Riyadh: The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), in collaboration with Water Desalination, the transitional operational arm of the Saudi Water Authority, hosted a workshop titled 'Towards Sustainable Water Desalination'. The event aimed to review the current status and future prospects of desalination in Saudi Arabia, addressing challenges related to water security and the environmental and economic sustainability of the sector.
According to Saudi Press Agency, KACST Vice President for the Sustainability and Environment Sector Dr. Abdullah Al-Khudhiri highlighted that water desalination is part of an integrated ecosystem that intersects with national policies and regulations, technological innovation, energy, economics, and environmental considerations. The workshop served as a platform for exchanging expertise, showcasing practical experiences, and aligning national efforts towards developing a more efficient and sustainable desalination ecosystem.
Dr. Al-Khudhiri emphasized the significant role of KACST's National Laboratory in conducting applied research, forming strategic partnerships, and linking research and innovation with practical applications to support Saudi Vision 2030. He noted that the nationally implemented innovative models provide evidence of the potential to transition from research to scalable operational solutions, contributing to reduced environmental impact and enhanced sustainability.
Chief Desalination Officer Eng. Abdullah Al-Zowaid elaborated on the National Water Strategy 2030, which focuses on ensuring a secure and sustainable water supply, improving demand management, and increasing usage efficiency to balance resources and needs. The strategy seeks to enhance service quality and efficiency, preserve water resources, protect the environment, and support sector competitiveness through effective governance, private sector participation, and the localization of specialized national capabilities.
Workshop participants also discussed the challenges facing the desalination sector in achieving sustainability. They addressed research and industrial needs for sustainable desalination, the integration of renewable energy with desalination systems, innovation in advanced technologies, and the transfer and localization of technology and supply chains.