen to harness their efforts and provide all the support to contribute to the industrial development taking place in the Kingdom. The project will also provide many job opportunities to Saudi youths in various areas, he said. Al-Sharhan expressed thanks and appreciation to Prince Saud for his support and sponsorship of the signing ceremony.

SADARA is a joint venture project between Saudi Aramco and US-based Dow Chemical which is meant to establish an integrated industrial complex in Jubail 2. The volume of investment in the project is estimated at SR 100 billion and will produce more than 3 million tons of chemical products.

Marafiq's main objective is to undertake the operation, maintenance, management, expansion and construction of seawater cooling systems, desalinated and treated water systems, sanitary and industrial wastewater systems and electric power systems to provide essential utility services to industrial, commercial and residential customers in the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu.

Arab News