Dow and SWCC’s first action after this agreement will be to launch a pilot project to test the suitability of innovative desalination technologies for conditions in the Arabian Gulf. The announcement follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU), in March 2012, between Dow and SWCC to conduct joint research in desalination technologies.Dow and SWCC will partner to test desalination technologies developed by Dow Water & Process Solutions (DW&PS), evaluating their performance in the Arabian Gulf’s unique environment, including their ability to handle factors such as high salinity and high temperatures effectively. The tests will be conducted by the Saline Water Desalination Research Institute (SWDRI) in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, over a period of one year.“We are looking forward to this opportunity to test the effectiveness of Dow’s innovative ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies in the conditions we work with, in the Arabian Gulf,” said SWDRI Director Dr. Ibrahim Al Tisan. “As the sole producer of desalinated water in Saudi Arabia, we are looking at cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways to boost our operational efficiencies and the quality of our product. Our decision to partner with Dow and explore the possibility of introducing new, more effective, technologies, reflects this commitment.”SWCC is a Saudi government body responsible for desalinating seawater to augment the supply of potable water to coastal and inland cities in the Kingdom. It is the largest desalinated water producer in the world with 32 desalination plants that are responsible for 18% of the world’s desalinated water production.DW&PS’ pilot project with SWCC is the latest in a series of water-related initiatives that Dow has announced in the Kingdom. In addition to the MoU signed with SWCC in March 2012, Dow entered into a comprehensive R&D collaboration agreement with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the region’s leading graduate-level research university, in 2009 with an initial focus on water and water treatment technologies. In July 2011, Dow announced plans to invest in a best-in-class manufacturing facility for DOW FILMTEC™ RO elements in the Kingdom.
