Energy, Saudi Arabia, India, Ghana
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Energy Recovery bags US$ 1 million in desalination orders in India and Ghana
Fluid flow energy efficiency firm Energy Recovery has won desalination orders totalling US$ 1 million for original manufacturer projects using its technology in India and Ghana. The company said the deals were among a continuing revenue stream from small-to-medium sized projects.

Most-read: our top 20 stories of 2018
The year 2018 was dominated by big project tenders in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia. Water. desalination + reuse rounds up the top stories from our industry.
ERI providing energy-recovery in Ghana and Oman
Spanish contractor Abengoa will use Energy Recovery Inc's pressure-exchanger technology in two desalination plants it is building in Ghana and Oman.
Ghana union calls for review of Teshie-Nungua water purchase deal
Ghana's Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) has called for a review of a water purchase agreement between supplier, Ghana Water Company (GWC), and Korean firm, BEFESA Desalination Developments Ghana, explaining that the current agreement jeopardized the water supplier.
Launch of Teshie-Nungua desalination project postponed
Ghana's government has postponed the commissioning of the Teshie-Nungua desalination water project.
Ghana poised to start up first desalination plant
Ghana is poised to start up its first seawater desalination plant in the capital, Accra, by February, 2015.
Ghana completes 65 Ml/d seawater desalination plant near Accra
Ghana has completed its 65 Ml/d Teshie-Nungua seawater desalination water project.
Ghana desalination plant begun by Agengoa
Construction of the Nungua seawater reverse-osmosis (SWRO) plant in Ghana, the first large desalination plant in West Africa, is now under way.
Befesa wins 60,000 m³/d desalination plant in Ghana
Spain's Befesa Agua has won a US$ 110 million contract for the Nungua, Burma Camp & Industrial Sector Water Project in Ghana which involves a 60,000 m³/d desalination plant.
Dow signs Fluor to build new Saudi desalination component factory
The Dow Chemical Company has appointed Fluor Corporation to build a new factory to manufacture reverse osmosis components for desalination plants in Saudi Arabia.
Fluor to build Dow's RO membrane factory in Saudi Arabia
Fluor Corporation has been awarded a contract by the Dow Chemical Company to build Dow's reverse osmosis (RO) membrane manufacturing facility in Jubail Industrial City II in Saudi Arabia.
UF membranes tackle silica at Indian powerplants
Pentair X-Flow HFS 60 Silica ultrafiltration (UF) membranes are to be used in two projects in India for the removal of colloidal silica from surface water.
Aquatech wins SWRO desalination contract in Gujarat
Tata Power has awarded Aquatech International Corporation an EPC contract for a 25,200 m³/d seawater reverse-osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant for India's first Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) at Mundra in coastal Gujarat.
MD developer seeking US powerplant partners
Swedish membrane distillation (MD) manufacturer Scarab AB is seeking US powerplant operators to allow it to demonstrate the technology's ability to convert waste streams to feedwater using waste heat from turbines and engines.
Private players are reshaping desalination says report
Private water companies are "reshaping global desalination" with nine of the top ten capacity additions in 2015 coming from private sector players according to market researcher Bluefield Research.
UNEP report informs financiers about power-water relationship
The opportunities available to financial institutions to encourage the adoption of best practices, which may include the introduction of eco-friendly technologies, such as membrane technology to recycle wastewater, are stressed in a report just published by the UN Environment Programme's Finance Initiative (ENEP FI).
Saudis launch national solar desalination initiative
The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology announced on 24 January 2010 the launch of the National Initiative for Solar Water Desalination (NISWD) under the patronage of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Desalitech RO wastewater use 'will pay back in 6 months'
Desalitech, developer of the closed-circuit desalination (CCD) system, is to supply a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) advanced wastewater treatment system for a pesticide plant in Gujarat, India.
IDE wins oil refinery SWRO plant in India
Reliance Industries Ltd, India's largest private-sector company, has ordered its first seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination solution from IDE Technologies. Reliance chose IDE's SWRO solution to meet the increased water capacity needs of the plant at one of India's largest oil refineries.
Chennai Petroleum commissions SWRO plant
India's Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) commissioned its 5.8 MIGD (26,367 m³/d) seawater reverse-osmosis desalination plant at Kattupalli Village, Ponneri Taluk, Tiruvallur District, on 6 January 2009.
Saudi solar desalination push nears end of Phase 1
The first of three phases of the King Abdullah Initiative for Solar Water Desalination is expected to be operational by the end of this year, according to reports from Saudi Arabia.
Urban surge drives 57% growth in Indian municipal water treatment market by 2018
Urban population growth in India will create huge demand for municipal water and wastewater treatment systems including desalination adding 57% to revenues over five years according to a recent report by market analyst Frost an Sullivan (F&S).
Second Chennai SWRO plant commissioned
The Nemmeli desalination plant in Tamil Nadu, India, was commissioned on 22 February 2013 by the state's chief minister, Selvi J Jayalalithaa. It is the second seawater reverse-osmosis (RO) plant to provide drinking water for the city of Chennai.
Reynolds to lead CH2M Hill in MENA and India
Chartered engineer Neil Reynolds has been appointed regional managing director for CH2M Hill's operations in Middle East/North Africa (MENA) and India.
New technical services company set up in Saudi
A new company to offer specialized technical services to the oil and gas, petrochemical, energy and water desalination sectors has been set up in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, by Stork Technical Services of the Netherlands and Saudi Industrial Services Co (SISCO).
GE and Aramco launch desalination energy challenge
GE ecomagination and Aramco Entrepreneurship launched a worldwide open technology challenge on 15 April 2014 to speed up efforts to improve the energy-efficiency of seawater desalination.
FEDCO wins Ras Az Zawr energy-recovery contract
The energy-recovery device (ERD) contract for the reverse-osmosis (RO) section of the giant Ras Az Zawr (Ras Azzour) desalination project in Saudi Arabia has been awarded to Fluid Equipment Development Co (FEDCO).
Aquatech wins 13,000 m³/d SWRO for Indian power plant
A 13,000 m³/d seawater reverse-osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant is to be provided for a 1,200 MW coal-fired power station in Tamil Nadu, India, by Aquatech.
VA Tech bags Indian power water treatment contract
VA Tech Wabag Limited, based in Chennai, India, has received an order for total water management of the Kakatiya and Rayalaseema thermal power projects under a balance of plants package as part of a consortium with APGENCO. The Wabag portion involves around INR 2900 million (€ 47 million).

Suez and Middle East plants top 2018 Global Water Awards
Suez has scooped the Desalination Company of the Year Award, and Middle East facilities topped the desal plant categories at this year's Global Water Awards from Global Water Intelligence (GWI).
Desalination capacity increasing by 50% in 2013 says IDA
Desalination plants with a total capacity of 6 million m³/d are expected to come on line during 2013, a 50% increase on 2012, according to new data from the International Desalination Association and GWI DesalData.

Interview: Pedro Almagro, CEO, Abengoa Agua
As comebacks go, Abengoa's has been pretty impressive. The company that has been through a traumatic one-and-a-half years, in April 2017 wowed the industry with a massive €240 million contract win from Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power.
Dow Saudi factory ships first elements
Dow Water & Process Solutions' (DW&PS) has made its first shipment of its Filmtech reverse osmosis (RO) elements from its new Jubail Operations manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia.
Global green group seeks to carve carbon emissions out of desalination
The Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance - H₂0 minus CO₂ initiative, launched at the current climate talks in Paris, has called on its 17-nation membership to use clean energy to power new desalination plants. The call was part of the alliance's aim to tackle the water-energy nexus and climate change.

Shuqaiq IWPP desalination plant in production
The Shuqaiq Independent Water & Power Project in Saudi Arabia began production at the end of May 2010.
IBM joins in Saudi solar desalination initiative
Saudi Arabia's solar powered desalination initiative, announced in January, is now to involve the ultra-high concentrator photovoltaic (UHCPV) and nanomembrane desalination technologies being jointly developed by IBM and the King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST).
Shuqaiq II desalination plant ahead of schedule
The US$ 1.87 billion Shuqaiq II Independent Power and Water Project (IWPP) in Saudi Arabia will be completed before May 2010, the date scheduled for commercial operation.
Japanese-led consortium bags US$ 120 million Saudi desalination deal
Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has awarded a US$ 120 million contract for the expansion of the Shuaiba 2 seawater desalination plant to a joint venture including ACWA Holding and Japanese engineering firms Itochu Corporation and Sasakura.
Ras Azzour desalination and power bids invited again
Bids have been invited from local and international contracting companies and manufacturers in both power and desalination for the Ras Azzour Desalination & Power Plant Project.
Ras Azzour could cost 25% less says SWCC
Saudi Arabia expects the cost of the Ras Azzour power and water desalination project to be 20-25% below initial estimates partly because the price of materials have fallen, according to Reuters.
SWCC privatization 'on track', says governor
The governor of Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Fehied F Alshareef, issued a statement on 13 October 2009 saying that the SWCC privatization and restructuring implementation program remained on track, and that there was no intention to cancel or postpone it.
ABB to supply switchgear to Yanbu 3 desalination
ABB has won an order to design and deliver 420 kV high voltage gas insulated switchgear that will facilitate the supply of power to the Yanbu 3 desalination facility in Saudi Arabia and support the grid integration of a new 2.5 GW power generation plant.
CDM and Miahona in Saudi water partnership
US consultant CDM and Miahona (Our Water), a subsidiary of ACWA Power Development, have announced a new partnership to execute water projects in Saudi Arabia. The partnership will manage engineering and consulting for water sector projects, including providing studies, designs, construction management, operations, and management consulting services.
Abengoa signs world first large renewable desalination plant deal
Saudi-based water treatment specialist, Advanced Water Technologies (AWT) has appointed Spanish conglomerate, Abengoa, as its partner in the development of the world's first, large-scale desalination plant to be powered by solar energy.
Sumitomo backs off Ras Azzour desalination bid
A consortium led by Japan's Sumitomo Corporation has "put on hold" its plans for the Ras Azzour independent water and power project (IWPP) in Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters.
Saudi government to take back Ras Azzour desalination
The giant Ras Azzour desalination plant in Saudi Arabia, which was to have produced 1 million m³/d, is now unlikely to be built be private enterprise.
GE wins drive deal for Yanbu 3 desalination plant
GE's Power Conversion arm has won a deal to provide the electrical variable speed drive (eVSD) system, including motors and MV7000 drives, to the Yanbu 3 power and desalination plant under construction in Saudi Arabia. The systems will reduce the energy needed to run the desalination process as well as the overall cost, said GE.
Go small and local on desalination warns Saudi water expert
President of the Saudi Water and Power Forum (SWPF) Dr Adil Bushnak, has warned that Saudi Arabia must end its rising dependence on "costly" centralised desalination plants.
ERI lands Al-Jubail contract in Saudi Arabia
Acciona Agua has awarded a contract to Energy Recovery Inc for PX Pressure Exchanger energy‑recovery equipment for the SWRO‑4 desalination plant in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
GE and Saudi Aramco launch $200k technology competition
General Electric and Saudi Aramco have launched a $200,000 challenge to improve the energy efficiency of seawater desalination.
Indian city retail quarter to get desalination plant
The giant retail quarter of Indian city Chennai, Thyagaraya Nagar is expected to get a new 41 Ml/d desalination plant that would supply some 300,000 residents.
Chennai to get third desalination plant
India's Tamil Nadu state government has pushed ahead plans to build a third desalination plant at the city of Chennai with investment from German government funding agency, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW).
Bangalore strategic plan contract goes to CH2M
India's Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has selected CH2M to develop a strategic plan for the city of Bengaluru to assist in its water and wastewater infrastructure needs to 2050.
Giant Indian desalination scheme set to be ditched
A proposed US$ 600-million, 336 Ml/d seawater desalination project in Gurarat state, India, that was to be Asia's largest, is reportedly set to be axed.
Indian state gives green light to desalination duo
India's Tamil Nadu state government has given the go-ahead for two 60 Ml/d output seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants at Kuthiraimozhi in Ramanathapuram and Alanthalai in the port city of Tuticorin. They will supply more than 1,100 rural areas where provision of safe drinking water has been a long-standing challenge.
CH2M Hill teams with PUB in India
Consultant, CH2M HILL, in partnership with the Singapore Public Utilities Board (PUB) and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, is providing water management services to the Rajasthan state government in India.
Xylem appoints new emerging markets head
Water technology firm, Xylem, has appointed Steven Leung as senior vice president and president, emerging markets, In this newly created position, Leung will lead the company's commercial operations in China, greater Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
India's IVRCL sells Chennai desalination plant to Utilico FZC
Infrastructure firm, IVRCL, has agreed to sell its Chennai desalination plant to Dubai-based water and waste company, Utico FZC.
India to set up low-temperature distillation desalination at power plant
A new low-temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) plant is being set up at a lignite-fired power station in southern India.
Solar electrodialysis brings water to off-grid villages
A simple set of solar panels and a battery system connected to an electrodialysis desalination unit could provide fresh water for a typical Indian village according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.
India's desalination market growth to swell to 19% a year
The market for desalination in India is expected to grow by 19% a year to 2019 as government and industry seek to address escalating water demand and diminishing conventional resources according to market researcher TechSci Research.
Indian PM pledges to settle Gujarat desalination project issues
India's prime minister Narendra Modi has pledged, during a current visit to Japan, to resolve outstanding issues with a 336Ml/d seawater desalination project underway in South Gujarat and led by a Singaporean and Japanese consortium.
Tata power plant installs cooling water reuse
India's largest power company, Tata Power, has installed a reverse osmosis plant at its Power House #6 power station in Jamshedpur to recover and reuse blow-down water from cooling towers.
Hyflux sees Dahej desalination funding 'within year'
Hyflux has extended the time it foresees for financial closure on its Dahej seawater desalination plant in India to "within this year".
Hyflux aims to start Dahej desalination EPC work by July
Singapore's Hyflux, which has just posted a 28% year-on-year fall in profits, says that the group aims to achieve the financial close for its Dahej seawater desalination project in India in the first half of 2014.
LTTD seawater plant 'to be started in Chennai by July'
A start on a Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant about 30 km off the coast of Chennai is to be made by July, according to a report from India.
RO water treatment plant inaugurated in Tamil Nadu
A 1,200 m³/d reverse-osmosis (RO) desalination water treatment plant was inaugurated at Kachipuram in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on 5 June 2013 by Shri TKM Chinnaiah, the state's minister of animal husbandry.
Indian ministry seeks to get LTTD program going again
Revised cost estimates for the six additional low temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) plants to be built at different locations in India's Lakshadweep Islands area are being prepared by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
Funding coming for new Indian desalination
The chief minister of the southern India state of Tamil Nadu, Jayaram Jayalaitha, announced on 10 April 2013 that the state government plans to build two more 100,000 m³/d desalination plants in drought-hit Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin districts at a cost of over US$ 147 million.
Ion Exchange (India) loses founder
The founder and chairman emeritus of India's water and environment company, Ion Exchange (India) Ltd, G Shankar Ranganathan, passed away on 18 March 2013.
Hitachi signs Indian desalination water purchase accord
Japan's Hitachi announced on 13 January 2013 that its consortium with Hyflux of Singapore had concluded a water purchase agreement with Dahej SEZ Ltd (DSL), the management company of the Dahej Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Gujarat, India, for water from its proposed desalination plant in the SEZ.
Boiler-feed treatment extension for Aquatech in India
Aquatech has been awarded a third contract extension to provide operating services for a boiler feed water treatment plant at Reliance Industries Limited's PTA (purified terephthalic acid) manufacturing unit in Hazira, Gujarat, India.
Aquatech system reuses Indian auto-plant effluent
A contract to provide a membrane-based effluent recycling system for an automotive manufacturing facility located in North India's National Capital Region (NCR) has been awarded to Aquatech.

Sharma leads IDE's marketing in Indian region
Sanjeev Sharma has been appointed head of marketing for desalination company IDE Technologies Ltd in the Indian region.
Large wastewater reuse scheme planned for part of Delhi
Reuse of 40 MIGD (182,000 m³/d) of wastewater for direct non-potable or indirect potable uses will be provided for 3-4 million people in Delhi, India, under a partnership led by consultant CH2M Hill.
VA Tech Wabag wins industrial reuse plant in Gujarat
Ultrafiltration (UF), reverse-osmosis (RO) and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) will all be part of a 32,420 m³/d effluent treatment and recycling plant to be built in India by Chennai-based VA Tech Wabag.
Hitachi and Hyflux in Indian desalination agreement
A co-developer agreement for a seawater desalination project in Gujarat state, India, was announced on 22 March 2012 by a consortium of Hitachi Ltd and Itochu Corporation of Japan with Hyflux Ltd of Singapore.
India 'to have 500 desalination plants by 2017'
India will have more than 500 desalination plants by 2017 in a market sector that is growing at 22%, according to a recently published market research report.

IDA announces death of InDA founder
The International Desalination Association (IDA) has reported the death of India's "water man" and founder of the Indian Desalination Association (InDA) Dr CH Krishnamurthy Rao.
H2O Innovation commissions pathfinding Indian membrane plant
Canada's H2O Innovation announced on 31 January 2011 that its Indian joint venture, H2O Innovation India Ltd, had commissioned the 7,000 m³/d membrane water treatment system it had designed for Larsen & Toubro Heavy Engineering (L&T) in Gujarat state.
Tender for Chennai RO water-reuse plant feasibility
Bids are due by 22 February 2012 for a prefeasibility study for a 45,000 m³/d membrane-based tertiary wastewater treatment plant in Chennai, India.
Indian desalination conference set for February
The Indian Desalination Society (InDA) has published a brochure for its National Conference on Water Purification Technologies & Management (InDACON 2012).
Ministry updates India's low-temperature desalination plans
India's Ministry of Earth Sciences (MES) released an update on 29 August 2011 about its program for development of Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD).
Aquatech buys majority stake in Indian chemical provider
Desalination and water-treatment specialist Aquatech International, based in Pennsylvania, has made a majority strategic investment in India's WEX Technologies Private Ltd, a provider of performance water-treatment chemicals and services.
Chennai III consultant to be chosen this month
India's Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board will choose a consultant in July 2011 to prepare a detailed project report for a 200,000 m³/d desalination plant at Pattipulam, a few kilometres away from the 100,000 m³/d Nemmeli desalination plant due for completion in December.
Amiad disc filters in Chennai desalination pretreatment
Arkal disc filtration technology made by Amiad Filtration Systems has been selected as part of the pretreatment system for the seawater desalination plant currently being built for the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewage Board on India's east coast.
Aquatech to build SBR/UF/RO reuse plant for Mumbai airport
A complete turnkey engineering, procurement and construction contract for a 10,000 m³/d waste and sewage treatment and recycle project for the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Mumbai, India, has been awarded to Aquatech. Aquatech will also subsequently operate and maintain the facility.
H20 Innovation opens Indian manufacturing plant
Canada's H2O Innovation Inc announced on 6 April 2011 the opening of a 10,000 ft² (929 m²) manufacturing plant for its Indian joint-venture H2O Innovation India Ltd near Vadodara, Gujarat.
Gujarat state to go for solar desalination
The Indian state of Gujarat is to develop solar-based desalination along its coasts on a large scale and in a cost-effective manner, the state's chief minister Shri Narendra Modi announced on 22 March 2011.
Consultants sought for Chennai III desalination plant
Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has called for tenders for consultancy services for a third seawater desalination plant for the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India.
Go-ahead for Maharashtra UF reuse project
The deputy chief minister of the Maharashtra state government in India has directed the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Maharashtra Industries & Development Corporation to prepare a feasibility study for the PCMC water recycling project.
Chennai III desalination plant could be 200,000 m³/d, says report
The Tamil Nadu state government in India is preparing a detailed project report to set up a third desalination plant with a 200,000 m³/d capacity to meet the growing water needs of the city of Chennai, according to a report in the Times Of India on 7 January 2011.
Sumitomo allies with VA Tech Wabag
Japan's Sumitomo Corp announced on 7 December 2010 an alliance agreement with India-based VA Tech Wabag Ltd, under which the two companies will strategically cooperate in multiple areas within the water infrastructure industry
Mumbai set for two 100,000 m³/d desalination plants
The Maharashtra government committee looking into desalination for Mumbai, India, has decided on two 100,000 m³/d plants using the reverse-osmosis plants in Chennai as a blueprint, although it is acknowledged that seawater conditions are different.
Committee to examine 500,000 m³/d desalination for Mumbai
The government of Maharashtra state in India has appointed a committee to study water recycling and desalination in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and to make recommendations.
New Indian partnership for inge watertechnologies
Germany-based ultrafiltration manufacturer inge watertechnologies AG is expanding its presence in the Indian subcontinent through a sales and distribution partnership with CN Tech Engineers (CNTE).
Chennai desalination plant inaugurated at last
India's largest desalination plant, the much-delayed 100,000 m³/d Minjur plant serving Chennai, was inaugurated by Tami Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi on 31 July 2010.
Mumbai planning three desalination plants - report
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning to build three desalination plants, according to a report in the Times of India
GE signs up for Indian industry wastewater reuse partnership
GE and Ramky Enviro Engineers, the Indian environment and waste management organization, have signed emergency water and industrial wastewater treatment agreements specifically designed to address India's industrial wastewater treatment and recycling needs.

India's BARC develops small solar RO and UF units
Domestic and community-level reverse-osmosis (RO) desalination units have been developed for producing safe drinking water by Saly T Panicker at the Desalination Division of India's Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.