UK forward-osmosis desalination developer Modern Water plc has signed a framework agreement with Hangzhou Development Center of Water Treatment Technology Company Ltd (Hangzhou Water) in China.
The new partnership will allow both organisations to jointly identify and develop projects in China, including seawater desalination plants and other water-related opportunities.
Hangzhou Water is owned by National BlueStar (Group) Co Ltd, which is part of the state‑owned China National Chemical Corporation. The company specialises in membrane systems which have different industrial uses such as seawater desalination, industrial pure water preparation and water reuse.
Hangzhou Water has won or been involved in approximately 60% of China’s current or planned desalination projects. It manages engineering, procurement and construction contracts as well membrane manufacturing and fabrication facilities.
Last year, Modern Water appointed a non-executive chairman to drive business development in the region. This appointment was supported by the growth of Modern Water’s Monitoring Technologies division in China which last year contributed sales of more than £ 500,000 to the group.
“This partnership of like-minded and skilled organisations should lead to an abundance of opportunities and offer world leading solutions to the water and wastewater industry, such as our cost and energy-saving desalination technology,” Neil McDougall, executive chairman of Modern Water, commented. “It is an exciting development with sources estimating the industry in China will see new investment of up to RMB 20 billion (US$ 3.2 billion) over the next four years.”
Zheng Genjiang, board chairman of Hangzhou Water, added: “We believe that this partnership is the start of a long-standing relationship with Modern Water, which has a leading position in the field of FO technology, and Hangzhou Water with our innovative capability and industrial scale in China.”