Powerplant costs raise Singapore desalination bill

Singapore’s water supply agency, PUB, has approved an increase in the cost of the 318,000 m³/d Tuaspring desalination project asked for by contractor Hyflux Ltd.

In May 2012, Singapore-based Hyflux said that the choice of the higher‑efficiency 411 MW Siemens F‑Class combined-cycle gas-turbine powerplant, which was expected to lower operating costs, had increased the capital cost estimates from Sing$ 890 million (US$ 702 million) to Sing$ 1.05 billion (US$ 828 million).

Hyflux announced on 9 July 2012 that its subsidiary Tuaspring Pte Ltd had received all approvals for the increase, which would have a material financial impact on the Hyflux Group for the current financial year.