Extension of Sur desalination facility in Oman likely to be completed by September 2016

French Veolia expects to complete the Sur desalination plant extension project in Oman in September 2016.

The expansion for the existing 80,000m³ facility, which is located 160km south west of Muscat, was announced in January 2015.

The project is being implemented by a consortium Sharqiyah Desalination Company, which has Veolia and Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) as its partners.

Following the upgrade, the daily production capacity of the facility is expected to reach 131,000m³, which will be able to meet the potable water requirements of around 600,000 residents.

Veolia Middle East chief executive officer Xavier Joseph said: "A growing population, limited resources and increased requirements for water have triggered an increased focus on water conservation in the Sultanate of Oman.

"The Sur plant has put much effort into reducing the environmental impact of the desalination process through energy recovery devices."

Almost 70% of the construction works for the facility, which represents one of the Independent Water Project (IWP) in Oman, has been completed.

The Sur desalination facility is claimed to be the world’s largest beach well reverse osmosis plant. It delivers potable water to around 350,000 residents in the Sharqiyah region at present.

The original facility was developed by a consortium comprising OTV, a Veolia subsidiary and Bahwan Engineering Company in 2007.

Presently, Bahwan Veolia, a joint venture between Bahwan and Veolia, is in charge of the operations at the plant.

Reverse osmosis technology used at the plant forces high pressured water through a semi-permeable membrane which enables separation of salt, bacteria and other particles to produce clean drinking water.