• Will be Israel's -- and one of the world's -- largest desalination plants; Expected to begin operating in 2014 and to reach a desalination capacity of 150 million m³ per year
TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 22, 2009 -- IDE Technologies, a global leader in water technologies, and its shareholders ICL (50%) and the Delek Group (50%), announced that SDL (Sorek Desalination Ltd) -- a company formed by IDE and Hutchison Water, has won the Israeli government's tender to build and operate the Sorek desalination plant.
SDL is owned by IDE (51%) and Hutchison Water (49%). The Sorek seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) facility will be constructed under the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) model, similar to the model used successfully by IDE and its partners in Israel's Ashkelon and Hadera desalination facilities.
The Sorek SWRO plant will reach a desalination capacity of 150 million m³ a year, a volume that will make it Israel's largest SWRO desalination facility and one of the largest of its kind in the world. The plant will use energy generated on-site by an Independent Power Producer (IPP) to be built by Delek Infrastructure Ltd.
Avshalom Felber, IDE's CEO stated: "We are proud to have won an additional contract to build and operate a significant new desalination facility in Israel, succeeding Israel's Ashkelon facility (currently the largest operating SWRO facility worldwide), which has been operating successfully for over four years, and Israel's equally large Hadera plant which we expect to begin full operation in the next few weeks. IDE is a leading player in the world seawater desalination industry, using cutting edge technologies to significantly reduce the cost of desalinated water. This project is another achievement in the chain of major desalination plants delivered worldwide."
"We look forward to working together with Hutchison Water to carry out this large, complex project," added Felber. "We believe that winning this contract is further evidence of IDE's creativity and technological and business innovation, as well as the ability to succeed in executing complex, long-term projects of this type."
About IDE Technologies
IDE Technologies is a pioneer and world leader in water technologies. The company specializes in the development, engineering, production and operation of advanced desalination systems and innovative industrial solutions. Over the past four decades, IDE has established itself as the clear leader of technology and cost effectiveness for both thermal and membrane (Reverse Osmosis) technologies -- such that many of the largest desalination projects in the world are IDE projects. To date, the company has delivered some 400 plants of various types and sizes throughout the world, providing high quality desalinated water for industries, mines, refineries, and power stations, as well as for municipal and agricultural use. IDE is jointly owned by two of Israel's largest industrial enterprises: ICL Group (50%), one of the world's leading fertilizer and specialty chemical companies; and Delek Group (50%), a leading international holding conglomerate. For additional information about IDE Technologies, please visit: www.ide-tech.com.
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