The UK’s Modern Water has started fresh water production from its Al-Khaluf desalination plant in east Oman, 450 kilometres from Muscat.

Modern Water says the manipulated-osmosis desalination plant is the first of its kind in the Middle East and only the second to be built in the world.

Manipulated-osmosis technology produces fresh water while cutting power, chemical and other operating costs.

As a result, the technology is more environmentally sustainable than conventional reverse-osmosis or thermal-desalination processes.

Modern Water’s first manipulated-osmosis desalination plant in Gibraltar started producing water in September 2008. A research and development programme is also in place to improve the efficiency of the plant.

Modern Water opened an office in Oman in September 2008.