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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.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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