Desalination plant gets govt go-ahead

Desalination plant gets govt go-ahead

A seawater desalination project is being developed to provide a source of water for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri yesterday.

Securing water supplies was one of the issues raised at a meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to follow up on progress in the EEC policy yesterday.

A total of 38 water supply-related projects worth 52.8 billion baht were devised in a bid to feed the corridor. Of them, nine projects are complete.

Among the pending projects is the seawater desalination programme with the Office of the National Water Resources naming a technical team to study and develop the system.

In addition, the retention capacity of the Klong Phai reservoir spanning 3,348 rai will be improved as the reservoir will be tapped for use in the EEC.

Mr Anucha said four large groundwater wells will be built to serve the corridor with a combined storage of up to 4,039 million cubic metres of water.

Master plans are also afoot to upgrade U-Tapao airport, supervised by the navy, and an aeropolis to connect with the EEC. World-class architects will be hired to design the aeropolis with the blueprint for a second runway already rolled out by the navy.

As of June 30, EEC investments were worth 1.5 trillion baht, including four public-private investment projects worth 633,401 million baht. In total, 86% of the land needed to build the high-speed rail tracks connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports has been acquired and handed over to contractors. The rest is due to be handed over within the next month, the spokesman said.

Mr Anucha said the prime minister wanted the EEC to form part of a comprehensive transport and logistical link with the region and beyond.

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