Veolia to implement largest industrial water project in the Middle East

Veolia announces the signing of an agreement between the consortium comprising Veolia, Marafiq, and Lamar, and SATORP (a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies Refining and Petrochemical Company) to implement a major project for recycling water from complex industrial effluents in Jubail Industrial City — the largest petrochemical hub in the Middle East.

The project includes a $500M cutting-edge water from complex industrial effluents plant of unprecedented scale whose construction has been entrusted to Veolia and Orascom for the civil works and an operation and maintenance (O&M) contract with a duration of 30 years that is set to begin in 2028. The facility will integrate Veolia’s latest technologies, AnoxKaldnes MBBR, ZeeWeed membranes and Actiflo Carb, including pioneering spent caustic treatment, maximizing resource recovery and significantly reducing environmental impact.

Water from industrial effluents reuse is crucial in the Middle East, where freshwater is scarce, demand is rising and climate conditions are extreme. Recycling reduces environmental pollution, preserves scarce water resources and lowers both investments and operational costs, supporting sustainable industrial growth and strengthening resilience against water shortages.

With an annual capacity of nearly 8.8 million m3, the water reuse plant will be the biggest in the Middle East. Beyond serving SATORP, it will have the potential to provide advanced treatment solutions for future industrial players across the region, establishing a regional hub for complex wastewater management.

Pioneer and leading provider of advanced water management solutions in the Middle East, Veolia, will lead the reuse plant operations in Jubail, leveraging its comprehensive expertise covering the entire industrial wastewater treatment chain. The Group will focus on maximizing the resource recovery from local wastewater, transforming it into a new resource for the client, enabling new circular loops.