Modern Water plc announced on 23 June 2010 that it had agreed an extension to the trial of its desalination plant with the Omani Public Authority for Electricity & Water. Modern Water has agreed a tariff to continue to provide water to the local community for a further six-month term.
The desalination plant in Al Khaluf is the first and only in the Middle East to use Manipulated Osmosis, a process developed by Modern Water. The technology provides high quality drinking water in an area where the seawater provides a difficult challenge for traditional reverse osmosis. The technology is claimed to reduce operating costs and provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional desalination by significantly reducing energy and chemical consumption.