Water Utility Management

Singapore’s third desalination project to be delivered by HSL Constructor

Nov. 16, 2015

Civil engineering company HSL Constructor will design and construct Singapore’s third desalination facility...

Civil engineering company HSL Constructor fought off strong competition from seven companies to win the design and construction contract for Singapore’s third desalination facility.

National water agency PUB selected the firm as the contractor for the Tuas facility, with operations set to commence in 2017.

HSL Constructor bid S$217 million (US$153 million), which PUB said was “the most competitive price for the design and construction of the plant”.

Although the company does not appear to have been involved in the design and construction of seawater desalination plants previously, it is delivering the JAC wastewater pre-treatment facility on Jurong Island, Singapore and the intake and outfall for the Prai 1,071 MW power plant in Malaysia.

At a size of 136,000 m3/day, the Tuas project has the same capacity as Singapore’s first desalination plant - SingSpring – but substantially smaller than its second – Tuaspring – with over 300,000 m3/day capacity.

Desalinated water currently meets 25% of Singapore’s water demand. With water demand expected to increase, PUB intends to increase desalinated water capacity in order to continue to meet 25% of future water demand in 2060.

The utility also PUB has also awarded a consultancy services tender for a fourth desalination plant, which will be built at Marina East (read article).

Young Joo Chye, director (engineering development & procurement) at PUB, said: “Since its introduction in 2005, desalinated water has helped strengthen Singapore’s water supply resilience. In particular, together with NEWater, it has helped us weather extremities like dry spells in recent years, and this third plant will help us further expand our water supply system to meet the growing demand in a reliable and cost-efficient manner.”

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About the Author

Tom Freyberg

Tom Freyberg is an experienced environmental journalist, having worked across a variety of business-to-business titles. Since joining Pennwell in 2010, he has been influential in developing international partnerships for the water brand and has overseen digital developments, including 360 degree video case studies. He has interviewed high level figures, including NYSE CEO’s and Environmental Ministers. A known figure in the global water industry, Tom has chaired and spoken at conferences around the world, from Helsinki, to London and Singapore. An English graduate from Exeter University, Tom completed his PMA journalism training in London.