Shoaiba RO, Saudi Arabia

What is it?

A 150,000m³/d seawater reverse osmosis plant built on reclaimed land near the Shoaiba power and water complex on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Coast.

Who is responsible?

Doosan Heavy Industries built the plant for ACWA Power International.

What makes it special?

• In the summer of 2007, finding water was becoming a daily battle for the people of Jeddah. ACWA Power was asked about the possibility of bringing additional desalination capacity online at Shoaiba in double-quick time. The project would have to be fitted in around the existing works on the Shoaiba site, where Doosan was already at work building the largest thermal desalination plant in the world for an ACWA Power consortium. Together, Doosan and ACWA Power came up with a proposal to build an additional reverse osmosis plant on land reclaimed from the sea, and delivered it in just 19 months.

• Doosan, the EPC contractor, had never built an RO plant on this scale, but it rolled up its sleeves and delivered a major landmark project.

• Doosan and ACWA Power deserve special commendation for the commitment and flexibility they have shown in bringing water to the people of Jeddah.