RIYADH — The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) is gearing up to commission its new desalination plant in the Red Sea coastal town of Umluj in the northern Tabuk region ahead of schedule. The SWCC was able to complete the construction and experimental operation of the plant, which is using reverse osmosis desalination technology that would bring down the operational costs by 75 percent. The plant has a daily production capacity of 25,500 cubic meters of water. SWCC has managed to complete the project three months ahead of the scheduled contractual period of completion despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to the corporation's relentless efforts to fulfill the actual needs of the people without making any compromise on quality. This was also in response to the growing demand for water in Umluj governorate and the surrounding villages. The Saudi cadets in the fields of engineering and desalination technology as well as SWCC officials and the project contractor deserve accolades for quick implementation of the project by exerting great efforts around the clock despite a myriad hurdles and challenges, the foremost being COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects. These led to the inability of the engineering and technical teams of equipment manufacturers to come to the Kingdom. This exceptional situation prompted SWCC and the project contractor to seek the help of SWCC's Saudi engineering and technical cadres and technical expertise in addition to other local technical expertise to complete all the works ahead of schedule. This was in total compliance with the precautionary measures and preventive protocols to stem the spread of coronavirus and to ensure the health, safety and security of all those involved in implementation of the project. It is noteworthy that the Umluj plant is the second desalination plant that will be operated successfully after the operation of Shuqaiq plant. These plants represent the program of sequential replacement of technologies for eight small plants that will be launched consecutively over the coming three months. The operation of these plants would transform from thermal technologies into the reverse osmosis technology and thus contributing to reducing operational costs by 75 percent while compared to the costs of previous technologies. This would also be instrumental in increasing the volume of production by 250 percent as against the previous production.
