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Dow to invest in Saudi Arabia's water technology

By MD RASOOLDEEN RIYADH: The Dow Chemical Company announced its plans on Tuesday to invest in a best-in-class manufacturing facility for Dow Filmtec™ reverse osmosis (RO) elements in the Kingdom .

Speaking to Arab News on Tuesday, executive vice president of Dow Chemical Company and president and chief executive officer, Dow Advanced Materials, Jerome A. Peribere, announced the company plans to invest in a world-class fully integrated manufacturing facility for Dow Filmtec™ reverse osmosis (RO) elements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and pointed out that this is the first time that the company is investing in such plant outside the United States. "We are in talks to identify the right local partner to carry out this project" said Peribere.

Ilham Kadri, general manager, Dow Advanced Materials Division, Middle East & Africa and commercial director, Dow Water & Process Solutions, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Rami S. Abu Amirah, marketing manager for Dow Water & Process Solutions, Middle East, Africa & Turkey were also present during the press briefing held here on Tuesday.

"Dow has a 50-years history of innovation and market leadership in the water industry. Saudi Arabia and nearby emerging markets represent a tremendous opportunity for Dow. Our plan is to complement our commercial presence with a manufacturing footprint, thereby bringing us closer to regional customers and strengthening the global competitiveness of our water business."

Peribere said the installation of the new plant will bring in a more advanced technology in the desalination sector. Currently, the Kingdom has been using the first generation thermal desalination technology. The new Dow plant will introduce the improved and sustainable Reverse Osmosis Technology that will reduce maintenance & energy costs as well as reduce CO2 emissions,he noted .

The proposed facility would deliver local supply security of cutting-edge technologies for water desalination and water re-use for potable, non-potable and industrial water, serving Saudi Arabia, the surrounding Middle East, North Africa region and emerging markets worldwide. Additionally, these water membrane technologies will deliver cost-savings through reduced energy usage and superior operational efficiencies for customers in desalination, industrial, municipal, commercial and residential sectors.

High-performance Dow Filmtec™ membranes from Dow Water & Process Solutions are used in some of the most water-challenged areas of the world, including the Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Algeria. The Shoaiba Barge SeaWater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant is one of Saudi Arabia's largest RO seawater desalination plants and utilizes FILMTEC membrane elements.

Modern water treatment technology allows industrial economies to advance while minimizing water requirements. Over the years, improvements in Dow Filmtec™ RO membrane elements have provided a threefold increase in the amount of treated water per element, while reducing energy costs in desalination and other water purification and re-use projects around the world. Desalination plants with Dow technology produce hundreds of million of gallons of freshwater per day in many sites around the globe, contributing to Dow's overarching goal to further reduce the cost and energy-intensity of seawater desalination.

"The Kingdom is a key market for Dow Water & Process Solutions. This new proposed world-class facility will increase our ability to deliver the most advanced, affordable and sustainable water sourcing and treatment options for desalination, wastewater treatment, and other applications," said Kadri, adding that Dow is committed to the vital water conservation and purification needs of the region, and to combating water shortages that limit economic development.

"Dow is committed to investing for growth in Saudi Arabia. This announcement builds on the recent decision by The Dow Chemical Company and Saudi Aramco to form Sadara Chemical Company , a joint venture to build and operate a world-scale, fully integrated chemicals complex in Jubail Industrial City ."

Upon completion, the joint venture is projected to be among the world's largest petrochemical facilities and would represent the largest foreign direct investment into Saudi Arabia's petrochemical sector.

"In 2009, Dow entered into a comprehensive Research and Development (R&D) collaboration agreement with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the region's leading graduate-level research university, Kadri said.

"This new water facility and our collaboration with KAUST, coupled with our new world-class water technology center in Tarragona, Spain are clear examples of Dow's continuing investment in technologies and production capacity to meet the growing challenges for clean and affordable water supply," she added.

The global leader in sustainable separation and purification technology, Dow Water & Process Solutions is making a clear impact in the world. "We're helping make water safer and more accessible, food taste better, pharmaceuticals more effective and industries more efficient and spearheading the development of sustainable technologies that integrate water and energy," Kadri concluded.

© Arab News 2011