- This is the world largest reverse osmosis desalination plant in commercial operation, with a capacity of 600,000 m3/day.
- The desalination plant has successfully passed the start-up phase and is already supplying water to the network at full capacity.
January 31, 2022 – Abengoa, the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the infrastructure, energy and water sectors, on 31st December, achieves, together with its consortium partners SepcoIII (Power China) and Sidem (Veolia) the Project Taking Over Certificate of the 600,000 m3/day desalination plant it has built for ACWA Power in the city of Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. This is the largest reverse osmosis desalination plant in commercial operation in the world.
Thus, Rabigh 3 is already in operation supplying water to the network at full capacity. The hard work carried out by the plant’s construction team, which has faced adverse circumstances such as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made it possible to achieve this major milestone.
The Rabigh 3 desalination plant ensures the supply of drinking water to more than three million people in the cities of Makkah, Al-Mokarramah, Jeddah and Mastorah. It is an important reference in the desalination sector worldwide not only because of its size, but also because it is an example of efficiency, innovation and sustainability in its design and construction, which allows it to reduce energy consumption and increase the plant’s availability.
So far, the Rabigh 3 project has exceeded six million working hours without lost-time accidents, achieving the highest levels of occupational risk prevention standards and complying with the established health and safety objectives.
The contract for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of this project was awarded in 2018 to the consortium formed by Abengoa, SepcoIII (Power China) and Sidem (Veolia). The desalinated water is being supplied to the state-owned Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC).
Abengoa, a leader in the international desalination market, currently has five plants under construction and a total installed capacity of 2.4 million m3/day, spread over more than 30 desalination plants in 13 countries, which will be increased to 4.3 million when the portfolio under execution is completed.