Energy Recovery has finalised a lease for a new manufacturing facility near Dammam, Saudi Arabia, marking the company’s first in-Kingdom manufacturing operation.
The 3,750m2 facility, located near Dammam Second Industrial City, is expected to become operational in 2027 and will support key stages of Energy Recovery’s proprietary PX Pressure Exchanger manufacturing process.
The company said the site will carry out machining, assembly and testing, serving desalination customers in Saudi Arabia and across the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
Manufacturing closer to desalination demand
Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region rely heavily on desalination for potable water supply and industrial development. Energy Recovery said the new facility is designed to bring production closer to one of the world’s largest desalination markets.
The company will operate in Saudi Arabia through Energy Recovery Company, a fully registered Saudi entity that is 100% owned by Energy Recovery.
“Geographic diversity in our manufacturing footprint has been a linchpin of our operating strategy, and this facility is a concrete step in that direction,” said Alex Buehler, interim president and chief executive officer of Energy Recovery.
“A Saudi Arabian manufacturing presence complements our existing operations in California and positions us closer to the customers and markets at the centre of global desalination.”
Supporting Saudi Vision 2030
Energy Recovery said the new facility will create skilled local jobs, support in-Kingdom manufacturing expertise and contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for industrial localisation and water security.
“Localising advanced water technologies and manufacturing capabilities is fundamental to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s water security and achieving the objectives of Vision 2030,” said Eng. Mohammed Alshaikh, vice president of strategic partnerships and local content at the Saudi Water Authority.
Alshaikh said the investment supports technology localisation, national capability development and a more resilient domestic supply chain.
PX technology for energy-efficient desalination
Energy Recovery’s PX Pressure Exchanger technology is used in seawater reverse osmosis desalination to recover energy from high-pressure reject brine and transfer it back into the desalination process.
The company says its pressure exchanger technology can reduce energy consumption in seawater reverse osmosis desalination by up to 60%.
Energy Recovery said its energy recovery devices are currently helping produce 43.6 million cubic metres of clean water per day globally, equivalent to roughly 17,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
“This lease signing reflects Energy Recovery’s long-term commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to the customers we serve here and across the broader region,” said Imad Al-Sharif, vice president, sales and general manager of Energy Recovery Company.
“Manufacturing our proprietary PX technology closer to the world’s largest desalination market allows us to support Saudi Arabia’s water security and Vision 2030 goals more directly and to build lasting in-Kingdom expertise.”
More information about Energy Recovery’s desalination technologies is available on the company’s desalination page.
FAQs
Where will Energy Recovery’s new manufacturing facility be located?
The facility will be located near Dammam Second Industrial City in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
When is the new facility expected to open?
Energy Recovery expects the facility to become operational in 2027.
What will the facility manufacture?
The site will carry out key stages of PX Pressure Exchanger manufacturing, including machining, assembly and testing.
Why is the facility important?
It brings production closer to major desalination customers in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region, while supporting local manufacturing expertise and water security goals.
