One of China's largest seawater desalination projects was
recently brought into operation in Zhejiang Province, which is
expected to provide sufficient freshwater for a local power
plant.
The 200 million yuan worth (US$24.7 million) project, located in
the power plant in Yuhuan County, has a daily production capacity
of 35,000 tons based on a desalination system that produces 1,440
tons of freshwater per hour.
The project in the drought-prone coastal county uses seawater
from the East China Sea to produce freshwater to generate
electricity.
China has announced more seawater desalination projects to
combat water shortages in coastal areas.
According to the?National
Development and Reform Commission and some other state-level
agencies, desalinated seawater is expected to contribute 16 to 24
percent of the water supply in coastal areas by 2010, with a daily
capacity of up to 3 million cubic meters in 2020.
China is among the driest countries in the world, and 400 out of
600 Chinese cities suffer from water supply shortages for domestic
and industrial uses.
(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2005)