A SAUDI water and wastewater-related business mission, headed by Eng. Nidhal S. Al-Dossary, President, Saudi Arabian Water Environment Association (SAWEA), Dammam, recently toured Kobe, Osaka and Matsuyama, Japan. The purpose of this mission is to receive information on state-of-art and cutting-edge technologies for water and wastewater treatment in Japan.
SAWEA is a non-profit organization started on Jan. 1, 2012 by a group of predominantly professionals within Saudi Aramco working in Saudi Arabia in water and wastewater treatment. The objective of SAWEA is to preserve and enhance water quality in Saudi Arabia and the world.
First day, the participants visited the Center for Membrane and Film Technology in Kobe University and this center embrace full range of the research and development on high functional membrane and films to latest processes for producing them.
Second day, the participants visited three plant, Higashi Water Environmental Center for wastewater treatment, Tobu Sludge Center for sludge management and Water control center of Kobe City Waterworks Bureau.
At first, the participants visited the Higashi Water Environmental Center for wastewater treatment and they received the information of “Emergency operation method and successful reconstruction from large-scale earthquake” and “Sludge utilization for energy conservation and environment protection”. Secondary, the participants visit The Tobu Sludge Center that is fluidized bed incinerator for sludge volume reduction. At there, the participants received latest information of latest technology of sludge incineration and ash utilization method.
At the end of the day, the participants visited Water Control Center of Kobe City Waterworks Bureau. Kobe city showed their best practices and implement in water management which achieved only 4.5% water leak in their system to supply 232 million gallons per day to the participants.
Third day, the participants traveled to Matsuyama to visit Ehime plant of Toray Industries Inc. Toray presented their latest products and future plant to support local market in Saudi Arabia. After the lecture from Toray, the participants have a good chance to look the manufacturing process of RO (Reverse Osmosis) membrane and MBR (Membranes Bio-Reactors).
Fourth day, the participants visited Kubota (Hirakata Plant) and Green Front Sakai. Kubota was well-known as a wide variety of products in water and wastewater field. At first, Kubota gave a brief overview of their product and supply records in Middle East and Saudi Arabia. After lecture, they toured the pump and valve factories.
After visiting Kubota, the participants moved to Advanced Treated Water Recycle Center in Green Front Sakai City. This plant uses a new membrane technology for treating and upgrading the Treated Sewage Effluent to Pure Water level for Sharp industries and this center is managed by Kobleco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd. Currently, the upgraded wastewater is used for make-up water of cooling tower, but it will be used in the manufacturing process with a future plan.
Final day, the business mission was closed to have B2B meetings with Japanese companies (Sumitomo Corporation, JFE Engineering Corporation, Kubota Corporation, Mitsubishi Rayon Aqua Solutions and Toyobo Co., Ltd.). The B2B meeting was started with presentation from Eng. Mohammed Al-Abdulatif, Assistance Director of SAWEA. Topic was about the Saudi Arabia’s water demand and planned projects and potential investment opportunities in the water sector of Saudi Arabia.
This business mission to Japan provided the participants with latest knowledge about water and wastewater treatment, utilization of TSE, Japan’s effective utilization and solution of sludge, and Japan’s cutting-edge technology and products. On the other hand, Japanese companies had a good chance to gain more understanding of the Kingdom needs for water sector.
Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) will make the plans to have this kind of opportunity for increasing the collaboration between Japan and Saudi Arabia to developing water industry and protecting environment.
