The Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC), the expert developer of the Jeddah Central Project and an owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Waterise, a global leader in subsea technology and desalination services, and Ajlan & Bros Holding Group, one of the leading investments holding firm conglomerates in the Middle East. Under the tripartite agreement, the three parties will conduct the development and execution of new desalination technology.
The modern technology would assist JCDC to attain its sustainable development objectives, which are in line with the kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 efforts to preserve and enhance its natural environment. The project also aligns with the Public Investment Fund’s efforts to support the kingdom as it further develop its renewable energy sector and utilities while lowering its carbon footprint.
Jeddah Central Development Company to create a more sustainable water sector
Alongside, it would also contribute to the achievement of the National Water Strategy, which aims to safeguard the Kingdom’s environment and natural resources and generate a more sustainable water sector.
Noting the milestone agreement, Eng. Ahmed Al-Sulaim, CEO of Jeddah Central Development Company, said that the Desalination technology is extensively utilized across the Kingdom, and has helped to sustain the Gulf’s swiftly growing population for a long time. Jeddah’s distinctive geological location along the Red Sea makes it perfectly suitable to this deep-sea desalination technology. Through this new collaboration with Waterise and Ajlan & Bros holding Group, the company anticipates making the city and the kingdom a leader in desalinated water for future generations.
Waterise’s desalination system blends existing reverse osmosis (RO) (a purification process that uses semi-permeable membranes to filter out contaminants) with leading subsea technology. This completely submerged ocean equipment will significantly decrease the coastal land required, while also decreasing each operation’s emissions by significantly reducing the discharge of concentrated brine into coastal waters and environmental footprint.
Additionally, Waterise’s usage of hydrostatic pressure (the natural deep-sea pressure) in its functionalities can reduce desalination energy consumption by approximately 50 percent. Owing to the lower organic content of the deep-sea water in use, a significantly less intensive pre-treatment process will also contribute to the project’s overall sustainability, in addition to removing any intrusion with flora and fauna.
Noting the company’s commitment to environment-friendly practices, Niels Petter Wright, CEO of Waterise, said that the company is proud to support JCDC with the implementation of the environmentally innovative technology for the supply of water and thus the overall sustainability objectives of JCDC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Eng. Ali Abdulrahman Alhazmi, CEO Ajlan & Bros holding Group, said that the company considers the vital importance of desalination technology for the continued prosperity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The urban and infrastructure planning model that the Jeddah Central Development Company is pioneering today will pave the way for numerous other developments of similar scale across Saudi Arabia.