Reverse osmosis membrane capacity boosted in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, July 26, 2011 -- Following an R&D trial with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) a major membrane manufacturer will invest in a manufacturing facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Dow Chemical Company will set up a site to manufacture its Filmtec reverse osmosis (RO) elements for water desalination and water re-use processes for potable, non-potable and industrial water serving Saudi Arabia, the surrounding Middle East and North Africa region.

The Filmtec membranes are currently being used in the Shoaiba Barge seawater reverse osmosis plant, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest RO seawater desalination plants. Elsewhere the technology is being used in the United Arab Emirates and Algeria.

Upon completion, the joint venture is projected to be among the world’s largest petrochemical facilities and would represent the largest foreign direct investment into Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical sector, according to the Dow Chemical Company.

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