Saudi-European Parliamentary Friendship Committee discusses cooperation during Strasbourg visit    Diriyah to host third IMFC Deputies meeting under Saudi chairmanship    15,135 decisions taken to penalize Saudis and expats for violations    Saudi stock market loses half a trillion riyals, with Aramco's losses amounting to SR340 billion Tariff turmoil rattles Gulf markets    KAU to host Digital Communication Conference in Jeddah from April 29 to May 1    TGA: Riyadh tops with 45% of 290 million orders delivered in 2024    Aja and Salma mountains draw nature lovers to Hail's rugged landscapes    US revokes all visas for South Sudanese nationals over deportation dispute    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 3,471    Macron to hold Gaza summit with Egypt and Jordan in Cairo    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Saudi assistant referee Iman Al Madani joins AFC elite list for 2025    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Turki Al-Sheikh announces five new Saudi film projects to be produced in Riyadh    Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Saudi Arabia has biggest market potential for reuse water plants
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 07 - 2010

The Middle East and North Africa markets are some of the most attractive for waste water solutions.
That was the consensus among panelists at the MENA Business Forum held during the recent Singapore International Water Week on June 28 to July 2, 2010.
While panelists agreed that the entire MENA region is experiencing phenomenal demand for waste water reuse and recycling facilities, Saudi Arabia was highlighted as the market showing most potential.
Syed Amir Basha, senior vice president at water and environmental company Moya Bushnak, said Saudi Arabia has the biggest market potential for reuse water facilities because it has the land capacity and the willingness to invest in these projects at a country level. However, he said governments also need to get more involved in encouraging people and industry to use recycled water.
“Government policies need to support the use of waste water if it is to reach its full potential as another water source.”
With governments acutely aware of the water challenges they face, privatization of water infrastructure is increasing. All cities in the MENA region have embraced public private partnerships and projects are gaining pace.
The forum bought together policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to address the issue of adequate water supply and management across the MENA region.
In addition, model cities and innovative water solutions that enhance economic value while addressing environmental challenges were presented during the session.
Among them was Montazar Muhalhal, executive director of the Corporate Strategy & Planning Division at the government-owned National Water Company, Saudi Arabia. He discussed plans to improve operational and maintenance services across the Kingdom's water networks in an effort to reduce the volume of water and revenues lost to leakage. In Riyadh about 60 percent of the city's valuable water supply is lost through leakage in the 10,000km of pipes that transport water to the city's 4.5 million population. National Water Company hopes to reduce that to a more sustainable 20 percent.
Paddy Padmanathan, CEO of ACWA Power International, said that the breakneck pace of economic development and population growth in the Middle East and North Africa has exacerbated the region's existing problems of water scarcity and wastewater disposal.
In response, many countries are embracing reform. Governments are increasingly turning to the private sector to meet their needs, leading to an abundance of business opportunities, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
Given their location in one of the most water-stressed regions of the world, MENA countries need to look at solutions beyond simply maximizing water supply and productivity. Largely dependent on energy-intensive seawater desalination plants, local governments are increasingly looking to the private sector to build and operate waste water treatment, reuse and recycling facilities and address inefficiencies in existing water operations.
Singapore companies are among the top international players pioneering water projects within the GCC markets.
According to Sam Ong, deputy Group CEO, Hyflux Limited, it is Singapore's integrated solutions approach to water management that is proving most successful.
“We are finding that our GCC clients want us to invest in the project, build it, then manage and operate the plant with a guarantee of planned efficiencies. This is the Hyflux business model so we are a good match for what the market needs.”
Sembcorp announced an MOU with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) to develop and build a new seawater reverse osmosis facility with potable water production capacity of around 30 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD).


Clic here to read the story from its source.