GE has doubled production capacity of its water technologies manufacturing plant in the Wuxi New Zone in eastern China to keep pace with the country's rapidly growing water infrastructure.
The expansion forms part of the company's plans to invest more than $2 billion through to 2012 to expand its operations in China and part local companies. By expanding the Wuxi plant, GE said it has been able to add several product lines and expand its on-site membrane-element fabrication capacity.
Recycling, filtration and processing technologies, including reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration equipment technologies will be provided by the facility.
This is the second time GE has expanded its Wuxi facility since it opened in 2004.
Improving water, sanitation in GeorgiaThe Asian Development Bank has approved a $500 million loan to help improve drinking water in Georgia, as part of the Urban Services Improvement Investment Program.
The program will fund infrastructure improvements in six towns and strengthen the service capabilities of the United Water Supply Company of Georgia, which is the country's biggest service provider.
Georgia has experienced significant economic growth in recent years, owing in part to its location between Europe and Asia. Drinking water and sanitation services have not kept pace with the expansion, however, and as the growth trend is expected to continue, improving services has become a priority for the Georgian government.
The investment program is part of the country's long-term plan to provide reliable drinking water and sanitation services to all urban residents by 2020. The government expects to invest about $1.65 billion in the effort.
Australia's government injects A$15 million into water projects across AsiaThe Government of Australia has agreed to provide an untied grant of A$21.584 million for Asian Development Bank (ADB)-administered trust funds targeted at water investment and clean energy initiatives in Asia and the Pacific.
The fund, established in 2006, aims to provide more people in Asia and the Pacific with better access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation, more efficient irrigation and drainage services. It hopes to integrate the management of water resources in river basins for sustained economic growth and environmental improvement. Other contributors include the governments of Austria, Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.
Water price set out for Singapore's second desalination facilityA 25-year Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) has been signed for national water company's PUB second desalination facility.
The agreement will see Hyflux subsidiary Tuaspring delivering desalinated water at a fixed price of $0.45 per cubic metre for the first year.
The desalination plant, to be located in Tuas, will be constructed under a Design, Build, Own and Operate (DBOO) model and is expected to commence operations in 2013. It will add another 318,500 cubic metres (70 imperial million gallons) of desalinated water per day to Singapore's water supply.
Khoo Teng Chye, chief executive of PUB, said: "Desalinated water, together with water from local catchments, imported water and NEWater, form the Four National Taps, which rovide a diversified and sustainable water supply for Singapore."
PUB announced the tender for its second desalination facility during the Singapore International Water Week 2010.
The Tuas facility forms part of the organisation's plans to increase its desalination capacity 10 times up until 2060, to eventually supply 30% of its water demand.
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