Secure Food and Water

"Water, we have more or less solved the problem with membrane technology and we can be totally independent of Malaysia in the near future. For food, our Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) checks hawker centres, restaurants, it checks what come in. We folow best practices from elsewhere ... I don't see our standards loosening. Some countries I go to, I bring my own water. I wash my teeth with my own water. When they give me food on a plate, I wonder was the plate washed right and what is the sponge that wipes it dry. And their salads, I view with great suspicion. I never take salads. And even so, I had terrific diarrhoea ... I've not had such an experience in Singapore yet and I hope I never will." - Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at a dialogue session of the Russia-Singapore Business Forum yesterday(Tuesday,28 September)held at Marina Bay Sands,SINGAPORE.


**Singapore Opens Fifth And Largest Sembcorp Newater Plant
Source: Government of Singapore Posted on: 3rd May 2010

The 50 million imperial gallons per day plant is one of the largest water recycling facilities in the world and is the Global Water Awards 2010 Water Reuse Project of the Year.

Singapore’s leading water management company, Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp), and the national water agency, PUB, today celebrated the official opening of the nation’s fifth and biggest NEWater plant. The Sembcorp NEWater Plant marks a major step in Singapore’s water sustainability journey with its total capacity of 50 million imperial gallons, or 228,000 cubic metres, of NEWater per day.

Officially opened today by Singapore’s Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, the facility, together with the existing four NEWater plants, will enable NEWater to meet 30% of Singapore’s total water demand.

More than 200 guests, including representatives from Sembcorp, PUB, business partners, subcontractors and suppliers, gathered today at the plant to celebrate its official opening. The completion of the entire facility marks two years of successful collaboration between Sembcorp and PUB, as well as with other partner companies and suppliers.

Sembcorp Group President and Chief Executive Officer Tang Kin Fei remarked, “Sembcorp has been working alongside PUB in water reuse for over a decade, since we began reclaiming high grade industrial water from treated effluent on Jurong Island for companies located there in 1999. We are very honoured to have been selected by them for this project and to contribute to a diversified and secure water supply for Singapore.”

The contract for the NEWater facility was awarded to Sembcorp in January 2008 by PUB under a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative. The sizeable project was delivered in two phases over a two-year period. The initial phase of the plant, totaling 15 million imperial gallons, or 69,000 cubic metres, per day, began operations in 2009.

The Sembcorp NEWater Plant is probably the only large-scale water recycling plant in the world to be housed on top of a water reclamation plant, that is, the PUB-owned Changi Water Reclamation Plant. This is a state-of-the-art used water treatment facility that collects and treats used water from the eastern half of Singapore.

The treated used water is then channeled to the Sembcorp NEWater Plant on its rooftop to be further purified into NEWater. This innovative plant-on-plant design facilitates large-scale water recycling, particularly in land-scarce Singapore. The facility’s state-of-the-art microfiltration and reverse osmosis systems are also designed for optimum energy consumption. The Sembcorp NEWater Plant is the winner of the Global Water Awards 2010 Water Reuse Project of the Year, which recognises the water reuse project representing the most significant achievement for the industry internationally.

PUB Chief Executive Mr Khoo Teng Chye said, “The opening of the Sembcorp NEWater Plant marks yet another successful collaboration between the private and public sector. As Singapore strived to overcome its water vulnerabilities in the last 40 years, we have created opportunities for local companies and built a vibrant water industry in the process. By participating in PUB’s water projects, the private sector is able to build their expertise and experience in these areas, establish their track record and compete with international players in overseas markets.”

The successful completion of the NEWater plant strengthens Sembcorp’s track record in water, which now spans eleven operating locations across Singapore, the UK, China, the UAE and Oman. It also enhances Sembcorp’s comprehensive range of capabilities in water, which comprise total water solutions from wastewater treatment for both industrial and municipal clients, water reuse, desalination and water supply. With this, Sembcorp is well-placed to extend its expertise in providing sustainable and eco-friendly water solutions to water-scarce regions around the world.

On this note, Mr Tang remarked, “The water management and wastewater treatment industry is seeing tremendous growth in many water-stressed regions around the world. The opening of this plant strengthens Sembcorp’s track record, further positioning us to seize opportunities to grow in the international arena. As we continue to expand beyond our shores, we hope to do Singapore proud, and help to strengthen international recognition for both Singapore, as well as home-grown Singapore companies, as leaders in this dynamic sector.”

Introduced in 2003, NEWater, Singapore’s own brand of reclaimed water, is ultra-clean, high-grade reclaimed water produced using advanced membrane technologies. A key pillar of Singapore’s water sustainability, it is part of the nation’s long-term water supply strategy, called the Four National Taps, to ensure a robust and sustainable supply of water for all Singaporeans.

This is the second and largest NEWater plant to be designed, built, owned and operated by the private sector, while PUB owns another three plants. This new plant uses the same established and proven NEWater technology pioneered by PUB. NEWater from this plant will meet the same high stringent quality standards as those from the other four NEWater plants.

Including the Sembcorp NEWater Plant, Sembcorp is Singapore’s largest water management company with facilities with more than four million cubic metres of water per day in operation and under development.

ABOUT SEMBCORP INDUSTRIES
Sembcorp Industries is a leading energy, water and marine group. With facilities with over 3,800 megawatts of gross power capacity and over 4 million cubic metres of water per day in operation and under development, Sembcorp is a trusted provider of essential energy and water solutions to customers in Singapore, China, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, the UAE and Oman. In addition, it is a world leader in marine & offshore engineering, as well as an established provider of environmental services and developer of integrated townships and industrial parks in the region.

Sembcorp Industries has total assets of over S$9 billion and employs more than 6,900 employees. Listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange, it is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and several MSCI indices.

About PUB
PUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is the national water agency, managing Singapore’s water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way. PUB won the 2007 Stockholm Industry Water Award and was named Water Agency of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2006.

To provide water for all, PUB calls on all Singaporeans to play our part to conserve water, keep our water catchments and waterways clean and build a relationship with water so we can enjoy our water resources. We can then have enough water for all uses – for industry, for living, for life.