ENGIE consortium breaks ground on Al Rayes plant

French utility operator ENGIE said on Monday that they have broken ground on Al Rayes seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant, in collaboration with Saudi based contracting firm Nesma and private desalination company Mowah.

The plant has a capacity of 450,000 m3/day and storage facilities for two operational days, ENGIE said in a statement.

“The project provides an excellent model for how the private sector and government can work together to advance net-zero objectives, helping us transition to an emissions-free, circular economy,” said Turki Al Shehri, CEO, ENGIE KSA.

The plant was awarded by Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) as a build, own, operate contract with the consortium having a concession period of 25 years.

ENGIE will provide electricity to the plant by supplementing the addition of an on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) system following construction, helping reduce carbon emissions. They expect the carbon emissions on average operating conditions is 220,000 tons per day.

“The integrated seawater, reserve osmosis desalination plant in the region to be powered with the use of clean energy, the Al Rayes desalination plant will provide 450,000 cubic meters of fresh water per day,” Eric Maka, COO, ENGIE KSA explained further in the statement.

The plant is expected to operate commercially within the last quarter of 2023. The Al Rayes plant is expected to contribute US $400m (SAR 1.5bn) to the Kingdom’s GDP, the company said.