Saudi and Japanese entities plan to deploy innovative RO technology for economical utilisation of water and energy

Under the Patronage of H.R.H. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz and H.E. Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe, Abunayyan Holding, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, provider of power and water desalination technologies, and Tokyo-based Toray Industries, with expertise in membrane sales and service, have launched Toray Membrane Middle East LLC (TMME), a joint venture in water and wastewater treatment technologies in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Announcing this, the two entities said that the new company, TMME, established with a projected investment of over SAR 300 million (USD 80 million) with investments from Toray’s subsidiary, Toray Membrane Europe AG, will manufacture and sell water treatment membranes, in addition to providing technical services.

According to the announcement, TMME plans to construct a production factory by applying Toray’s production technology and global quality control standards to help utilise water and energy resources economically and beneficially. The factory will reportedly begin production of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane elements beginning in 2015.

Global water shortages, the continued need for conservation of water resources, and the endeavour to respond to essential environmental considerations, have pushed the tremendous expansion of the global RO membrane market, the two entities informed. Demand from large-scale seawater desalination projects and wastewater recycling applications, expected to increase in the MENA region to meet water shortage, they claimed, puts TMME ahead of the game.