05/05/2026

TUESDAY | MAY 5, 2026

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Desalination plan questioned as costly and premature

Ministry studying tube wells to address future water shortages LIPIS: The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry is conducting a study on the development of tube wells as a preparatory measure to address a potential water crisis in the future. Its deputy minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the study, carried out by the National Water Research Institute, aims to identify new water sources as a support plan in the event of supply disruptions. “We are facing uncertain weather conditions, such as drought and low rainfall. Based on forecasts, the hot weather is expected to continue until August, which could affect water resources. “Nevertheless, through the efforts of all relevant agencies, water supply nationwide remains under control. However, consumers must play an important role in reducing wastage.” He was speaking to reporters after officiating at the Selamat Air Raya programme at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Ahmad Shah here yesterday. On March 21, it was reported that the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health had said the world is entering an era of “global water bankruptcy”. Abdul Rahman said water consumption in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan is high, at around 223 litres per capita per day compared with the 165 litres per capita per day recommended by the World Health Organisation. “This high level of water usage must be reduced. If the public does not play its part, we risk facing a water crisis. All parties must take responsibility to ensure this can be avoided.” He added that the National Water Services Commission is also implementing the Communication, Education and Public Awareness Programme, targeting to reach at least one million users nationwide this year. “This initiative aims to raise public awareness on efficient water usage and the importance of avoiding wastage to ensure the sustainability of the nation’s water supply.” At the programme, the commission also distributed zakat wakalah totalling RM104,000 to 200 students from primary, secondary schools and higher education institutions. – Bernama He also said Malaysia’s regulated and relatively low water tariffs would likely buffer the immediate impact on property values. Core drivers such as location, land scarcity and demand dynamics are expected to stay dominant. From a development perspective, he said desalination could act as a growth enabler, but only if the economic returns justify the cost. “It becomes a burden if the cost of supplying desalinated water outweighs the value of the development it supports. “The key question is whether the increase in land value and economic activity is sufficient to justify the higher cost of water production.” – By Harith Kamal

higher fossil fuel dependency.” He added that desalination plants require a stable and continuous power supply while Malaysia’s renewable energy mix, still heavily reliant on solar, remains intermittent. As a result of this, large-scale desalination would likely depend on the national grid, in which natural gas continues to play a key role in balancing supply. “Unless Malaysia achieves major breakthroughs in long-duration energy storage or secures a dedicated firm renewable energy source, a large-scale desalination plant cannot currently run purely green. It will inevitably act as a heavy anchor on the fossil-fuel driven portion of the grid.” The Selangor government has said the project remains at the feasibility stage, with any decision subject to technical, strategic and cost considerations. Experts say the key question is not whether desalination is possible but whether it is necessary.

highly energy-intensive, requiring a continuous power supply of between 40 and 50 megawatts. “By comparison, a conventional river water treatment plant of similar capacity would require only between one and three megawatts. “This means a single desalination plant would require the equivalent electricity needed to power tens of thousands of homes,” he said, adding that the high energy demand would significantly raise operating costs. Muhammad Ammirrul said costs would be further compounded by the need for extensive supporting infrastructure, including coastal intake systems, inland transmission pipelines and specialised facilities to manage brine discharge. Beyond cost and engineering complexity, he said the proposal raises broader concerns over energy use and long-term sustainability. “Under current technological and grid constraints, building a plant of this scale risks locking the state into

o Large-scale plant feasible but has significant engineering, operational challenges: Academic Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

should instead prioritise improving raw water quality and supply through better river management. “There is nothing to consider as the state government still has other cost-effective options to resolve its demand for water sustainably. “Pollution reversal, reduction of NRW and demand-side management are much cheaper options with multiplier impact on the economy, people and environment.” From a technical standpoint, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri said a large-scale desalination plant is feasible but comes with significant engineering and operational challenges. He said the process is

PETALING JAYA: Selangor’s move to explore seawater desalination is coming under scrutiny, with experts questioning the need for a costly and energy-intensive solution despite ample supply reserves and ongoing capacity expansion. The state government recently said it is studying the feasibility of a desalination plant capable of producing about 300 million litres per day (MLD) to strengthen long-term water security. The proposal comes as Selangor maintains a reserve margin above the national guideline and continues to boost conventional treatment capacity through several major projects in the pipeline, prompting concerns that the move may be premature. Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia president S. Piarapakaran described the plan as difficult to justify. “It is puzzling why the state government resorts to expensive and unnecessary routes,” he said, adding that there is “no economic, engineering or scientific explanation for this announcement”. Piarapakaran said even conservative estimates suggest the energy cost alone could exceed RM1 per cubic metre, excluding capital and operating expenditure. He said the overall cost would ultimately be passed on through higher tariffs for domestic and industrial users. He also pointed to persistent inefficiencies in the existing system, particularly non-revenue water (NRW), which is treated water that is lost before reaching consumers. Citing 2024 data, he said NRW stood at about 1,431 MLD, nearly five times the proposed desalination capacity, arguing that reducing system losses would yield faster and more cost-effective gains. Piarapakaran said policy focus seawater desalination plant in Selangor could open up new development corridors and boost investor confidence, but its high cost may ultimately cap the scale of its economic upside. Analysts say the project could reshape growth patterns by easing long-standing constraints tied to water supply, particularly in areas earmarked for large-scale township and industrial expansion. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia property economics and finance expert Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Najib Razali said greater certainty over water availability is a key enabler of development. “In Selangor, where large-scale

‘Proposed plant may boost growth if returns outweigh expenses’ PETALING JAYA: A proposed

market is likely to be indirect rather than immediate. “Higher production costs may feed into tariffs, slightly raising living and operating expenses and putting mild pressure on affordability, particularly for middle-income housing. “At the same time, improved supply reliability could offset some of these pressures by reducing disruption risks, which are highly valued by developers and buyers.” He said desalination does not directly determine property prices but influences them through broader fundamentals. “In valuation terms, it operates through infrastructure reliability, risk and cost, not as a primary pricing factor.”

long-gestation projects. “A desalination project signals forward planning for resource constraints, which could reduce perceived development risk and strengthen investor confidence in long-term demand.” However, he cautioned that this positive signal is highly sensitive to cost and execution. “If investors expect rising tariffs or fiscal strain, the confidence effect could weaken significantly.” Desalinated water remains substantially more expensive than conventional sources, raising questions about how costs will be absorbed across the economy. Muhammad Najib added that the impact on the property

township and industrial projects depend on reliable utilities, areas previously viewed as constrained could become more viable. “When water supply risk is reduced, land that was once considered marginal or risky could become developable, especially in coastal and western corridors.” Muhammad Najib said this could accelerate land conversion, support higher-density projects and attract capital-intensive investments. “Over time, better infrastructure reliability may translate into stronger land values and a broader pipeline of real estate investment.” He said major infrastructure commitments often help shape market sentiment, particularly for