NAMIBIA – The University of Namibia (Unam) has inaugurated a water bottling facility, fed by water from the institution’s desalination plant which was commissioned last year.

The bottling unit, according to Namibia Economist was constructed with an investment of N$875,000 (over US$53,800), funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering of the United Kingdom (US$32,300) and Unam (US$21,500).

Being a pilot project, the desalination plant is a joint initiative between the University of Namibia and the University of Turku in Finland, and was installed by Solar Water Solutions of Finland.

It is powered by photovoltaic solar energy and has a processing capacity of 3000 litres per hour.

“The life cycle costs of this solar-powered desalination solution are more than 70% lower than conventional systems because there are no energy costs and no need for fossil fuels,” said Antti Pohjola, president and CEO of Solar Water Solutions.

During the launch of the facility, the university’s Chancellor Dr Nangolo Mbumba also inaugurated a plantation with 400 olive trees which is irrigated by the desalinated water.

Vice Chancellor Professor Kenneth Matengu said production of potable water from salt water is feasible, and growing of plants in the desert, especially olive trees that bear fruits and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is also achievable.

Egyptian JV acquires water desalination company

Meanwhile, Egypt’s leading engineering and infrastructure companies Hassan Allam Holding (HAH) and Almar Water Solutions have jointly acquired leading water desalination company Ridgewood Egypt.

The acquisition will see about 60 water desalination plants added to the joint venture’s portfolio, which was set up primarily to draw on the extensive local and sector experience of HAH and Almar Water Solutions.

It aims to develop water projects in Egypt that fall in line with the nation’s Vision 2030, focusing on providing upstream solutions for municipal and industrial clients, including water desalination, as well as wastewater and industrial water treatment.

Ridgewood Egypt, which holds about 60% of the market share in Egypt’s water desalination sector, builds, operates, manages and owns water desalination plants using reverse osmosis technology.

With over 22 years of experience in the industry, Ridgewood Egypt is a pioneer in Build-Own-Operate (BOO)-based water desalination facilities.

The joint venture will continue to develop water Build-Own-Operate and Transfer (BOT) and BOO projects in Egypt, as an owner and operator.

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