Acwa Power, a leading developer, owner, and operator of power generation and water desalination plants, has announced the opening of Shuaibah Expansion II IWP plant in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The commercial operation began in May ahead of scheduled date, thus making it the world’s fastest implemented water desalination plant, said a statement from Acwa Power.
Shuaibah Expansion II IWP was completed within 21 months, setting a new record for large-scale reverse osmosis plants.
The plant recorded high energy efficiency savings that exceeded the contractual terms of the project - adhering to and aligning with the efforts of Vision 2030 to conserve energy in the long term.
It will help meet growing water needs of the overall western region of Saudi Arabia through the production of 250,000 cu m of water per day, it added.
The new plant was inaugurated by Prince Khalid Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz, advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region.
Diligent work by Acwa Power team and constant support from the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) – the off taker of the project – ensured completion of plant before Ramadan, said a top official.
“Stemming from our continued commitment to meet the power and water desalination needs of Saudi Arabia, we are extremely proud to maximize local content reaching 100 per cent of operations led by Saudi teams,” remarked Mohammad Abunayyan, chairman of Acwa Power.
“This falls in line with our mission to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 as well as our constant support to the wise Saudi leadership who are devoted to the socio-economic and industrial prosperity of the kingdom and its people," stated Abunayyan.
"We are proud that the plant was completed safely, which reflects our safety standards and corroborates the fact that our people and their safety always come first,” he added.
Acwa Power also owns and operates Shuaibah IWPP, the first IWPP developed following the Saudi government’s decision to open the market to private investment, which generates 900 MW of power and 880,000 cu m per day.
