Saudi Arabia intends to depend heavily on solar energy to operate desalination plants instead of oil and gas as part of its efforts to make use of alternative and renewable energy sources. Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen has disclosed plans to set up a new solar-powered desalination plant within 18 months. On Wednesday, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), which runs more than 30 desalination plants on the Kingdom’s western and eastern coasts, signed an agreement with Hitachi Zosen Corporation of Japan to conduct research on making use of solar power for desalination purpose. “This agreement reflects SWCC’s intent to execute the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on exploiting solar energy to operate desalination plants,” said Fehaid Al-Sharief, governor of SWCC, who signed the deal with Minoru Furukawa, chairman and president of Hitachi Zosen. Al-Sharief said the move supports SWCC’s strategy to cut down on production expenditures by conducting research on using renewable energy sources to operate its plants. “This three-year agreement aims at exchanging expertise and knowledge on exploiting renewable energy,” the governor said, adding that it includes setting up of a solar energy complex by the Japanese company. Meanwhile, Minister Al-Hussayen, accompanied by Al-Sharief, inspected the progress of work at the desalination-cum-power generation plant in Ras Al-Khair in the Eastern Province on Wednesday. “The project will meet full requirements of Maaden company,” the minister said, adding that the plant would supply water to Riyadh during the first quarter of 2013. The Ras Al-Khair desalination plant is considered the largest in the world with a daily capacity of more than a million cubic meters of water and 2400MW electricity. The project is being implemented at a total cost of SR25 billion ($6.66 billion) and the contract was awarded in November 2010.
GMT 14:03 2018 Thursday ,13 December
Ports of Lattakia, Tartous re-opened for maritime navigationGMT 13:35 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Harbors in Lattakia and Tartous closed due to weather conditionsGMT 12:42 2018 Wednesday ,14 November
Kuwait suspends work at institutions, schools due to unstable weatherGMT 17:12 2018 Tuesday ,13 November
Jordan flood toll rises to 13 as girl’s body foundGMT 10:13 2018 Tuesday ,06 November
Heavy rains flood Kuwait, public holiday announcedGMT 18:37 2018 Wednesday ,31 October
Egyptian pollution plan signals the last straw cloudGMT 12:54 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Rains to clear within 48 hours in SharjahGMT 07:56 2018 Friday ,26 October
At least 18 school children die in Jordan flash floodMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor