The Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) Pvt Ltd and Japan's Kanadevia Corporation have signed an agreement to establish a zero-carbon solar desalination plant in Kulhudhuffushi City. The project aims to transition the city’s water supply entirely to renewable energy.
The signing ceremony held Sunday was attended by senior officials from both companies and the Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives, Ishigami Rumiko. MWSC’s Managing Director, Abdul Matheen Mohamed, signed the agreement on behalf of the company, while Kanadevia Corporation was represented by its General Manager Takeshi Aiba.
According to MWSC, the desalination plant developed under the project will produce enough water for the entire city. The solar-powered desalination plant will produce 500 cubic metres of water per day. While a 500 kW solar power system will be installed at the plant to supply the energy required, a 1450 kW battery system will be installed to ensure the sustainability of the system.
MWSC will finance 46 percent of the cost of the project through its cash flow and green financing obtained from the Bank of Maldives (BML). The remaining funding will be provided by the government of Japan and Kanadevia Corporation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Abdul Matheen Mohamed highlighted that the company is currently providing water services in various parts of the country relying on diesel-powered electric grids. He noted that transitioning to a solar-powered desalination system would reduce operational costs.
"This will transform the islands’ water supply into a financially sustainable system. This work will also be useful for the utility companies across the country. Meanwhile, it will reduce the operational cost of water supply and help reduce state expenditure and debt," Matheen said.
MWSC said similar projects can be carried out in other islands. This will reduce environmental impact and establish sustainable water production systems in the islands.
The system is expected to be completed early next year.