Black & Veatch wins two desalination projects

Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O plant to take advantage of innovative solutions to reduce energy bills

DBOO tender to be prepared for Singapore’s fourth desalination plant in Marina East

Hong Kong SAR and Singapore (12 January 2016) – Black & Veatch will perform key roles in two upcoming desalination projects in Hong Kong and Singapore. Both central to each city’s water resiliency planning, the two plants are set to establish new design and energy-use benchmarks for future water treatment plants.

“We have partnered with Singapore and Hong Kong water utilities on some of the world’s most innovative water engineering solutions,” said Cindy Wallis-Lage, President of Black & Veatch’s water business. “Both desalination projects are further examples of how these leading Asian cities are applying progressive thinking to secure future water supplies for their people.”

Hong Kong, Tseung Kwan O plant
The Water Supplies Department of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR has appointed Black & Veatch as the owner’s engineer to develop the first stage of Tseung Kwan O desalination plant. With an initial capacity of 36 MGD (million gallons per day), the plant will meet about five percent of Hong Kong’s water demand.

Black & Veatch recently completed the plant’s feasibility study. The study identifies opportunities to harness green energy that could reduce electricity costs.

“Throughout the world new solutions are emerging that derive synergies across water, energy and waste resources. Energy is a high cost for water utilities and innovatively generated power can yield both financial and environmental benefits for the project,” said Alan Man, Vice President and Managing Director of Black & Veatch’s water business in Greater China.

Black & Veatch drew on expertise from its global water, energy and management consulting business to secure its role on the Tseung Kwan O project. Black & Veatch will design and provide construction supervision across the first phase of the desalination plant. A further 36 MGD, phase two, is also planned.

Singapore, Marina East plant
PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, has appointed Black & Veatch to provide consultancy services for the country’s fourth desalination plant. Planned with a capacity of 36 MGD, the plant will help meet future water demand in the city area and strengthen Singapore’s drought resilience.

The plant in Marina East will be designed to treat two different sources of water: seawater from the Singapore Straits or raw water from the Marina Reservoir. Initially, Black & Veatch’s role will include the preliminary design for the development of the plant under a Design-Build-Own-Operate (DBOO) arrangement.

“Singapore continues to innovate and deliver on its plan for a sustainable and secure water supply,” said William Yong, Vice President and Managing Director of Black & Veatch’s water business in Southeast Asia. “The plant is located in the heart of the city and will serve the needs of a thriving downtown community.”

The Request for Proposal for the development of this desalination plant in Marina East under a DBOO arrangement will be made in the second quarter of 2016. Black & Veatch will continue to provide services to PUB throughout the plant’s development.