With a total production of up to 50,000 m3/day of desalinated water, barges project produces more than 10 million m3 since moving to Yanbu

Establishing a training institute named Algosaibi that will be launched next year in Rabigh accommodating more than 100 students

Riyadh: 6th of May 2011 - His Excellency Mr. Fehied F. Al Shareef, the Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), accompanied by HE Mr. Ali bin Abdullah Al-Ayed Director General of Saudi Industrial Development Fund, Eng. Nabil Ben Ahmed Ozmrli Director General of Directorate General of Water in Medina visited on Wednesday May 4, 2011 the first and then the second floating water desalination barge that have a production capacity of 50,000 cubic meters per day. The barges will provide their production to Al-Madina and Yanbu. The ceremony and visit was attended by a number of officials, including the Deputy Governor for Operation and Maintenance Affairs Eng. Thabit Allahibi, Chief Operating and Maintenance of the East Coast Eng. Saleh Al-Zahrani, Chief Operating and Maintenance of the West Coast Eng. Abdulhadi Al Shaikh, Director of Medina Desalination Plants in Yanbu, Eng. Ibrahim Al-Hazmi and Eng. Mohammed Farhan Director of Jeddah Desalination Plants and members of the Board of Directors of International Barges Company for Water Desalination Ltd.  

H.E. Mr. Al Shareef went on to inspect the first barge then the second barge, and the support facilities surrounding the desalination barges. Since arriving in Yanbu the barges have produced more than 10 million cubic meters of desalinated drinking which was dispatched to Al-Madina Al-Monawarah and Yanbu. The tour included a site inspection of the location, the running operations, site facilities, and a visit with the barges staff. The barges are fully self contained and independent of each other as each barge contains all the necessary equipment and facilities for the desalination process such as electric generators, laboratories, control rooms and living quarters for the staff. The progress of this project and its achievements have been attained through vigorous follow up and constructive guidance by H.E. the Governor. Also, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) is the sole client with an obligation to buy the entire production as per a signed agreement.

H.E. Mr. Fehied F. Al Shareef, the Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) during a press conference on the sidelines of the visit, explained that the transfer of these barges to Yanbu was to meet the rising demand in the region, especially with the entry of the summer season. They covered the increase in demand and the citizens of the region felt the difference. H.E. Mr. Fehied F. Al Shareef also indicated that the idea of ​​manufacturing the largest water desalination unit in the world, which will produce 68 000 cubic meters with Doosan Global Company, came into being due to exploiting some technical and operating conditions available in the Medina desalination plant of Yanbu, by using a multi-effect evaporation technique, as it was agreed with the international company in cooperation between the company and SWCC. It is a new contest worldwide in partnership with King Saud University, whereas SWCC will have rights to obtain the technical designs, the right to construct and manufacture this kind of technology and marketing it globally. H.E. Mr. Fehied F. Al Shareef also pointed out SWCC's intention to expand its plants located in the southern region, adding that the SWCC entered into a number of agreements with companies in the training field to take advantage of the Desalination Research Institute commercially. In addition, SWCC is about to complete the restructuring of the six sectors, as it is in the final stages of implementation in collaboration with the Strategic Advisor and will be completed within 3 months.

For his part, Ali bin Abdullah Al-Ayed Director General of Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) indicated the support of industrial projects in the Kingdom, and when we received the idea of ​​the barges project from the investors, we did not think about financing such a project because the project is unprecedented especially in the desalination of saline water. However, when the investors pressed and explained the essence of the project, the great services to be provided as well as the boldness we found of that they have in addition to an unprecedented project with distinctive results, especially in deals that will solve crises or bottlenecks in the field of water desalination, we opted that supporting it is so important for several reasons, whether national or purely economic. He added that SIDF is a supportive institute of the Saudi industrial sector and the economy.

The barges were first put into operation in 2008 to support the seasonal increased requirement in the western region and were anchored on the coast of Shuaibah.  In 2009 the barges moved to the shores of Shuqaiq city in record time and with minimal resources, making mobility one of the most important features of the barges. The transfer of the barges includes site preparation and arrangements for mooring and the purchase and installation of 1500 meters of water transportation pipeline to deliver the produced potable water and a 1200 meter fuel pipeline.

The water desalination barges are owned by International Barges Company for Water Desalination Ltd., which was established in partnership between ACWA Power International with 65% ownership and the remaining 35% stake owned by Rakaa Saudi Water and Power Limited. These barges are the largest floating water desalination plants in the world, which were built and constructed based on the directions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to meet high seasonal demand for potable water in any region. Saudi Arabia is a dry area with relatively high per capita consumption; this led to the need for such a large project. The project was completed and put into full operation through the efforts of the officials and employees from SWCC, the developing companies and operators of this unique project.

Mr. Mohammed A. Abunayyan, the Chairman of International Barges Company for Water Desalination Ltd assured that "The success of the two barges in Shuaibah and Shuqaiq led SWCC to make use of their production capacity in Al-Madina and Yanbu." He also indicated, "The establishment of a training institute that carries the name of the late Dr. Ghazi Algosaibi  and will be launched next year in Rabigh accommodating more than 100 students" adding, "We are proud that Saudi Arabia is the home of the largest floating water desalination plants in the world. First I thank Allah for our success, and I am pleased to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud the Crown Prince, to His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud the Second Deputy Premier for the continuous support of this vast project. In addition, I would like to thank H.E. the Minister of Water and Electricity Engineer Abdulah bin Abd - ur - Rahman Al- Hossein for his ongoing support of the water and electricity sector,  to HE Mr. Fehied F. Al Shareef, the Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) for his infinite support of the project since its inception until now. Also I would like to thank Mr Ali bin Abdullah Al-Ayed Director General of Saudi Industrial Development Fund for the support provided by SIDF, and finally to I would like to thank all employees, experts and specialists who made this project a reality for their dedicated efforts in this extraordinary and wonderful achievement."

Eng. Abdullah A. Bajunaid, the Executive Managing Officer (EMO) of BOWAREGE, stressed that, "This project succeeded in achieving its primary objectives that focuses on meeting the growing demand for desalinated water in any coastal area, as they were transferred from two former sites with low controlled costs and within the specified time, and I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of workers, experts and specialists who constructed and operate this huge project, as we have succeeded previously in applying the concept of the two barges in their transition from the shores of Shuaibah to the shores of Shuqaiq and then successfully transferred them to Yanbu with the same former professionalism. The company is looking forward to expand the production capacity of its operating barges as well as constructing new barges to meet the growing demand for desalinated water in the Kingdom".

Eng. Mosa al-Malik affirmed that the barges project has found global demand, as we have received a number of requests from Japan and Cyprus as well as a number of other countries; as he was referring to the intention of the company's global expansion in the manufacture of such giant barges. As far as the expansion of constructing new barges to meet the domestic demand, al-Malik said, "we are seeking to increase the number of water desalination barges to three or four barges in order to cover the increasing demand for desalination of sea water."  al-Malik explained that "the company has a project to increase its production to almost double as a study was carried out and submitted to the officials of SWCC for discussion and approval".

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© Press Release 2011