المملكة: “Advanced Model” .. The World Bank praises the Kingdom’s leadership in “desalination”

The World Bank praised in its report entitled “Update the Gulf Economy: Facing Water Challenges in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries – paths towards sustainable solutions” with the efforts made by the Kingdom in developing the water sector, especially in the field of water desalination, stressing that the Kingdom has become an advanced model in raising efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
The report highlighted the Al -Shuaiba station 5 – the latest between desalination plants in the Kingdom – whose production capacity reached 664,490 cubic meters per day, achieving energy consumption rates are the least at all, and its consumption reached 2.34 kilowatt hours per cubic meter, compared to 4 to 5 kilowatts/hour in traditional stations.
This qualitative improvement in operating efficiency is attributed to a package of advanced technical solutions, most notably the modern reverse osmosis membranes that reduce the need for high pressure and energy, power restoration devices that pick up and re -use the pressure resulting from desalination, and improved prior processing systems that reduce pollution and prolong membranes, in addition to integrating renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, to reduce Dependence on traditional electricity.

Environmental sustainability goals

The report emphasized that this transformation does not only contribute to reducing operational costs, but also represents a strategic step towards achieving environmental sustainability goals.
The Saudi Water Authority is implementing an ambitious plan aimed at reducing the intensity of energy consumption in the water sector by 30% by 2030, compared to the levels of 2019, by employing modern technologies and applying sustainable policies.
What is achieved at the Shuaiba station is a global model that can be used in other regions that suffer from water resources, and confirms the Kingdom’s leadership in developing effective solutions to water challenges at the international level.