Groundbreaking Ceremony Launches Taiwan's First Large-scale Municipal Seawater Desalination Plant
High-level officials join SUEZ and partners to mark a milestone in Hsinchu's water security strategy
HSINCHU, May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SUEZ, together with its partners CTCI Group and Hung Hua, held a high-level groundbreaking ceremony to commence construction of Taiwan's first large-scale municipal reverse osmosis desalination plant in Hsinchu. Attended by over 200 guests including the Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Hsinchu City Mayor, this event marks a major step forward in securing a stable water supply for the region's residents and industries.
François Fevrier, CEO Water and R&R of SUEZ Asia said, "With over 60 years of experience in designing, building and operating more than 260 desalination plants worldwide, SUEZ delivers advanced seawater desalination solutions tailored for municipal and industrial needs. This groundbreaking is more than a construction milestone - it symbolises institutional trust and shared responsibility. Together with our partners, we are committed to delivering a sustainable and resilient water solution that supports Taiwan's ongoing growth and climate adaptation efforts."
A landmark public-private partnership driving regional resilience
The Hsinchu Desalination Plant marks the first collaboration between Taiwan's Water Resources Agency and a global desalination solutions operator, reinforcing the importance of public-private partnerships in delivering resilient infrastructure. This collaboration further expands SUEZ's global portfolio of desalination plants spanning Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia, affirming the Group's leadership in sustainable water solutions.
This plant is a landmark project under the government's "Enhancement of Water Production by Technology" strategy. Its advanced design phase demonstrates close coordination between engineering teams and authorities, setting the foundation for a rigorous construction schedule expected to be completed within 32 months. Following construction, a 12-month performance proving period will ensure full compliance and operational reliability before the commencement of the 15-year Operations & Maintenance phase. This carefully planned timeline, with construction continuing through 2028, underscores the strong determination and commitment of all parties involved to deliver timely, disciplined, and sustainable results.
Advancing water security through innovative desalination technology
Hsinchu's water supply has traditionally relied on rainfall-fed reservoirs, a system increasingly strained by climate change and shifting weather patterns. The new seawater desalination plant—utilising reverse osmosis and advanced SUEZ technologies—is part of Taiwan's strategic response to strengthen regional water resilience, particularly as demand grows to support semiconductor and high-tech industries in the Hsinchu Science Park.
Designed to produce 100,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily, the facility will ultimately serve approximately 1.6 million people and industries. With a total contract value of NT$17.7 billion (€508 million), the project incorporates several sustainability features including energy-efficient processes, a compact layout, solar power integration, and an advanced offshore pipeline pigging system to reduce material use and minimise environmental impact.
SUEZ brings its strong desalination expertise to this project, with reference plants worldwide including flagship plants in Australia, Bahrain and Sri Lanka, and recently commissioned facilities for global chemical leader Wanhua Chemical Group. The company continues to expand its global footprint with major projects such as the world's second largest reverse osmosis plant in Jordan (serving over 3 million people), the Philippines' largest seawater desalination facility in Iloilo City, and the Puglia plant in southern Italy, demonstrating SUEZ's capacity to tackle global water scarcity through innovative desalination solutions.
About SUEZ
Faced with growing environmental challenges, SUEZ has been delivering essential services that protect and improve our quality of life for more than 160 years. SUEZ provides its customers with innovative and resilient solutions for water and waste services. With 40 000 employees across 40 countries, the Group works with customers to create value over the full lifecycle of their assets and services, and to drive their low carbon transition. In 2024, SUEZ provided drinking water for 68 million people worldwide and sanitation services for 44 million people. The Group generated 8 TWh of energy from waste and wastewater. In 2024, SUEZ has generated revenues of 9.2 billion euros. For more information: www.suez.com / Twitter @suez
In Asia, SUEZ's journey began some 70 years ago, first in Southeast Asia. With 6,500+ employees across Asia, SUEZ has built over 600 water and wastewater treatment plants. Together with our local partners, we also provide water and waste recycling and recovery services to 25+ million people and 23 industrial parks across the region.
SOURCE SUEZ Asia
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