Water

The positive financial impact of the contract will begin reflecting in Alkhorayef's results in the first quarter of 2025. (Image source: Canva)

Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Company has secured a US$10.5mn contract from the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of water and sewage treatment plants at land ports.

The contract covers the operation, maintenance, and cleaning of water stations, wastewater treatment plants, and their related accessories, the company announced in a statement to the Saudi stock exchange on Tuesday.

Zawya Projects reported that the positive financial impact of the contract will begin reflecting in Alkhorayef's results in the first quarter of 2025.

Earlier this month, ZATCA and the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP) also launched the tendering process for customs warehouses through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

A picture of Sophie Borgne. (Image source: Schneider Electric)

In an exclusive interview, Sophie Borgne, Global Segment President for Water and Waste Water at Schneider Electric, shared insights on how the company is addressing water infrastructure challenges in the Middle East.

The region faces unique difficulties due to water scarcity and ageing infrastructure, but Borgne highlighted that local utilities are pioneering innovations to tackle these issues effectively.

Borgne emphasised that “out of the top 15 countries in terms of water stress, nine are in this region,” which puts immense pressure on utilities to manage demand. She noted that while some water infrastructure is in need of an upgrade, utilities here are “walking the talk and pioneering new solutions” such as large-scale desalination, a technology the Middle East has led the world in deploying.

Schneider Electric is playing a key role by introducing digital tools to optimise these processes. Borgne described how the company leverages artificial intelligence and digital twin technology to improve operational efficiency and reduce risks. “A lot of this technology is applied to predictions... by using digital twin technology you actually remove a lot of risk from your physical infrastructure,” she explained. This approach allows utilities to simulate various scenarios before making physical adjustments, reducing the likelihood of costly failures.

Efficiency is at the heart of Schneider Electric’s solutions. Borgne highlighted that the use of AI in process optimisation is reducing both energy consumption and operational costs. In desalination plants, for instance, energy use is a significant challenge. By analysing data patterns and optimising operational parameters, AI can help “decrease the energy used” in desalination, leading to substantial cost savings. Additionally, predictive maintenance powered by AI ensures smoother operations and reduces unplanned downtime, further boosting the efficiency of water infrastructure.

The use of AI extends to improving desalination plant performance. According to Borgne, “artificial intelligence works with taking a lot of fast data and looking into those data, finding repetitive patterns,” which helps operators decrease energy consumption—a major challenge in desalination, where energy usage is particularly high. She shared that one customer on the Red Sea achieved “20% operational efficiency” after deploying Schneider’s digital solutions, demonstrating the significant impact of these technologies.

Borgne also underscored the importance of cybersecurity in water infrastructure. “The cyber risk in water infrastructure is pretty high,” she said, but commended the region’s focus on implementing stringent cybersecurity measures to protect vital resources.

Looking ahead, Borgne urged the industry to continue innovating and prioritising not just energy efficiency but also sustainability. “I really encourage everyone to think in terms of carbon footprint as well,” she concluded, pointing out that sustainable solutions must drive future decisions in the water sector.

The MoU signing ceremony. (Image source: TAQA)

SUEZ, TAQA, and Siemens have signed an MoU to collaborate on the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, a global competition aimed at developing innovative desalination technologies for sustainable and affordable water access in emerging countries.

The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative is a five-year competition designed to transform desalination methods, materials, and systems. The goal is to promote widespread desalination that supports socio-economic equity and environmental sustainability. Participants will be required to build pilot desalination units, followed by an industrial demonstration unit.

Under the MoU, TAQA, Suez, and Siemens will form an international team to create a cost-effective and energy-efficient desalination solution. The project aims to optimise energy use and reduce costs, making desalination more accessible to countries facing water scarcity.

Further research needed

SUEZ, with 50 years of desalination experience and more than 260 plants built globally, will bring its R&D expertise to the partnership. The company has extensive experience in the Middle East and operates some of the world’s largest desalination plants, including Victoria State's facility in Australia and a reverse osmosis plant in Jordan.

Sabrina Soussan, chairman and CEO of SUEZ, stated, "We are delighted to participate in this competition, an important initiative that promotes anticipation and international cooperation to contribute to water security and resilience in emerging countries. SUEZ’s participation underlines our commitment to developing more affordable and sustainable water supply technologies. I would like to thank our partners, TAQA Group and Siemens for their trust and wish all the teams involved every success!"

TAQA, one of the largest producers of desalinated water in the UAE with a capacity exceeding 1,250 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD), brings significant expertise to the initiative. The company is also a major stakeholder in the Taweelah Reverse Osmosis Independent Water Plant, one of the largest reverse osmosis plants globally, with a capacity of 200 MIGD.

Farid Al Awlaqi, chief executive officer, generation at TAQA, remarked, "We must address the global water scarcity crisis by collaborating with companies and organisations and fast-tracking innovative solutions to address these issues faced by too many people and communities across the globe. As the largest producer of desalinated water in the UAE, TAQA is committed to producing and delivering potable water that is as energy-efficient as possible by adopting innovative desalination technologies combined with cleaner energy sources. We are delighted to join forces with Suez and Siemens, international leaders in the water and energy sectors, to compete for this prize."

Dermosessian and Kim signing the contract. (Image source: EEIC)

Emirates Electrical & Instrumentation Company (EEIC) signed an MoU with MediSun Energy, a company specialising in osmotic (blue) energy technology.

This MoU represents a major step towards enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of water desalination and securing water resources across the UAE, the companies said in a statement. 

The MoU was officially signed by Hagop Dermosessian, general manager of EEIC & GCG Engineering Services, and Dusun Kim, co-founder & CEO of MediSun Energy, during the World Utilities Congress 2024.

Through this partnership, EEIC will utilise MediSun Energy’s innovative WEGen technology to improve energy efficiency in desalination processes and brine management. This collaboration aligns with EEIC’s strategic goal of expanding its footprint in the renewable energy sector.

The partnership addresses critical water and energy challenges while supporting the UAE’s sustainability and innovation goals.

Traditional Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems are highly energy-intensive and produce brine as a by-product, creating significant environmental and economic concerns.

In contrast, MediSun Energy’s pioneering WEGen technology offers a game-changing solution by increasing energy efficiency through osmotic power.

This advanced technology not only generates electricity but also dramatically reduces energy consumption in desalination.

Dusun Kim stated, “Our collaboration with EEIC represents a significant advancement in sustainable water management. By integrating our WEGen technology, which utilises osmotic power, we can improve energy efficiency and reduce consumption by up to 30% compared to traditional RO systems. This collaboration is pivotal for achieving our vision of Blue Energy and delivering sustainable solutions in the UAE.”

Hagop Dermosessian said, “Our collaborative efforts will importantly help to stimulate the future of sustainable water brine management in the UAE. Leveraging our core competencies to deliver innovative and efficient solutions is an exciting step to protect the wider environment and mitigate the effects of costly RO systems. Our collaboration with MediSun Energy as the exclusive distributor for the UAE and our expertise spanning over two decades reflect our dedication to delivering comprehensive solutions in the renewable energy field.”