Veolia, the global leader in optimized resources management, today showcased the construction progress of the extension site of Sur desalination plant in Oman.
Veolia – through its subsidiary Sharqiyah Desalination Company – in partnership with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), highlighted milestones such as:

• 70% of the project now being complete
• One million man-hours worked without injury
• International skills being brought on the project including 600 people of 15 nationalities

In January 2015, Oman’s Sharqiyah Desalination Company announced an agreement to expand the 80,000 cubic meters Sur Desalination plant 160 kms south west of Muscat. With 70 percent of construction now complete, under the amended Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) with state-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), the Veolia-led company is adding 51,000 cubic meters to what is already one of the largest Independent Water Projects (IWP) in Oman.
“A growing population, limited resources and increased requirements for water have triggered an increased focus on water conservation in the Sultanate of Oman. The Sur plant has put much effort into reducing the environmental impact of the desalination process through energy recovery devices. We are pleased to witness the progress of the plant extension. This project once again demonstrates Veolia’s strong commitment to the Oman,” commented Xavier Joseph, CEO of Veolia Middle East.
The additional water capacity produced by the extension project anticipated to be completed by mid-2016 will help in meeting the projected demand for potable water in the Sharqiyah region. The total production of the plant is expected to reach approximately 131,000 m3/day and will enable the supply of drinking water to almost 600,000 residents.
Sur, the world’s largest beachwell RO (reverses osmosis) plant, today provides 350,000 inhabitants of the Sharqiyah region with clean drinking water. The RO process, which forces high pressured water through a semi-permeable membrane, separates salt, bacteria and other particles allowing clean water to filter through.
“We are proud of reaching these milestones, and remain dedicated to helping the Sultanate of Oman meet its stringent environmental goals, while ensuring the delivery of drinking water to the Sharqiyah region,” said Philippe Paulissen, Project Director of Sur extension plant.
The Sur Desalination Plant was built by a consortium composed of OTV, a Veolia subsidiary and Bahwan Engineering Company in 2007 and is currently operated by Bahwan Veolia, a JV between Bahwan and Veolia.
Veolia group is the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 179,000 employees* worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them.
In 2014, the Veolia group supplied 96 million people with drinking water and 60 million people with wastewater service, produced 52 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 31 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy.