Saudi Arabia's water desalination output exceeded one billion cubic meters in 2002, reported the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). Currently, 70 percent of the Kingdom’s drinking needs are provided through desalination, generating 3,600 megawatts of electric power.
SWCC confirmed these figures at the inauguration of the Shuaiba Phase Two project. Shuaiba is the second largest desalination plant in the Kingdom, supplying 154 million gallons of water and 500 megawatts of electricity. The second phase will double the quantity of water supplied by the plant to Makkah, and Taif, and will increase the supply to Jeddah by 60 percent.
Saudi Arabia is the largest desalinated water producer in the world, contributing to 30 percent of global production, according to official statistics. Desalinized seawater currently constitutes 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. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
