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WCT Bahrain WLL, Tahliya Water Treatment WLL, and Saudi Water Authority Sign MoU to Advance Brine Recovery Solutions in Bahrain

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WCT Bahrain WLL, a subsidiary of WCT Berhad, Tahliya Water Treatment WLL and the Saudi Water Authority have formalised a Memorandum of Understanding to promote collaboration in implementing brine recovery solutions for desalination plants in Bahrain.

This initiative seeks to reduce the environmental impact of desalination processes while producing valuable by-products such as Sodium Chloride and other minerals. The project aligns with Bahrain’s goals of enhancing food security and reducing reliance on imports, contributing to sustainable regional development to combat sea level rise and climate change.

The MoU was signed in conjunction with the 3rd Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference, hosted by SWA in Jeddah under the patronage of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. Representing WCT Bahrain was Ir. Dr. Tony Chan Tuck Leong, Executive Director of WCT Bahrain; TWT was represented by Isa Al Doseri, CEO of TWT; and SWA by its Vice President for Research and Innovative Projects, Eng. Tariq G. Alghaffari. The exchange was witnessed by Roslan Sharif, Consul General of Malaysia in Jeddah, underscoring the significance of cross-regional collaboration in water sustainability.

Under the MoU, the roles of the respective parties are defined as follows:

  • WCT Bahrain will serve as the design-and-build contractor, overseeing the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) aspects of the project
  • TWT will act as the plant owner, responsible for project CAPEX and operation management.
  • SWA will provide strategic and technical advisory services, guiding the deployment of brine recovery technology.

This collaboration aims to develop and implement advanced brine mining technology, improve desalination efficiency, conserve energy, and produce valuable minerals locally to reduce import dependency.  Bahrain’s existing desalination plants will benefit from these advancements, aligning with the nation’s sustainability priorities.

Ahead of the MoU signing, senior leaders from SWA hosted a technical visit to the pilot plant at the Jubail Water Desalination (JWD) Plant on 20 November 2024. Representatives from WCT Bahrain, TWT, and the technical leadership of SWA were present to witness the proof of concept for various technologies deployed within the pilot plant. JWD, with a capacity of 1,036,000m³/day and ranked the world’s largest desalination plant, has showcased its advancement in research and development in desalination technology. 

This partnership combines expertise to drive innovative water desalination solutions, building on WCT Berhad’s legacy of delivering iconic, transformative projects in Bahrain like the Bahrain International Circuit and City Centre Bahrain. This is part of WCT Bahrain’s commitment to ESG principles, in supporting the global sustainability goals to achieve better water management through technological innovation.