INDONESIA – Jakarta’s Deputy Governor Sandiago Uno revealed that the city government is exploring the possibility of building a desalination program in Jakarta. After successfully installing a wastewater treatment plant, the governor has said that the city would be able to meet the energy requirements of a new facility.^[1]  

SOUTH AFRICA – A demonstration desalination plant using solar power will be built in Witsand, a town located 250 kilometres east of Cape Town. The $700,000 plant will be constructed by the French company Mascara Renewable Water and will produce 100 m³ water day, covering 50 percent of the community’s needs. The plant is powered by a 70-kW solar array but in times of need it can be connected to the electrical grid to produce 300 m³ per day.^[2]

LIBYA – The city of Derna has suspended operations at its main desalination plant due to nearby attacks. The Libyan National Army has launched a military operation against the city to take it from a coalition of local fighters and Islamist militants. Operations at the plant had to stop in order to save the lives of workers and to protect station units and equipment.^[3]

^{The Gold Coast Desalination Plant, Queensland. Australia. Credit: Water-Technology.net}

AUSTRALIA – The Gold Coast Desalination Plant in southeast Queensland will operate at a higher capacity for the coming three months. While the Mt Crosby East Bank Water Treatment Plant undergoes a major upgrade, the Gold Coast facility will provide 133,000 m³ water per day to surrounding homes and businesses.^[4]