Jeddah barges

What is it? A pair of barge-mounted seawater reverse osmosis plants with a combined capacity of 52,000m3/d, built for the Saline Water Conversion Corporation and located near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Who is responsible? Wetico designed and constructed the plants and provided the technology, while the developer team was made up of ACWA Power subsidiary International Barges Company for Desalination Ltd. (IBCWD) and Raka.

Why is it shortlisted?

• The barges brought vital relief to Jeddah ahead of the completion of the 880,000m3/d Shoaiba 3 desalination facility. Water scarcity in the city had become serious, with residents having to queue for up to 11 hours to obtain water from tankers.

• Despite many industry experts predicting difficulties, the entire 52,000m3/d of SWRO capacity was designed, installed and commissioned within a record ten months.

• The deal represents an innovative solution which takes forward the concept of large, pre-engineered desalination units for use on ships, barges and dry land. Its success was followed by an even larger proposal for a 75,000m3/d temporary plant for Marafiq in Saudi Arabia, as well as similar projects in Cyprus and Australia.