ACWA to localize membrane technology in Saudi

Saudi-based Arabian Company for Water and Power Development (ACWA) has said it has formed a joint venture with ITOCHU Middle East to manufacture reverse osmosis membrane elements for seawater desalination. The new company, Arabian Japanese Membrane Co, will be located at Rabigh technical Park in the kingdom's western region and will manufacture reverses osmosis membrane elements for seawater desalination using hollow fibre technology. The partners estimated the total investment in the next decade to be around SR1.32bn. Production is scheduled to begin in March 2011.