Thailand to build desalination plant to serve industrial production

Drought in Suphanburi, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) - The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is planning to invest in a water desalination plant to supply the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in response to ongoing and future droughts.

The plant, capable of desalinating 300,000 cubic metres of seawater per day, will be set up through a joint venture. It will supply water to factories in the area that has had to reduce water consumption in the past year due to extreme drought.

The EEC covers three provinces – Rayong, Chon Buri and Chachoengsao, with 34 industrial estates and 6,033 factories. It is an ambitious project of the Thai Government to stimulate the local economy.

IEAT governor Somchint Pilouk said Thailand has been hit hard by what may be its worst drought in four decades, which has increased the risk of water shortages for industries in the country’s central and eastern localities and agriculture in the North and Northeast.

She said the desalination plant will solve the water shortage in the long term and guarantee the eastern areas will not face future shortages.

IEAT expects to finalise the investment budget and joint venture partnership for the project in the next few months.

The plant uses reverse osmosis to convert seawater to freshwater, removing salt and other minerals. Its capacity can be expanded if demand grows in the future, said Somchint.

IEAT began a feasibility study in March to determine the viability of using desalinated water to solve water shortages for the industrial sector. /.