The Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) has commenced practical assessments for a proposed underwater desalination facility in the Malé region, a project that could introduce a new approach to water production in the Maldives.
The initiative aligns with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision of transforming the Maldives into a developed nation by 2040, with sustainable infrastructure and modern technology forming key elements of the national development agenda.
Preliminary assessments have identified the outer sea area towards the Giraavaru lagoon as a potential location for the proposed facility. MWSC is conducting on-site investigations and detailed water-quality analyses to determine the feasibility of establishing the plant in Maldivian waters.
Norwegian subsea technology company Flocean has expressed interest in developing the project. MWSC will assess the technical and commercial viability of the proposed system after reviewing the findings of the ongoing feasibility studies.
Flocean, established in 2024 as a spin-off from subsea engineering company FSubsea, specialises in deep-ocean desalination technology. Its system uses modular reverse-osmosis units installed approximately 400 to 600 metres below sea level, taking advantage of natural water pressure at depth.
The technology is designed to reduce energy consumption by minimising the need for conventional high-pressure pumping. It could also reduce chemical pre-treatment requirements, limit brine discharge into the marine environment and significantly decrease the land needed compared with traditional desalination facilities.
As part of the feasibility assessment, Flocean’s technical team has collected seawater samples from a depth of approximately 500 metres. Preliminary laboratory findings indicate that deep-sea water in the Maldives has particularly favourable quality for use as feedwater in the desalination process.
If successfully implemented, the project could support MWSC’s efforts to develop more efficient, sustainable and environmentally responsible water infrastructure across the country.
The proposed facility remains under assessment, and its implementation will depend on the outcome of the feasibility studies and the subsequent evaluation of the technology’s suitability for the Maldives.
An external company was awarded the contract to conduct the feasibility study for the proposed underwater desalination plant on 18 August 2024.
