Bluewater Bio’s continued growth in the Middle East is further reinforced with the contract award to upgrade and expand the MODON Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWWTP) in Jeddah 1st Industrial City, Saudi Arabia.
The project forms part of a 20-year Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer (ROT) concession awarded by MODON to Miahona, with SUECO appointed as the EPC contractor and Bluewater Bio supplying the core biological and tertiary treatment technologies.
Located in one of Saudi Arabia’s largest industrial zones, the facility serves more than 1,100 factories. Continued industrial expansion has driven flows and loadings beyond original design capacity, making this upgrade critical to maintaining reliable treatment and reuse.
Bluewater Bio will supply a combined technology package designed to increase capacity by 60%, from 25 MLD to 40 MLD, while enhancing treatment performance and supporting downstream reuse. The scope includes the installation of 14 SMART units – the proprietary technology that drives the HYBACS process – together with 6 FilterClear systems providing 24 MLD of tertiary treated water for reuse via a reverse osmosis (RO) plant.
The upgrade is designed so the plant remains fully operational throughout, ensuring uninterrupted service to the industrial facilities.
Fergus Rooksby, Commercial Director of Bluewater Bio, commented: “HYBACS was selected because it delivers a significant increase in biological treatment capacity without the need for major new civil structures. Combined with FilterClear for RO feedwater production, it provides a cost-effective, low-footprint solution that is straightforward to operate and minimises ongoing service and maintenance costs.
"The ability to add further modules in the future also gives Miahona a flexible route to increase RO-treated water reuse, making this a highly compelling and future-ready solution.”
Daniyar Seipoldin, General Director of SUECO, said: “As an EPC contractor, SUECO is committed to implementing modern technological solutions that respond to the evolving needs of the industry — including energy efficiency, sustainable operation, effective use of existing infrastructure, and minimizing the need for additional civil construction.
It is in these principles that we see a strong strategic alignment between SUECO and Bluewater Bio. We value the professional collaboration between our teams and look forward to working together to successfully integrate the selected technologies and deliver the required project outcomes for Miahona and MODON.”
Richard Haddon, CEO of Bluewater Bio, added: “This award reflects the strength of our technology offering in addressing complex industrial wastewater challenges. The MODON facility presents a highly demanding treatment environment, and the selection of HYBACS and FilterClear highlights their proven ability to deliver robust, reliable solutions under challenging conditions.”
The project builds on Bluewater Bio’s growing regional track record, including other major installations in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Haddon concluded: “This contract award further strengthens our presence in the Middle East and reinforces our position as a trusted provider of advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions across the region.”
The plant upgrade is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2027, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives around industrial water reuse and sustainable infrastructure. -TradeArabia News Service
