A total of 43 local and foreign companies have expressed an interest to build and operate Tobago’s first million-dollar desalination plant at the Cove Industrial Estate.
So said Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) chairman, Romney Thomas, yesterday.
Of the 43, Thomas added, many were local firms while several came from North America and Europe.
Earlier this year, WASA invited expressions of interest to build and operate the plant at the mushrooming Cove Industrial Estate at Canoe Bay.
WASA chose the cove since it has a power plant, was near to the sea and close to its water mains so that the essential element could be easily pumped into its mains for distribution.
Refusing to identify the companies that expressed an interest, Thomas said WASA would now move full speed ahead to get the plant up and running.
In March, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley agreed that WASA, as a matter of urgency, would build a desalination facility to provide a sustained water supply for Tobago.
For a decade Tobagonians have been hearing about plans in the pipeline for a desalination plant but nothing came to fruition.
Trinidad has two desalination plants at Pt Lisas and Pt Fortin which are operated by Desalcott on the basis of build, own and operate.
The Point Lisas plant produces just about 50 million gallons of water a day. It transforms sea water into potable water.
“We will definitely follow through with that policy set out by the Government and the Prime Minister,” Thomas assured in a telephone interview.
With a growing demand for water in Tobago, Thomas said WASA between February and March sent out an invitation for the expressions of interest for the plant to be constructed and operated.
Thomas said the next stage was for WASA to send out tenders so companies could submit bids for the project.
He said the company that was awarded the contract must have a proven track record and experience in building and operating a desalination plant.
“We are hoping that the award will be finalised before the end of the year and construction of the plant, from start to finish, would take 18 months.”
Thomas said the successful company would only be paid for the water it produced.
“The higher the volume of water it produces WASA would pay less water rates and vice versa,” he added.
He could not say what would be the cost to build the plant. “When the tenders go out we would know the price range,” he explained.
WASA currently produces 9.5 million gallons of water daily in Tobago.
Construction of the plant will ramp up production to an additional five million gallons to WASA’s system.
Though WASA has faced some challenges with its water distribution, Thomas said it has improved its service this year, compared to its acute shortages last year.
“This year, while there were some challenges, we have brought three new wells on line for our drilling programme. The shortages have not been so acute. We have also stepped up delivery of water trucking,” he added.
In addition to that, Thomas said WASA would undertake a desilting exercise at the Hillsborough Dam which would increase water capacity.
With a population of 60,000, WASA serves 22,177 customers in Tobago.