PBAPP Revives Pulau Aman Desalination Pilot Project to Advance Penang’s Future Water Security
Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) has commenced works to revive the Pulau Aman Desalination Project (PADP), a pilot initiative designed to produce 240,000 litres of potable water per day using saltwater reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology. Scheduled to be operational by June 2026, the project marks Penang’s first concrete step toward incorporating desalination into its long-term water supply strategy.
A State-of-the-art Pilot Facility
The PADP aims to establish a small, modern and fully functional desalination plant capable of treating seawater into high-quality potable water. As a pilot project, PADP will supply treated water exclusively to the Pulau Aman community.
Beyond demonstrating the viability of desalination for Penang, the plant will also serve as a hands-on training platform for PBAPP personnel, enabling them to gain operational experience in safely converting seawater into drinking water for public supply applications.
Project Cost and Background
The RM3.81 million investment reflects the nature of the project as a revival, not a ground-up development. PBAPP first undertook a desalination pilot in 2015, completing it in 2019. However, the initial plant was unable to meet safety standards for boron and total dissolved solids. As PBAPP is committed to supplying only safe, compliant water, the project was paused.
Over the past five years, comprehensive engineering upgrades were designed, refined and approved. Revival works officially commenced on 16 June 2025.
Desalination as a Strategic Option for Penang
As Penang’s water demand rises alongside rapid socioeconomic growth—and with limited new freshwater resources available—PBAPP is preparing for future supply challenges by exploring alternative solutions such as desalination.
While Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) already uses desalination as its “fourth national tap,” its domestic water rates reflect the cost of advanced technologies. In 2025, Singapore’s average domestic tariff is SGD3.24 (RM10.32) per m³ for the first 35 m³ per month, compared to Penang’s RM0.86 per m³. PUB complements desalination with water recycling and imported raw water to ensure a climate-resilient supply.
Since 1999, PBAPP has focused on conventional treatment methods to maintain cost-efficiency and the lowest possible water tariffs. However, long-term sustainability requires innovation. PADP represents Penang’s initial move toward adopting desalination as a future-proof water supply technology.
PBAPP views PADP as an essential first step in building the capability, knowledge base and infrastructure needed to diversify Penang’s water sources. When the pilot plant becomes operational in June 2026, it will symbolise Penang’s entry into desalination as a strategic pathway toward enhanced water security.