Saudi PIF-owned Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the global leader in sustainable water infrastructure development, Waterise and the leading investment holding company Ajlan & Bros Holding Group to develop and implement a new desalination technology within the Jeddah Central Project.
The new technology will help JCD achieve its sustainable development objectives, which are in line with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 efforts to maintain and enhance its natural environment.
The project also aligns with the PIF’s efforts to help the Kingdom further develop its utilities and renewable energy sector while reducing its carbon footprint. It will also contribute to the success of the National Water Strategy, which aims to create a more sustainable water sector and safeguard the Kingdom’s environment and natural resources.
Commenting on the milestone agreement, Eng. Ahmed Al-Sulaim, CEO of Jeddah Central Development Company, said that, “Desalination technology is widely used across our region, and has helped sustain the Gulf’s rapidly growing population for many years. Jeddah’s unique geographical location along the Red Sea makes it ideally suited to this deep-sea desalination technology. Through this new partnership with Waterise and Ajlan & Bros Holding Group, we look forward to making our city and the Kingdom a leader in water in the years to come.”
Waterise’s desalination system combines existing reverse osmosis (RO), a purification process that uses semi-permeable membranes to filter out contaminants, with leading subsea technology.
“This fully submerged ocean equipment will dramatically reduce the coastal land required, while also reducing each operation’s environmental footprint and emissions by significantly reducing the discharge of concentrated brine into coastal waters,” as per the statement.
Furthermore, Waterise’s use of hydrostatic pressure, the natural deep sea pressure, in its operations can reduce desalination energy consumption by up to 50 percent, the company added.
