Veolia Oman aims for global benchmark in sustainable desalination
Veolia Oman, in a significant stride toward sustainable water production, is positioning itself as a global leader in desalination efficiency and renewable energy integration. In an exclusive interview with the Observer, Erwan Rouxel, CEO of Veolia Oman, underscored the company’s commitment to innovation, energy performance, and community development—particularly through its flagship plants in Barka and Sur.
“These two plants are not only important for Oman—they are flagships for the entire desalination industry,” said Rouxel. “Barka 4 is the largest desalination plant in the country and among the most efficient in the world.”
He highlighted a milestone achievement: the Barkar plant’s energy consumption has been reduced to below 3 kilowatt-hours per cubic metre of water produced—an elite benchmark in the global desalination market, where the industry average remains above that threshold.
“Being able to go below 3 kilowatt-hours is quite an achievement,” Rouxel noted, emphasising the advanced technology and operational discipline that made this possible.
Meanwhile, the Sur plant has broken new ground in renewable energy. “Sur is the first desalination plant of its size in the world fully powered by solar energy during daylight hours,” said Rouxel. The facility showcases what’s possible when water infrastructure is designed with sustainability at its core.
Resilience is also a core strength of Veolia Oman’s operations. Both plants are equipped to handle local environmental challenges such as high salinity and algal blooms, particularly frequent in the Barka region. Rouxel stated, “We have the pretreatment stages required to remove all solids and components from seawater. We’re well-equipped to respond to algal blooms, which are quite common on Oman’s coasts.”
Source: Oman Observer
“These two plants are not only important for Oman—they are flagships for the entire desalination industry,” said Rouxel. “Barka 4 is the largest desalination plant in the country and among the most efficient in the world.”
He highlighted a milestone achievement: the Barkar plant’s energy consumption has been reduced to below 3 kilowatt-hours per cubic metre of water produced—an elite benchmark in the global desalination market, where the industry average remains above that threshold.
“Being able to go below 3 kilowatt-hours is quite an achievement,” Rouxel noted, emphasising the advanced technology and operational discipline that made this possible.
Meanwhile, the Sur plant has broken new ground in renewable energy. “Sur is the first desalination plant of its size in the world fully powered by solar energy during daylight hours,” said Rouxel. The facility showcases what’s possible when water infrastructure is designed with sustainability at its core.
Resilience is also a core strength of Veolia Oman’s operations. Both plants are equipped to handle local environmental challenges such as high salinity and algal blooms, particularly frequent in the Barka region. Rouxel stated, “We have the pretreatment stages required to remove all solids and components from seawater. We’re well-equipped to respond to algal blooms, which are quite common on Oman’s coasts.”
Source: Oman Observer
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