KACST launches initiative for water desalination by solar energy

Riyadh, January 24, 2010, SPA -- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
(KACST) announced here today the launch of the first phase of the national
initiative for water desalination by solar energy.

This was announced at a press conference which was attended by Minister of
Finance Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Minister of Water and Electricity Eng. Abdullah
Al-Husayn, KACST President Dr. Mohammad Al-Suwaiyel and a number of officials.

The initiative was developed in cooperation between KACST and American IBM
company through the Joint Center for Nanotechnology Research. The initiative
aims at finding solutions to the problems of energy and water at lowest costs.
It also contributes to the national economy and reduces the dependence on oil
and gas in the operation of plants which currently consume about 1.5 million
barrels.

--SPA