SUEZ, in collaboration with CTCI Group and Hung Hua, held a high-level groundbreaking ceremony to begin the construction of Taiwan's first large-scale municipal reverse osmosis desalination plant in Hsinchu. Over 200 guests, including the Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Hsinchu City Mayor, attended the event, which marks a significant step in ensuring a stable water supply for the region's residents and industries.
François Fevrier, CEO Water and R&R of SUEZ Asia, stated, "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."
Public-private partnership enhances regional resilience
The Hsinchu Desalination Plant marks the first collaboration between Taiwan's Water Resources Agency and a global desalination solutions provider, highlighting the significance of public-private partnerships in constructing resilient infrastructure. This project further adds to SUEZ’s extensive portfolio of desalination plants across regions such as Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia, reinforcing the company's leadership in sustainable water solutions.
SUEZ held a high-level groundbreaking ceremony to begin the construction of Taiwan's first large-scale municipal reverse osmosis desalination plant in Hsinchu
This project aligns with the government's "Enhancement of Water Production by Technology" strategy. The advanced design phase reflects a close partnership between engineering teams and authorities, laying the groundwork for a construction schedule that is expected to be completed in 32 months. A 12-month performance proving period will follow construction to ensure full compliance and operational reliability before transitioning into the 15-year Operations & Maintenance phase. The timeline, which extends through 2028, emphasizes the commitment of all parties to deliver a well-planned, sustainable solution.
Boosting water security with advanced desalination technology
Traditionally, Hsinchu's water supply has depended on rainfall-fed reservoirs, a system increasingly challenged by climate change and fluctuating weather patterns. The new seawater desalination plant, which utilizes reverse osmosis technology and advanced solutions from SUEZ, is part of Taiwan's strategy to enhance regional water resilience, particularly in response to the growing demands of the semiconductor and high-tech industries in the Hsinchu Science Park.
The plant is designed to produce 100,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily, ultimately serving approximately 1.6 million people and industries. The total value of the contract is NT$17.7 billion (€508 million). Sustainability features include energy-efficient processes, a compact layout, integration of solar power, and an advanced offshore pipeline pigging system aimed at reducing material use and minimizing environmental impact.
SUEZ brings its extensive desalination expertise to this project, drawing on a range of reference plants globally, including major projects in Australia, Bahrain, and Sri Lanka, as well as recently commissioned facilities for Wanhua Chemical Group. The company continues to expand its global reach with significant projects such as the world’s second-largest reverse osmosis plant in Jordan, which serves over 3 million people, the Philippines' largest desalination facility in Iloilo City, and a desalination plant in Puglia, southern Italy, underscoring SUEZ's ability to address global water scarcity challenges through innovative desalination technologies.
