TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Major Taiwanese turnkey contractor CTCI secured a NT$17.7 billion (US$543 million) contract on Wednesday (June 26) to build a desalination plant in Hsinchu.

According to a CTCI (China Technical Consultants Inc.) press release, the company will collaborate with French Suez Group to construct Hsinchu plant, which is expected to produce 100,000 tons of water daily. Scheduled for completion in 2028, it is set to become Taiwan’s first large-scale desalination plant, per CNA.

The plant, to be built near Nanliao Fishing Harbor, is one of eight planned 10,000-ton class desalination plants prioritized by the government, per Liberty Times.

CTCI said the project’s scope includes project management, construction, and 15 years of operation and maintenance. The plant will produce 30 million tons of desalinated water annually, which will be integrated into the public water system to support residential use and high-tech industries in the Hsinchu area, the company said.

CTCI added the project will incorporate advanced desalination technologies, minimize chemical additives and sludge production, and install solar panels.

To address public concerns about brine (high-concentration salt water), which could affect the environment, the company said it will employ brine reduction technologies to cut discharge by 400,000 tons annually. Additionally, CTCI plans to integrate the plant area with the nearby 17-kilometer coastline, revitalizing coastal spaces to create a scenic corridor.