****************************************************
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (November 16) awarded a consultancy agreement worth $180 million to Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited for the investigation review, design and construction of the first stage of the proposed desalination plant at Tseung Kwan O.
The proposed desalination plant will be the first of its kind in Hong Kong using advanced reverse osmosis desalination technology. Works for the first stage of the plant will involve the construction of a desalination plant with a water production capacity of 135 000 cubic metres per day (with provision for future expansion to the ultimate water production capacity of 270 000 cubic metres per day) and the submarine intake and outfall facilities catering for the ultimate water production capacity. The first and ultimate stages of the desalination plant will meet 5 per cent and 10 per cent respectively of Hong Kong's water demand.
The consultants will be responsible for reviewing the findings of the feasibility study of the desalination plant, supervising site investigation, carrying out design, preparing tender documents, assessing tenders and supervising the construction of the first stage of the desalination plant.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony today, the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Enoch Lam, said, "The proposed desalination plant will provide an important alternative water resource which is not susceptible to climate change to safeguard water security in Hong Kong.
"We are thus pressing ahead with the implementation of the project for early commencement of the construction in 2017 or 2018. Prequalification of tenderers for the first stage works is tentatively scheduled to start by the end of 2016."
To meet the tight project programme, the WSD has already commenced the detailed design of the water mains for transferring the fresh water produced from the desalination plant to existing service reservoirs in Tseung Kwan O.
Ends/Monday, November 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:04
NNNN
