According to a media report, intensive soil testing has begun in the Gwadar Port Free Zone area in preparation for the construction of a 1.2 MGD (million gallon per day) water desalination plant. The Water Desalination Plant, which is being developed with Chinese funding, seeks to provide a continuous supply of drinkable water to Gwadar’s underprivileged population. In addition, it will also supply water to Gwadar city and the Gwadar port.
In pursuance of constructing a 1.2 MGD (million gallon per day) Water Desalination Plant, comprehensive soil testing kicked off in the premises of Gwadar Port Free Zone area.
According to a Gwadar Pro’s report, the Water Desalination Plant, being built with Chinese grant, aims to ensure uninterrupted supply of potable water to poor residents of Gwadar.
“Soil Testing encompassing a dredging process on three points will be completed within a few days.
As for the first point of dredging which had to be drilled approximately 33 feet, the results remained robust and positive,” Geologist Sajjad Ali, supervising Soil Testing on site of the under-construction Water Desalination Plant, told Gwadar Pro. “The boring at Point 2 will also be completed in two and three days and after that the next phase involving pilling and foundation will commence accordingly,” he added.
DawoodBaloch, GPA Project Director of the 1.2 MGD Water Desalination Plant said that the plant, spreading over approximately one acre, is being constructed with Chinese grant of Rs. 2 billion. It is another gift from China to Gwadar, he added. “As per PC 1, the plant is supposed to complete in 12 months but hopefully China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) will finish the task in 6 months. If it happens, it’ll be another project after Pak-China Technical & Vocational Institute that is completed ahead of the deadline,” he added.
The 1.2 MGD Water Desalination Plant project, he said, will be enough to meet water demand of the Gwadar city and Gwadar port. He said initially a 0.5 MGD Water Desalination Plant project was inked with conduction of feasibility and survey by government of Pakistan and China.
Later fathoming realistic rising water demand, PC 1 was finalized for the construction of a 1.2 MGD Water Desalination Plant. On 5 July 2021, the government approved the 1.2 MGD Water Desalination Plant for Gwadar.
Recently in order to execute the project, he said, China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) and Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) entered into a formal agreement for the establishment of the plant.
Gwadar’s population is increasing and in order to meet burgeoning demand for water, the 1.2 MGD Water Desalination Plant will make a difference.
