Shinko Metal, a subsidiary of Kobe Steel, will supply the tubes to Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. of South Korea from March to October this year. The tubes will have a diameter of 28.6 mm, a wall thickness of 0.7 mm, and a length of 7,790 mm. They will be installed in the Al Taweelah desalination plant, about 70 kilometers east of Abu Dhabi.
Desalination plants convert seawater into fresh water for household and industrial use.
In the Middle East, which is dependent on these plants, the rising population, higher standard of living, and growing industrial activity is placing increasing demand on the need for water. A number of desalination projects are in progress to provide more water. Four contracts were awarded last year in the UAE alone, and two more projects are anticipated to be finalized this year. With the rise in crude oil prices, other projects are being planned in the region. Copper alloy condenser tubes are also used in the power generation, petroleum, chemical, and shipbuilding industries.