MEDRC Water Research spearheads international cooperation in desalination

MUSCAT: Experts representing member states of the Islamic Development Bank will gather at MEDRC Water Research from January 28-30, to discuss the challenges, needs, successes and perspectives of their water desalination sectors.

Organised by MEDRC in partnership with the National Office for Electricity & Potable Water (ONEE), Morocco, the workshop is the result of an agreement by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), MEDRC Water Research and ONEE to look for a means to collaborate in areas specifically related to desalination, namely in research and capacity building. The workshop offers the organising parties the opportunity to assess support requirements and to establish a framework for future collaborative efforts that respond to those needs.

Sponsor

Sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), a specialised institution working to achieve economic development and social progress of Muslim countries, the three-day event offers a platform for peer learning and knowledge sharing and strengthens MEDRC’s reputation as a regional hub and catalyst for the development of solutions to freshwater scarcity.

Taking place at MEDRC’s head- quarters in Al Hail, Muscat, the workshop brings together 10 IDB member states including Oman, Morocco, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Senegal and Libya.

Oman will be represented by Dr Ammar Al Obaidani, an expert at the Transfer of Science Knowledge and Technology Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Zaher Al Sulaimani, chairman of the Oman Water Society, together with representatives from the OPWP, TRC, Haya Water, PAEW and the Ministry of Regional Municipalities & Water Resources and Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries alongside key figures from operation & maintenance organisations running Oman’s desalination plants.

Speakers

The speakers at the event are; Ciarán Ó Cuinn (Center Director, MEDRC Water Research), Dr Ammar Al Obaidani (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oman), Dr Jauad El Kharraz, (Head of Research, MEDRC Water Research), Eng. AbdelhakimYessouf (IDB), Eng. Salma Jariri (ONEE), Eng. Abrar Al Zaabi(OPWP).

The event will have technical visits to MEDRC’s state-of-theart reverse osmosis pilot training plant and research facilities plus a tour of the Ghubra desalination plant.