IDE Technologies wins bid for desalination plant in Israel

Israel’s Finance Ministry has announced water treatment company IDE Technologies as the winning bidder for the construction of a $1.5bn desalination plant south of Tel Aviv.

IDE was selected over Hutchison Water, which is part of the Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Group. A total of three groups bid to build the plant as part of a private-public-partnership (PPP) tender.

The Sorek 2 plant is expected to produce 200 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually by 2023 from the Mediterranean, AFP reported.

It is believed to increase the country’s desalination capacity by 35%. During its lifetime, it would save the government $900m.

Finance Minister Israel Katz said that the Sorek 2 plant will increase the water supply of the state.

Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz was quoted as saying: “The proposal by the Israeli company was significantly better than all the competitors, including the Chinese.”

The first Sorek desalination plant built and operated by Hutchison Water in partnership with IDE has been providing potable water since 2013.

Construction on the plant planned for Nahal Sorek near the Palmachim air base is expected to begin this year. Once the plant is completed, Israel will draw fully 85% of its potable water from the sea.

In August 2018, IDE Technologies launched its brine desalter technology, MAXH2O, to cut down brine reject from brackish water desalination plants. The technology integrates a reverse osmosis (RO) system with an integrated salt precipitation unit.

The company provides desalination and water treatment solutions.