❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the cost disparity between desalination plants in Singapore and Perth, focusing on a potential report and factors influencing pricing.
AnsweredQoN 680Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to an article in Singapore’s The Straits Times , a copy of which has been provided to him, about a desalination plant. (1) Has Mr Gary Crisp prepared any report on his findings concerning desalination plants stemming from his visit? (2) Will the minister table the report; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister provide any further information he has about why the reverse osmosis plant in Singapore will produce water at almost half the price of Perth’s desalination plant and at half the capital cost to build? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(1) Has Mr Gary Crisp prepared any report on his findings concerning desalination plants stemming from his visit? (2) Will the minister table the report; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister provide any further information he has about why the reverse osmosis plant in Singapore will produce water at almost half the price of Perth’s desalination plant and at half the capital cost to build? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(2) Will the minister table the report; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister provide any further information he has about why the reverse osmosis plant in Singapore will produce water at almost half the price of Perth’s desalination plant and at half the capital cost to build? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(3) Will the minister provide any further information he has about why the reverse osmosis plant in Singapore will produce water at almost half the price of Perth’s desalination plant and at half the capital cost to build? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(1) Has Mr Gary Crisp prepared any report on his findings concerning desalination plants stemming from his visit? (2) Will the minister table the report; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister provide any further information he has about why the reverse osmosis plant in Singapore will produce water at almost half the price of Perth’s desalination plant and at half the capital cost to build? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(2) Will the minister table the report; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister provide any further information he has about why the reverse osmosis plant in Singapore will produce water at almost half the price of Perth’s desalination plant and at half the capital cost to build? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(3) Will the minister provide any further information he has about why the reverse osmosis plant in Singapore will produce water at almost half the price of Perth’s desalination plant and at half the capital cost to build? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(2) Not applicable. (3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
(3) The plant is privately owned and the Water Corporation has no way of verifying the figures quoted. A direct comparison of the figures is not possible. However, the figure quoted for the Singapore plant is the gate price, whereas the figures quoted for the Perth seawater desalination plant include the cost of getting the water into the system. In addition, as quoted in the article the member referred to, the water around Perth is generally colder and saltier than the water around Singapore. These local environmental factors mean that more energy is required for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in Perth than in Singapore. Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : I have a question for the minister representing the Treasurer, but there may have been a delay in providing the answer. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : I am sorry but I do not have an answer as yet.
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