Saudi Arabia is the largest desalinated water producer in the world, contributing to 30 percent of global production, according to official statistics. The country produced more than 857.4 million cubic meters of desalinated water in 2001, a 60 percent increase compared to figures from the previous year.
Desalinized seawater currently constitute Saudi Arabia’s chief source for drinking water. The Saudi government transports its desalinated water via a 2,500 kilometer pipeline network, 21 pumping stations, 131 depots and 10 stations for mixing the desalinated water with underground water.
Desalination plants also generate electricity. The Kingdom currently generates 3,600 megawatts of electric power by these means, a figure that will rise to 5,000 megawatts once new desalination and power plants are on stream. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
