South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. won an order to supply reverse osmosis (RO) filters, core equipment for desalination process, for Egypt’s largest seawater desalination project, the latest victory for the Korean firm that has been expanding its presence in the global market for residential and industrial RO filters used for removing water impurities.

LG Chem said on Sunday it has signed a contract with Metito, a water treatment company based in Dubai, to provide RO filters to desalination plants under construction at El Galalah and Port Said in Egypt, the company said.

Upon completion, the two plants capable of processing a combined 300,000 tons of seawater will provide fresh water to 1 million people a day. LG Chem will begin supplying its filters in the second half of this year. The company said it could win the order for the desalination project in the region notorious for high salt concentration and water temperature, thanks to its superior technology to remove 99.85 percent of salt from water, the highest in the world, and energy saving technology.

The country’s leading chemical and battery making company has been gaining a firm foothold in the global water industry, one of the three future promising sectors including bio and energy industry. Last year it also struck a deal to solely supply RO filters to Sohar Reverse Osmosis (Sohar SWRO) plant in Oman that is capable of furnishing 250,000 tons of fresh water.

The Korean company aims to become a global leader in the seawater desalination market next year by winning orders from other regions in the Middle East and Africa, it said, adding that it plans to tap into the new markets in China and India as well.

“We will lead the market based on our marketing and technological support networks established in 16 countries around the world,” said Jeong Cheol-dong, president of LG Chem.

The company has been ramping up its production of RO filters by expanding its manufacturing line in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, with an investment of 40 billion won ($35 million), as the global market for RO filters is estimated to grow from 1.6 trillion won last year to 2 trillion won by 2020. It has been supplying its industrial RO filters to global companies such as Coca-Cola and Panasonic as well as Shuaibah power and desalination plant in Saudi Aribia and waste water treatment facilities in Brazil and the U.S.

By Jung Wook

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