INDIA – The State Government of Gujarat is planning to set up the largest desalination plant in the state at Jamnagar, with a capacity of 100,000 m³/d. The state-owned Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited signed an agreement with an Essel Infraprojects/Abeinsa (Abengoa) team to develop the $98.448 million project under a Public Private Partnership. The plant is expected to become operational in 2021 or 2022.^[1]

U.A.E. – The Federal Electricity and Water Authority and MDC Power Holding Company have announced plans to build three new desalination plants in the northern emirates. If these go ahead, three plants with a capacity of 511,000 m³/d will be built in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah. Completion of the first phase of the project is scheduled for 2021.^[2]

NAMIBIA – The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) may purchase a desalination plant near Swakopmund currently owned by Orano, a French nuclear energy company. The plant was commissioned in 2013 and has a production capacity of 147,945 m³/d. According to a report from the Windhoek Observer, the Government of Botswana is also in talks with the owners about acquiring the facility.^[3]

^{Port Lincoln, Sleaford Bay, South Australia Credit: Getty Images}

AUSTRALIA – SA Water has invited local residents to provide feedback on the proposed $80 million seawater desalination plant at Sleaford Bay, South Australia, through a series of community open days this month. According to SA Water, local residents were overwhelmingly supportive of the proposed project.

In August, soon after SA Water purchased 60 hectares land near Sleaford Bay, the Minister for Environment and Water reported that construction would likely commence within two years.^[4]

MALAYSIA – Malakoff Corp Bhd has revealed that its associate, Almiyah Attilemcana SPA (ASS), and subsidiary Tlemcen Desalination Investment Company (TDIC), have received a termination notice from Sonatrach SPA and Algerienne Des Eaux (ADE) for the 2007 water purchase agreement on the 200,000 m3/d Tlemcen Souk Tleta desalination plant Algeria.  The termination notice is based on a breach of contract claim by Sonatrach and ADE, which alleges that AAS and TDIC failed to meet requested remediation commitments.^[5]