Saudi Arabia Sets Two Guinness World Records In Water Sector For Desalination Innovations

The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) has been awarded two Guinness World Records, highlighting Saudi Arabia's leadership in the water industry. These accolades were presented at a ceremony in Riyadh, attended by Abdulrahman Alfadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, alongside representatives from Guinness World Records.

The first record acknowledges the largest seawater desalination plant using reverse osmosis (RO) technology. This facility is part of Phase II of the Al-Khobar Production System project. It boasts a production capacity of 670,852.4 cubic meters daily and was built on the smallest land area for such a large-scale plant. Advanced technical methods and value engineering contributed to this achievement.

SWA's Technical Affairs and Projects Sector secured the second record for achieving the lowest energy consumption rate for an RO-based desalination plant. The Shuaibah Plant (Phase V) recorded just 1.7 kWh per cubic meter during salt separation, with a total energy use of 2.34 kWh per cubic meter. This accomplishment surpassed Saudi Arabia’s previous record of 2.27 kWh per cubic meter.

The World Bank praised this milestone, which was documented during the construction phase of the Shuaibah Plant. These achievements bring SWA's total number of Guinness World Records to 11, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's reputation as a leader in water sector innovation and excellence.

These records underscore Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing sustainable water resource management globally. By setting new benchmarks in desalination technology and energy efficiency, SWA plays a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future for water resources worldwide.

With inputs from SPA