Project  Overview

The Ras Al Khair desalination plant is one of the top 5 desalination plants in Saudi Arabia and the largest in the world. This desalination plant is considered one of the major sources of drinking water for millions of people. Built in 2014, it produces 228 MIGD (Million Gallons of water per day). This desalination plant is recognized as one of the most sustainable projects and was awarded “Desalination Plant of the Year” in 2015 by the Global Water Awards. 

Located in the Ras Al Khair Industrial City, it is a hybrid desalination plant that implements both the desalination technologies MSF (MultiStage Flashing) and RO (Reverse Osmosis) processes. 

The Ras Al Khair power plant formerly known as the Ras AZ Zawr Desalination Plant produces 728 Million liters per day serving 3.5 Million people in Riyadh city. Additionally, this desalination plant project includes a power plant of 2,650 MW (Megawatts) thus, generating sufficient power required for the desalination process. 

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Project Background

The Ras AI Khair power and desalination plant was built under the SWCC (Saline Water Conversion Corporation of Saudi Arabia). It was built under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contract by a consortium that includes Doosan, Toyobo, FEDCO (Feedback Energy Distribution Company Limited), and Saudi Archirodon. 

The Ras AI Khair is built as a hybrid desalination plant to function on both MSF and RO desalination processes to cope with the difficult feedwaters of the Gulf. Also, this desalination plant was designed with the largest membrane facility in the Gulf. 

Construction of the Ras al Khair plant recorded 24 million hours of accident-free construction activity that added up to its achievements in 2014 after the “Desalination Plant of the Year” award by GWI (Global Water Intelligence).

The Ras AI Khair water desalination plant is built with a power plant in the second phase with a capacity of 2,650 MW to fulfill the power needs of the desalination process. Additionally, a dedicated wastewater treatment plant installed for the DAF sludge made it one of the most extensive projects in KSA.

Also Read: Top 5 Desalination Plants in Israel

Project Location

The Ras AI Khair seawater desalination plant is located in the Ras AI Khair Industrial City, 75 km northwest of Jubail. It is built close to the Persian Gulf reducing desalination process time. 

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Project Timeline

Project Scope

The Ras AI Khair hybrid desalination model comprises eight MSF and 17 RO units. It is also equipped with a combined cycle power plant in the second phase. This comprises five 600 MW CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbines) blocks and two 220 MW SCGT (Single Cycle Gas Turbines) units.

This project design includes an RO building, a wastewater treatment plant, a combined cycle power plant, and a dissolved air flotation unit. It is also equipped with heavy-duty DAF/DMF (Dual-Media Filtration) for pre-treatment that ensures low environmental impact and helps in longer desal membrane life. 

Advanced membrane desalination technology unlocks further potential for renewable energy through solar power in the desalination industry. Thus, the Ras AI Khair desalination project is built as one of the largest freshwater sources in the GCC. 

Ras al Khair Desalination Plant Cost

The project cost is expected to be SAR 27 Billion (USD 7.2 Billion). It is built and operated by the SWCC (Saline Water Conversion Corporation of Saudi Arabia). It was built under an EPC contract by a consortium of companies like  Doosan, Saudi Archirodon, Poyry, Siemens, Toyobo, and FEDCO (Fluid Equipment Development Company).

Contractors & Suppliers 

Benefits of this Project

The Ras AI Khair desalination plant is one of the largest desalination plants in Saudi Arabia fulfilling the water and power needs of millions of people in KSA. Below are a few benefits of this desalination plant. 

Improved Access to Freshwater 

In arid regions like Saudi Arabia, with low rainfall and limited natural resources, Ras AI Khair proves to be a very reliable source of potable water. It serves the drinking water needs of 3.5 Million people in Riyadh city in the GCC region. 

Power Generation

The Ras AI Khair desalination plant is equipped with a power generation capacity of 2,650 MW of which Maaden’s alumina refinery consumes 1,350 MW and the rest is supplied for the people through the national grid (Saudi Electricity Company).

Innovated Desalination Technology

This hybrid desalination plant is designed to function in MSF and RO desalination processes such that the desalination process is performed on seawater and feedwaters of the Persian Gulf to ensure a consistent water supply. 

Better Brine & Wastewater management 

The Ras AI Khair has its very own wastewater treatment plant to deal with DAF sludge and brine management ensuring reduced negative influence on the environment due to excess brine discharge. 

Also Read: LG Chem to Build a Water Desalination Device Plant in Saudi Arabia

Canceled Privatization of Ras AI Khair 

Recently, in 2021, SWCC proposed privatizing the shares of Ras AI Khair one the largest desalination and power plant in the Middle East. This bid attracted several international companies however, the covid -19 halted the proposal. Citing the economic conditions unparallel to their goals this proposal was halted. 

The  Ras AI Khair power and desalination plant is operated and managed by the SWCC under the state.

Conclusion

The Ras AI Khair power and desalination plant is one of the largest desalination plants in Saudi Arabia. Also, it is renowned as the world’s largest hybrid desalination plant with a capacity of 728 Million liters per day. Fulfilling the water power needs of 3.5 Billion people in Riyadh, this desalination and power plant secures the water and power needs for the future. 

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