The upswing in construction activity is expected to boost water management solutions provider AES Arabia?s already steady presence in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest growing markets for construction. The sector can provide vast opportunities to AES Arabia, a specialised water management solutions provider, feels Asad Iqbal Khan, AES Arabia?s business development manager
A large agricultural and industrial base in Saudi Arabia, supported by an increasing number of infrastructure projects, has provided a sound backdrop for AES Arabia to expand its presence. Specifically, the need for desalinated water is on the rise due to water scarcity, hence AES Arabia?s reverse osmosis (RO) water management solutions are in demand, said Khan. The company?s signature solutions include demineralisation packages, condensate polishing packages, effluent treatment plants and sewage treatment plants.
Specifically, RO has a dominating presence in brackish water desalination, and the trend is moving over to seawater desalination, he stated. RO desalination will increase due to the rise in water demand, mainly propelled by the energy and municipal sectors in the country. To cater to varying demands, different technologies are coming up such as dissolved air floatation (DAF) and pressurised inside-out ultra filtration (UF) for power industries. In conjunction with seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), the process is applicable to the oil and gas and petrochemical sectors as well. However, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), which either purifies or recycles almost all the wastewater produced, is expected to emerge as an affordable and widely-used process in industrial applications and especially where the regulation is stringent for the disposal of brine, added Khan. 
In addition to the above processes, AES Arabia is a leading specialist in chemical injection skids, which inject a precise amount of specific chemicals into a system at a required temperature, pressure and flow rate. Most chemical injection skids deliver concentrated chemical at specific volumes to ensure bulk concentrations in the main process line are maintained. For maximum efficiency and accuracy, chemical injection systems designed by AES Arabia also contain fully automatic PLC control, precise control logic and control panel (NEMA-4X). Based on different applications, chemical injection skids manufactured by AES Arabia include corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, demulsifier injections and an antifoam dosing package. ?We are always looking to meet the requirements of our customers through our expertise and capability of doing regular to large size projects for multiple construction companies and end users,? Khan stated.
Given the slump in oil prices, there was considerable concern among the major oil and gas industry players, as well as the sectors that support it. Specifically, the desalination market was affected due to financial conditions in 2014, but Khan revealed that only a few of AES Arabia?s projects were cancelled. In fact, most of the company?s projects were temporarily on hold, but are now gathering momentum.
?We have not experienced a slump, rather slower growth as a result of the financial hit at the time,? he said. Things are definitely looking better this year though. Through 2014-15, Saudi Arabia has registered the fastest growth in construction, mainly due to major projects such as King Abdullah Economic City, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Haramain High Speed Rail and the Riyadh Metro. The country is expected to invest more money in construction, where AES Arabia hopes to maximise its profits.
?AES has been active in oil and gas, power, water, petrochemicals, construction and infrastructure projects. In the GCC, we have the reputation of successfully completing projects in a given time frame, as well as delivering precise engineering and quality execution,? noted Khan.
Being an established name in the GCC, AES Arabia is now looking to expand in Africa and the Caspian regions, revealed Khan. The company hopes to achieve broader exposure and heightened mileage in other regions through trade shows, which Khan views as an investment to reach potential and existing customers. ?It is possibly the best way to understand and learn industry trends as well,? he concluded.
