China's seawater desalination capacity tops 3 million tons per day
In short
China's total seawater desalination capacity has reached 3.077 million tons per day, the Ministry of Natural Resources said. The government aims to raise the national total to 4.5 million tons per day by 2030 under a plan issued in July by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Water Resources.
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China's total seawater desalination capacity has reached 3.077 million tons per day, the Ministry of Natural Resources said, according to reports from CLS, Yicai and Jiemian on 6 October. The country's built seawater desalination projects have a combined capacity of 3.077 million tons per day, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Projects planned or under construction total more than 1 million tons per day, according to incomplete statistics cited in the reports. In July this year, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Water Resources jointly issued the “Seawater Desalination Industry Development Action Plan” to promote the large-scale use of desalination. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The plan aims for the national seawater desalination project total scale to reach 4.5 million tons per day by 2030, with more than 1.5 million tons per day of new capacity added. The reports did not specify a date in July for the plan's release or identify individual projects. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The figures show the scale of China's official push to expand desalination as a water source. The July action plan sets a 2030 target of 4.5 million tons per day, implying continued construction, though the documents do not detail specific projects or costs.
Key facts
- China's total seawater desalination capacity has reached 3.077 million tons per day, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The country's built seawater desalination projects have a combined capacity of 3.077 million tons per day. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Projects planned or under construction total more than 1 million tons per day, according to incomplete statistics. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- In July this year, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Water Resources jointly issued the “Seawater Desalination Industry Development Action Plan”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The plan targets a national seawater desalination capacity of 4.5 million tons per day by 2030. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The plan calls for more than 1.5 million tons per day of newly added desalination capacity. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- China's total seawater desalination capacity stands at 3.077 million tons per day, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Water Resources jointly issued the Seawater Desalination Industry Development Action Plan in July this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The action plan targets a national seawater desalination capacity of 4.5 million tons per day by 2030. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The exact date in July when the action plan was released The documents say only “July this year” without a specific day.
- Which specific projects are planned or under construction The documents give only an aggregate figure of over 1 million tons per day and do not list projects.
- The source of the incomplete statistics on planned and under-construction capacity The documents say “according to incomplete statistics” without specifying who compiled the count.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports China's seawater desalination capacity has exceeded 3 million tons per day, citing the Ministry of Natural Resources. [ 1 ]
- Yicai publishes the same figure, citing CCTV News and the Ministry of Natural Resources. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian reports the figure, citing the Ministry of Natural Resources and CCTV News. [ 3 ]