Tuas Desalination Plant Overview

The Tuas desalination plant is the third largest desalination plant in Singapore. It officially commenced operation in 2018 and received the best “Desalination Plant of the Year” at the Global Water Awards, 2019. It is considered one of the national tap of Singapore. 

This seawater desalination plant produces 300,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day. It is Singapore’s first seawater intake desalination plant with a pre-treatment technology. Located in Tuas, it uses dissolved air-flotation and ultra-filtration integrated to enhance the water desalination quality. 

The Tuas desalination plant is the first desalination plant in Singapore with roof-top fitted solar panels. This Tuas power is sufficient to supply power to 300 HDB four-room flats annually. 

The Tuas desalination plant was built by PUB (Public Utilities Board) in the consortium through a DBOO (Design, Build, Own, Operate) contract that majorly includes Singspring Pte Ltd, HSL Construction company, Hyflux and Black & Veatch company. 

Tuas Desalination Plant Background

The Tuas Desalination plant began its construction in 2015. It is the first desalination plant in Singapore owned and operated by PUB. Several contractors and investors were involved in the plant construction. This includes HSL Constructor as the major contractor for the desalination plant project. Other subcontractors and suppliers include Tedagua, Amiad, ERI, ROPV and Flowserve.

The desalinated water produced in this plant fulfills the water demand of 200,000 households every day. The Tuas desalination plant is widespread in 3.5 hectares. 

It's designed as the most space-efficient facility in the country. It serves as a crucial source of drinking water in Singapore.   

Aiming for clean energy and sustainability, the Tuas desalination plant is Singapore’s first desalination plant with roof-top solar panels. Covering 50% of the roof with photovoltaic panels sufficient to generate electricity to power 300 HDB four-room flats annually. It ensures 50% of energy savings in the reverse osmosis desalination process. 

Tuas Desalination Plant Timeline

Tuas Desalination Plant Scope

The Tuas desalination plant fulfills 30% of Singapore’s water needs and generates 1.2 Megawatts of power sufficient for 300 HDB four-room flats annually. This plant covering 3.5 hectares is built as a part of an ultra-modern energy-conscious design that reduces overall energy consumption to 3.5kWh/m3. 

This desalination plant aims at clean sustainable energy in Singapore. The Tuas desalination plant combines the UF and DAF membranes for pre-treatment, the first ever in the desalination plants in Singapore. This prevents frequent membrane fouling and ensures an increased lifespan of RO membranes compared to other desalination plants. 

Compared to other desalination plants, the Tuas desalination plant deploys a dual DAF/UF pre-treatment system and has a two-pass SWRO desalination process for enhanced desalination process.

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Tuas Desalination Plant Cost

The overall project cost is estimated to be USD 217 Million. It includes the maintenance cost for two years under HSL Construction. Financial investors like DBS Bank, KBC Bank, ING Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank invested hugely in this project.

These banks helped with loan financing through DBS bank as the lead arranger. Hunton & Williams supported as financial advisor. However, this company merged with another law firm Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP in 2018 and is now known as Hunton Andrews Kurth.

It is the first plant in Singapore to be completely owned and operated by the PUB which leads to a forefront in desalination projects. 

Contractors and Suppliers Involved

Benefits of this Project

The Tuas desalination plant is the third largest desalination plant in Singapore and is a major source of potable drinking water for millions of people. The major benefits of this project are listed below: 

Improved Water Security

The Tuas desalination plant produces 300,000 cubic meters of desalinated sea water per day. It fulfills the water needs of 200,000 homes per day and contributes 30% to the overall Singapore's water supply.

Reduced Reliance on Natural Water Resources

Through Singapore's four national taps (local water, imported water, NEWater, and desalinated water) of Singapore the dependence on natural water resources such as rainfall is low, ensuring consistent potable water throughout the year. 

Shift to Solar Energy

The use of photovoltaic panels on the rooftop ensures sufficient electricity generation to run the desalination plant and reduce its overall energy consumption to 3.5kWh/m3. This encourages clean sustainable energy and reduced carbon emissions for every desalination cycle. 

Advanced Pre-treatment Technology

The Tuas desalination plant is the first desalination plant in Singapore. It is integrated with dissolved air-flotation and ultrafiltration that improves membrane fouling and thus enhances desalination quality. Other largest desalination plants in UAE are already using advanced desalination technology to enhnace the overall process. 

Global Recognition

This desalination plant in Singapore received its first global recognition as “Desalination Plant of the Year” in 2019 by the Global Water Awards.

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Conclusion

The Tuas desalination plant is the third largest desalination plant in Singapore with photovoltaic panels and a desalination capacity of 300,000 cubic meters per day. It was commissioned in 2018 and is operated by PUB. It was awarded the best “desalination plant of the year” by the Global Water Awards in 2019. This plant was built by a consortium of HSL Constructions, Singspring Pte Ltd, Hyflux, and Black & Veatch Company. 

Likewise, The Singspring desalination plant and Tuas South desalination plant (Formerly Tuaspring desalination plant) are both run by Hflux. The fourth desalination plant  is the Keppel Marina East desalination plant. Jurong Island desalination plant is Singapore's fifth desalination plant commissioned in 2022. 

Located in Tuas, it fulfills the fresh water demand of 200,000 households every day. The entire project cost is estimated to be USD 217 Million, which includes the maintenance costs for 2 years under HSL construction

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