Desalination Reduces Carbon Emissions by 22% of Saudi Arabia’s Total Targets

SWCC aims to strengthen its global leadership in the desalination industry. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SWCC aims to strengthen its global leadership in the desalination industry. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Desalination Reduces Carbon Emissions by 22% of Saudi Arabia’s Total Targets

SWCC aims to strengthen its global leadership in the desalination industry. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SWCC aims to strengthen its global leadership in the desalination industry. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) announced on Thursday that it has succeeded in curbing carbon dioxide emissions by 28 million tons annually, which represents 22 percent of the Kingdom’s total target for the year 2030.

Eng. Mamdouh Al-Shuaiby, Executive Manager of Industrial Security and Environment at the SWCC, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the corporation would gradually dispense with thermal desalination plants and replace them with environmentally-friendly reverse osmosis (RO) technology.

He noted that a new initiative was launched in coordination with the Water Transport and Technology Company to raise the level of environmental commitment in water transmission systems, by developing an environmental management system and relevant construction and operational licenses.

Shuaiby emphasized that the RO system was one of the best eco-friendly technologies for not involving burning processes and emissions. He said that the corporation was working on developing a system that absorbs gases emitted from chimneys and converts them into investment products.

In a statement, the SWCC said it has invested its engineering and research expertise to expand the design innovation, implementation and supply of the new high-efficiency desalination plant that consumes less energy and is more flexible in operation and mobility.

SWCC said it aims to “strengthen its global leadership in the desalination industry, continue its plans to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and enable local content in all its current and future development projects.”



Oil Edges Up on Strong US GDP Data

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
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Oil Edges Up on Strong US GDP Data

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

Oil prices were up slightly on Friday on stronger-than-expected US economic data that raised investor expectations for increasing crude oil demand from the world's largest energy consumer.

But concerns about soft economic conditions in Asia's biggest economies, China and Japan, capped gains.

Brent crude futures for September rose 7 cents to $82.44 a barrel by 0014 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude for September increased 4 cents to $78.32 per barrel, Reuters reported.

In the second quarter, the US economy grew at a faster-than-expected annualised rate of 2.8% as consumers spent more and businesses increased investments, Commerce Department data showed. Economists polled by Reuters had predicted US gross domestic product would grow by 2.0% over the period.

At the same time, inflation pressures eased, which kept intact expectations that the Federal Reserve would move forward with a September interest rate cut. Lower interest rates tend to boost economic activity, which can spur oil demand.

Still, continued signs of trouble in parts of Asia limited oil price gains.

Core consumer prices in Japan's capital were up 2.2% in July from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, raising market expectations of an interest rate hike in the near term.

But an index that strips away energy costs, seen as a better gauge of underlying price trends, rose at the slowest annual pace in nearly two years, suggesting that price hikes are moderating due to soft consumption.

China, the world's biggest crude importer, surprised markets for a second time this week by conducting an unscheduled lending operation on Thursday at steeply lower rates, suggesting authorities are trying to provide heavier monetary stimulus to prop up the economy.