The world is under a growing threat of water scarcity, with over 5 billion people expected to be affected by 2050, according to a UN report. Access to clean water is no longer just a challenge—it has become a fundamental necessity for human survival.

To tackle this problem, LG Chem is driving innovation in the desalination industry with its cutting-edge Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane technology. With the capability to transform 5.1 million tons of seawater into fresh water each day, LG Chem is making a significant impact in addressing global water shortages. Today, let’s explore how their RO Membrane technology is helping to build a sustainable future for humanity.

LG Chem Opens Up a New Chapter in Saudi Arabian Water Industry

With expansion of the RO membrane business for seawater desalination in Saudi Arabia, LG Chem is strengthening their position in the local market by constructing a manufacturing plant and launching joint R&D initiatives. This project, carried out in collaboration with the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), is projected to mark a key turning point in establishing LG Chem’s strong foothold in the Middle Eastern water treatment market.

LG Chem recently signed a contract with Alkhorayef Group to locally produce RO membranes. Additionally, the company announced plans to strengthen their R&D collaboration with the Water Technologies Innovation and Research Institute (WTIIRA), a research body under the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA), to develop new technologies.

At the same time, LG Chem has been expanding their domestic operations by increasing production capacity at the Cheongju plant in Korea, adding a new facility capable of producing 400,000 RO membranes annually. In line with this effort, the company aims to double the scale of their RO membrane business within four years and strengthen collaborations in global markets, including the Middle East.

The Middle East presents a significant growth potential in the seawater desalination market. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman, due to their desert climate, heavily depend on desalination, driving a steady rise in demand for RO membranes. Saudi Arabia, in particular, accounts for 21% of the global desalinated water consumption, making it a key market. Through this collaboration, LG Chem aims to address the increasing need for advanced water treatment solutions while enhancing its competitiveness through a localization strategy.

Alkhorayef Group is a leading Saudi Arabian company with diverse business operations spanning water treatment, oil, energy, shipbuilding, and defense. In particular, Alkhorayef Water, a subsidiary of the group, is the largest private water treatment company in Saudi Arabia and the 14th largest globally. Through collaboration with LG Chem, the company aims to further strengthen their position in the Saudi market.

The representative of LG Chem’s RO membrane business stated, “This collaboration aligns with our localization strategy in Saudi Arabia to strengthen our ability to meet the growing demand for advanced water treatment solutions. We aim to deliver innovative technologies that contribute to the sustainability of the country’s water industry.” This partnership marks a significant strategic move for LG Chem, enhancing their competitiveness through local manufacturing and technology development while accelerating their growth in the Middle Eastern water treatment market. LG Chem remains dedicated to providing sustainable water management solutions and solidifying their position in the global market.

RO Membrane Powering the World

LG Chem is strengthening their presence in the global market through the seawater desalination technology utilizing RO membranes. The company has been securing major projects across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean, reinforcing their leadership in the RO membrane industry.

In Egypt, LG Chem was selected as the sole supplier of RO membranes for the 300,000-ton capacity seawater desalination plants under construction in El Galala and Port Said. The company’s technology has once again proven its reliability by maintaining stable performance despite the high salinity and elevated water temperatures of the Red Sea region.

Additionally, LG Chem has been chosen as the exclusive supplier for a major seawater desalination project in Israel, further strengthening their credibility in the market. The company plans to supply 30,000 RO membranes to the Ashdod desalination plant, enabling the treatment of 1 billion tons of seawater annually (336,000 tons per day), enough to provide water for approximately 1.1 million people.

Also, LG Chem continues to expand their market share in North Africa by securing large-scale projects. Given the region’s desert climate, where seawater desalination is essential, LG Chem’s RO membranes serve a vital role with their superior performance and cost-efficiency.

Meanwhile, LG Chem is expanding their lithium extraction projects using RO membranes in China and South America, further establishing their technological expertise beyond water treatment and into the secondary battery materials industry. In China, the company supplies approximately 10,000 RO membranes to CITIC Group’s lithium refining project, contributing to an annual output of 20,000 tons of lithium carbonate. This is enough to produce batteries for 500,000 electric vehicles, highlighting the versatility of LG Chem’s RO membranes across multiple industries. ‘

Likewise, LG Chem is broadening their seawater desalination and lithium extraction projects utilizing RO membranes across all global regions, including the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and South America, enhancing their competitive edge in the global market. Through continuous innovation and research, the company remains committed to leading the way in water treatment and sustainable technology solutions.

The Principle of RO Membranes
and LG Chem’s Differentiated Technology

We have already highlighted the achievements of LG Chem’s RO membranes in the global desalination market. But what exactly are RO membranes?

RO membranes are high-performance membranes that purify water using the Reverse Osmosis (RO) principle. They are widely used not only for seawater desalination but also for industrial water purification, high-purity water production, wastewater reuse, and drinking water filtration. LG Chem’s RO membranes incorporate the company’s proprietary Thin-Film Nanocomposite (TFN) technology, achieving an exceptional 99.89% salt removal rate and maintaining a leading position in the global desalination market.

RO membranes consist of multiple layers. The support layer made of felt and polysulfone provides structural strength, while the polyamide active layer plays a crucial role in filtering out ions and contaminants from water. By integrating nano materials into the polyamide active layer, LG Chem has achieved a higher ion rejection rate and improved water permeability compared to conventional membranes. Furthermore, the product has been certified with NSF Standard 61*, confirming its safety for drinking water purification.

So, how do RO membranes function? Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology operates by applying the opposite principle of natural osmosis. Normally, a solution with lower concentration moves toward a higher concentration to reach equilibrium. However, in reverse osmosis, external high pressure is applied to push only water molecules through the membrane, while blocking impurities and contaminants. This process makes it possible to extract clean water from seawater or polluted sources.

LG Chem’s RO membranes offer more than just exceptional water purification performance—they feature enhanced fouling resistance and durability, making maintenance easier while maximizing energy efficiency. Their high-flow design allows for greater desalinated water production with the same energy consumption, ensuring strong cost-effectiveness even in large-scale seawater desalination facilities. With these technological advantages, LG Chem’s RO membranes are widely used in key global regions, including the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and the Americas, earning a solid reputation in the global market.

With climate change and industrial expansion making clean water more essential than ever, LG Chem’s RO membranes are emerging as a crucial technology for sustainable water resource solutions. By leveraging this innovation, the company is actively contributing to alleviating global water shortages and taking the lead in delivering cleaner and safer water.

*NSF Standard 61: A drinking water quality management certification established by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) in the U.S.

LG Chem’s RO membranes are no longer just an innovative water treatment technology; they are becoming a key solution to the global water crisis. The technology has been applied in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, as well as in North Africa, Egypt, and Israel, continuously expanding its influence in the global desalination market.

Going forward, LG Chem will continue to play a crucial role in addressing global water challenges through their RO membranes. The company is expanding their projects beyond the Middle East into Asia, Europe, and Africa, further strengthening their impact on the water industry.

To help solve the water shortage crisis that affects us all, LG Chem’s RO membranes will continue to pave the way toward a sustainable future.