meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Neom rescopes brine complex project

14 October 2024

Enowa, the utility and energy subsidiary of Saudi gigaproject developer Neom, is seeking interest from companies for a project to develop a brine processing complex.

MEED reported in 2022 that Neom was seeking investors for a brine processing complex that could require investments of up to several billion dollars.

However, it appears that the original plan and capacity have been rescoped following the cancellation of a project to build an advanced 500,000 cubic-metres-a-day (cm/d) seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant catering to the gigaproject earlier this year.

Enowa is now considering a phased approach for the brine complex, starting with a plant that can treat 50 million litres of brine a day (MLD) in the first phase. Subsequent phases will allow the plant's capacity to increase to 150MLD and 450MLD, according to an industry source.

It is understood that a pilot phase with a capacity of 1.2MLD is ongoing in Duba. The pilot project aims to test technologies and prove the full process, leading to market acceptance. 

The brine complex's 50MLD first phase is expected to be operational in 2030. It will process brine output from an SWRO plant that is being tendered and is expected to have a capacity of 150MLD.  

Brine is the main waste output of processing seawater into potable water, which is discharged to the sea. Neom aims to process residue brine into various usable minerals and chemicals in line with its sustainability and carbon circularity vision.

Zero liquid discharge

In May, MEED reported that the joint development agreement (JDA) for a project to develop a zero liquid discharge plant in Arabia's Neom had expired and had not been renewed, leading to the project cancellation.

A consortium of Enowa, Japan’s Itochu and France’s Veolia signed a JDA for the scheme in December 2022, approximately six months after they signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the renewable-energy-powered advanced SWRO project in Oxagon, Neom’s industrial cluster.

The scope of the JDA covers the project's first phase with a desalination plant that can produce 500,000 cm/d of desalinated water by 2030.  

In a statement sent to MEED in May, Enowa said Neom's water requirements have evolved over the last year "leading us to adopt a stepwise approach to expanding capacity".

It continued: "As a result, we've decided to discontinue our JDA for this project. This decision was made after open communication and extensive discussions to ensure mutual understanding and commitment.

"Our dedication to delivering sustainable and innovative solutions remains unchanged, and we value our collaboration with international partners as we adjust our approach to best serve Neom's long-term goals."

Advanced technology

In addition to using 100% renewable energy, the proposed state-of-the-art desalination plant intended to use advanced membrane technology to produce separate brine streams, enabling the production of brine-derived products to be developed and monetised downstream.

The plan involved converting brine, the main waste output of desalination, into industrial materials to be used locally or exported internationally.

At the time, Enowa said brine generated from the desalination plant would be treated to feed industries utilising high-purity industrial salt, bromine, boron, potassium, gypsum, magnesium and rare metal feedstocks.

Neom appointed Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as financial adviser for the project. UK-based DLA Piper was the legal adviser and Canada’s WSP was the technical adviser.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12694674/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Aramco registers marginal jump in third quarter profit

    4 November 2025

    Saudi Aramco has registered a 0.9% jump in third-quarter 2025 profit on the back of higher production, even as oil prices remained under pressure.

    The Saudi energy giant’s adjusted net income in the third quarter stood at $28bn compared to $27.7bn in the same period of last year.

    The company recorded revenues of $111.5bn in the third quarter versus $109.66bn in the same period last year.

    “We increased production with minimal incremental cost, and reliably supplied the oil, gas and associated products our customers depend on, driving strong financial performance and quarterly earnings growth,” Aramco president and CEO Amin Nasser said.

    The world’s largest oil company reported a free cash flow of $23.6bn compared with $22bn a year earlier.

    Aramco’s board also declared the 2025 base dividend of $21.1bn and performance-linked dividend of $200m to be paid in the fourth quarter.

    Aramco’s capital expenditure (capex) in the third quarter of 2025 stood at $12.55bn, a marginal year-on-year increase of 2%. For the first nine months of the year, the firm registered capex of $37.41bn, an increase of 3.38% compared to the same period of last year.

    The company had earlier announced a capital investment guidance in the range of $52bn to $58bn for 2025, excluding around $4bn of project financing.

    The results come as Aramco faces a profit squeeze amid weaker oil prices, except for a short-lived surge in the second quarter triggered by tensions between Israel and Iran.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15013288/main5503.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Construction begins on Emirates Float Glass project

    4 November 2025

    Local investment firm Dubai Investments has begun construction to expand its Emirates Float Glass (EFG) facility in the Kezad industrial area of Abu Dhabi.

    The estimated AED600m ($164m) expansion will add a second production line at the EFG facility.

    The main construction works are being undertaken by Dubai-based firm Mar Contracting.

    Dubai Investments’ subsidiary, Emirates Building Systems, will support the main contractor with the design and erection of steel structures for the project.

    Local firm Design House Engineering Consultancy is the project consultant.

    Germany-based Horn Glass Industries is providing the technology for the expansion.

    Cyprus-headquartered DG Jones & Partners is the contract administrator and cost consultant for the project.

    The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.

    According to an official statement, “The expansion will establish EFG as the only glass manufacturer in the GCC operating dual float lines.”

    The new production line will increase EFG’s production capacity from 600 tonnes a day to 1,200 tonnes a day and introduce what the company calls “ultra-clear, low-iron glass” — a first-of-its-kind capability in the Mena region.

    READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15013566/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Diriyah tenders conference and exhibition centre

    4 November 2025

     

    Saudi Arabia’s gigaproject developer Diriyah Company has issued a tender inviting contractors to bid for the construction of a conference and exhibition centre in the second phase of the Diriyah project.

    MEED understands that the main contract tender was issued in October.

    Technical bids are due on 9 November, while commercial bids must be submitted by 17 December.

    The project covers an area of 29,000 square metres in Diriyah’s Northern Community.

    The Diriyah masterplan envisages the city as a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination. Located northwest of Riyadh’s city centre, it will cover 14 square kilometres and combine 300 years of history, culture and heritage with hospitality facilities.

    This year, the company has awarded several main construction contracts worth over SR18bn ($5bn).

    Just days after Webuild announced that it had won the $600m contract for package three of the Diriyah Square project, Beijing-headquartered China Harbour Engineering Company won a SR5.7bn ($1.5bn) contract to build the Arena Block assets in the Boulevard Southwest section of the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).

    In April, Diriyah awarded an estimated SR4bn ($1.1bn) contract for a utilities relocation package for the King Saud University project located in DG2. The contract was awarded to a joint venture of Beijing-headquartered China Railway Construction Corporation and China Railway Construction Group Central Plain Construction Company.

    Earlier in the same month, a SR5.1bn ($1.3bn) construction deal was awarded to a joint venture of local firm El-Seif Engineering & Contracting, Beijing-headquartered China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Qatari firm Midmac Contracting to build the Royal Diriyah Opera House.

    Also in April, a consortium of Saudi Arabia-based contractors Almajal Alarabi and Man Construction won an estimated SR915m ($244m) contract to build King Salman Grand Mosque in Diriyah.

    Once complete, Diriyah will have the capacity to accommodate 100,000 residents and visitors.

    READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15013053/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Bahrain unveils $17bn of new projects at Gateway Gulf

    3 November 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Bahrain announced $17bn of new projects at the Gateway Gulf investment forum on 2 November.

    The investment pipeline matches the $17bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) the kingdom has successfully attracted since the first Gateway Gulf forum in 2018. The 2025 event includes 61 announcements and 33 signing ceremonies.

    In his keynote address, Sheikh Salman Bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, the finance and national economy minister, said the GCC is no longer just a capital hub and is emerging as a centre of creativity, sustainability and technological excellence.

    In particular, he emphasised the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as Bahrain positions its economy for the future. “More profoundly, and perhaps even more transformational than the industrial revolution, we have entered the age of intelligence,” he said.

    He highlighted the shift of AI “from the margins to the core, shaping how factories operate, how banks serve their customers, how ports and logistics networks move goods around the world”.

    The new wave of investment projects aligns with this focus. At Gateway Gulf, Beyon Solutions and Bahrain’s Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) signed an agreement to launch Bahrain’s first AI-ready Sovereign HyperCloud, built with Oracle Alloy. Hosted entirely in Bahrain, the platform provides secure, locally governed cloud and AI services for government and enterprises.

    Another announcement at Gateway Gulf on 2 November was the signing of a deal by steel producer Foulath Holding and Yellow Door Energy to develop a 123 MWp solar project under a power purchase agreement. It includes the world’s largest single-site rooftop plant at 50 MWp. The rooftop installation will feature 77,000 panels across a new 262,000-square-metre stockyard shed.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15004385/main.jpg
    Colin Foreman
  • L&T wins Tennet offshore contract after Petrofac termination

    3 November 2025

    India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been selected for the offshore electricity transmission contract that was previously awarded to UK-based Petrofac by Netherlands-based Tennet.

    Tennet’s termination of the contract with Petrofac led to the derailment of Petrofac’s planned restructuring and its subsequent collapse.

    At the time of the contract termination, Tennet said that Petrofac had not met contractual obligations.

    When it entered administration, Petrofac was actively working on projects in the UAE, Algeria, Kuwait and Bahrain.

    Its projects in the UAE were worth a total of $2.87bn and include an engineering, procurement and construction management contract awarded by Adnoc Gas in June.

    Now that L&T has been awarded the high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) offshore wind programme contract with Tennet, it will deliver HVDC converter stations in partnership with Hitachi Energy.

    This project is designed to facilitate the integration of extensive renewable energy sources into the European power grid, especially in the German and Dutch regions of the North Sea.

    READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15002009/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp