On the afternoon of 12 July, the groundbreaking ceremony of XIANDA Integrated Seawater Desalination (300,000 ton/day Demonstration) Project was held at Tianjin Nangang Industrial Zone.
The ceremony was officiated by the Ambassador of Malaysia to China His Excellency Raja Dato Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, Minister of Economic Section, Embassy of Malaysia Mr. See Chee Kong, Party Secretary of Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, Director of Administrative Commission Mr. You Tiancheng, Standing Member of Party Committee of Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area Mr. Ma Jianjun, Director of the Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilisation of Ministry of Natural Resources Mr. Ruan Guoling, Director of Marine Economy Department of Tianjin Municipal Bureau Planning and Natural Resources Bureau Mr. Wang Zhengjiang, and Chief Operating Officer of Xianda (Tianjin) Seawater Resources Development Co., Ltd. Mr. Cheng Jew Kien.
On behalf of Malaysian government, the Ambassador Raja Dato Nushirwan addressed the ceremony. In his speech, the Ambassador specially thanked the endorsement from Tianjin Municipal Government, Binhai Government and TEDA Government for Xianda desalination project, and congratulated on the commencement of the project. The Ambassador looked forward to the successful completion, as it represents the strong bilateral partnership between Malaysia and China. The Ambassador also commended the contribution of the project to the environmental protection and ecological construction, as President Xi Jinping articulated, “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”
Standing Member of Party Committee of Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area Mr. Ma Jianjun addressed the ceremony and conveyed his gratitude to the care of Malaysian Embassy to the project. Ma Jianjun commended the close partnership between Xianda company and the Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilisation of Ministry of Natural Resources, to construct the top-class seawater desalination project in China. Ma was also proud that Xianda had brought the concepts of low energy consumption, high efficiency and circular economy to Nangang, which is in line with the national and Nangang’s objectives of “Emission Peak and Carbon Neutrality”. He also looked forward to the completion of the project and the supply of stable and high quality desalinated water to the industrial zone.
The Director of the Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilisation of Ministry of Natural Resources Ruan Guoling gave a speech at the ceremony. He introduced the cooperation and the achievement for the past one year since the cooperation with Xianda. Ruan also proudly mentioned that the Desalination Institute would build one production train with fully domestic equipment. Ruan specially thanked Xianda Group Chairman Mr. Mah’s confidence in Chinese equipment and his patriotism. The Desalination Institute is also committed to provide technical service for the project and wished a smooth, safe and scheduled completion.
Chief Operating Officer of Xianda (Tianjin) Seawater Resources Development Co., Ltd. Mr. Cheng Jew Kien thanked the governments of both Malaysia and China for the supports to the project, and also conveyed gratitude to the Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilisation for constructing one production train with fully domestic equipment. Xianda is committed to complete the project and provide quality service and water to Nangang Industrial Zone, with a series of preferential policies．
Xianda (Tianjin) Seawater Resources Development Co. is the subsidiary of Malaysian Xianda Group. In order to implement the requirements of “promoting seawater desalination and the constructing large scale seawater desalination projects in coastal areas, e.g. Tianjin” described by the 14th Five Year Plan and the Road Map for Seawater Desalination and Utilisation (2021-2035), Xianda company invested the Integrated Seawater Desalination (300,000 ton/day Demonstration) Project. As a utility project at Tianjin Nangang Industrial Zone, the project will supply desalinated seawater for industrial use by the customers, e.g. .2 Million ton/year Ethylene Project of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Nangang Thermal Power Project of Huadian International Power Company, and the Relocation Project of Tianjin Bohua Chemical Development Co., Ltd.
The signing of agreements of Xianda desalination project was witnessed by the top government officials of Malaysia and China. Ever since the very beginning, the Project has received unwavering supports from both the Malaysian and Chinese governments. The Project will be constructed in three phases. The desalination capacity of Phase 1 is 150,000 ton/day, and another 150,000 ton/day capacity will be constructed for Phase 2. In Phase 3, a zero-discharge facility will be built to progressively process the brine to salt and its related chemical products. Phase 1 of the Project will be ready to supply water at the end of 2022 and begin commercial operation in the first quarter of 2023.
Tianjin Development and Reform Commission, Tianjin Municipal Foreign Affair Office, Tianjin Binhai Development and Reform Commission, Tianjin Binhai Water Bureau, Tianjin Binhai Ecology and Environment Bureau, Tianjin Binhai Ocean Bureau, Bank of China, Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, water customers and partners of Xianda company also attended the ceremony.
Media also reported that on the morning of 12 July, Tianjin Municipal Mayor Liao Guoxun met with the Ambassador of Malaysia to China Raja Dato Nushirwan. Municipal leaders Lian Maojun and Wang Xu and Secretary General Meng Qingsong attended the meeting.