PROJECTS: 'Egypt is keen to involve the private sector in executing its ambitious water resources strategy'

Kareem Madwar, the CEO of Metito Africa, is closely tracking the Egyptian government's ambitious desalination programme as the company notches up another significant success in the Middle East with the world's biggest floating desalination project in Saudi Arabia. 

Metito Africa is part of Metito, the Dubai-based global water, and wastewater treatment solutions. 

Last month, Metito Saudi had completed and delivered the first of the three 50,000 cubic metres/day (m3/day) desalination barges that make up the world's largest floating desalination project to Saudi National Shipping Company (Bahri). 

The total capacity of the project, on completion, would be 150,000 m3/day. 

Madwar said the first barge, now moored at the port of Al-Shuqaiq on the Saudi west coast, was built and delivered in record time. He noted that Metito developed the entire project, including the design, engineering, construction, operation trials, and the provision of floating barges that carry the desalination plants and power generation system. 

Madwar said the company would complete and deliver the remaining two desalination barges in the first quarter. 

"Each plant costs $100 million, adding up to a total project cost of $300 million," he said. 

Floating potential

The Metito Africa CEO said he sees tremendous potential for floating desalination plants in Egypt, which has identified desalination and recycling as one of the pillars of its National Water Resources Strategy.