SINGAPORE: Singapore, which is turning to desalination and waste-water technology to wean itself off water imports from neighbouring Malaysia, is now using its expertise to win a bigger slice of the $600 billion global water business.
Water is a crucial political, as well as economic, issue for Singapore. The tropical city-state, home to 4.2 million people and scores of water-guzzling electronics and drugs factories, pipes in half of its daily water needs from Malaysia.
But veiled threats by Malaysia and Indonesia that they could use control of the water supply to exert more influence over their smaller neighbour prompted Singapore to look for alternative sources.
Now companies such as Hyflux Ltd., which operates Singapore’s biggest desalination plant, are expanding abroad and winning contracts in the Middle East, China, and India.
“Singapore has moved very quickly to put itself in the spotlight in the water industry and to address the water issues facing the world today,” said Peter Moore, vice president of Water Corporation of Western Australia.
Just five years ago, Singapore’s only alternative to imported water from Malaysia was the rainfall collected in 14 reservoirs scattered across the tropical island.
It started recycling sewage water from sinks, toilets and air-conditioners in 2003, branding the end-product ‘NEWater’ in the hope it would be more palatable to consumers. Recycled water accounts for just one per cent of all tap water.
With the opening of Hyflux’s S$200 million ($120 million) desalination plant in September — the world’s largest plant using the reverse osmosis technology — Singapore can now pump out 30 million gallons (136,000 cubic metres) of water a day, meeting about 10 per cent of its daily water needs.
“Our combined efforts to deal with the water challenge have turned our vulnerability into a strength,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the plant’s opening.
Hyflux has expanded into China, India and sealed a string of deals in the Middle East including a contract last year to design, build and operate a desalination plant for Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah resort.—Reuters
