Namibia to use desalination for mining
•Southern Africa's driest nation acquires desalination plant using PX Pressure Exchanger® technology
SAN LEANDRO, CA, Nov. 2, 2007 -- Energy Recovery Inc. (ERI®), a global leader in ultra-high-efficiency energy recovery products and technology for reverse osmosis (RO) desalination, announces a new energy recovery contract for the 55,000 m³/day (14.5 million US gallons per day) desalination plant located near Swakopmund, Namibia; a country bordering Angola, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa.
The new Uramin desalination plant will supply water for the Trekkopje Uranium project and increase the water supply to the region. Namibia, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium has an extremely dry climate with erratic and sparse rainfalls; and within the nation, natural resources such as diamonds, copper, uranium, silver, tungsten and lead are abundant.
The project, awarded to Keyplan (Pty) Ltd Namibian Subsidiary is expected to provide 20 million cubic meters of water per year to the mine initially. An expansion to the project could double the capacity to address the needs of nearby residents as well as possibly other mines. Keyplan's selection of ERI PX® Pressure Exchanger technology as the plant's energy recovery solution is due in large part to its increased global presence in areas such as the Middle East and North Africa, as well as its flexibility for other applications, including the mining sector.
Adrian Viljoen, Keyplan's technical director says that the ERI technology provides the right solution to maximize power savings, an important factor for the region. The plant will be equipped with PX-220 devices. Construction of the plant is expected to start early next year, with initial water production anticipated by 2009.
Borja Blanco, ERI Vice President, Large Projects Group, stated, "Southern Africa as well as other dry countries are in need of desalination, and specifically our technology to ensure the most reliable and economical in terms of energy savings is provided. We are happy to provide a solution that will promote safe drinking water as well as other creative applications such as uranium mining."
Earlier this year, ERI was awarded the Global Water Awards 2007 Environmental Contribution of the Year by desalination industry leaders. In addition, the Company was named the 2006 and 2007 U.S. Export-Import Bank and US Commerce Department's "Environmental Exporter of the Year," an honor awarded for its technological leadership and innovation in bringing cost-effective desalination to nations around the globe. The San Leandro, California-based company also received the European Desalination Society's prestigious Sidney Loeb Award for outstanding innovation in 2006.
Currently, ERI's patented PX technology is making cost-efficient desalination of seawater possible in over 30 countries world-wide, covering six continents.
Energy Recovery Inc. (ERI) is a global leader in high efficiency energy recovery products and technology. ERI's headquarters are situated in San Leandro, Calif. with offices around the globe.
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