Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) is preparing to begin physical work on a new deep-sea desalination project by mid-2027, with plans to produce fresh water using seawater drawn from approximately 500 metres below the ocean surface.
MWSC Managing Director Hussain Fahmy revealed details of the project while speaking on the Ahaashey Bunaanan programme, describing it as one of the company’s major initiatives as it works to expand and strengthen water services across the Maldives.
According to Fahmy, MWSC has partnered with an experienced Norwegian company specialising in subsea water production technology. Technical, financial and environmental feasibility assessments are currently being carried out ahead of the planned start of physical works.
As part of preparations, an MWSC technical team is also expected to travel to Norway to examine existing systems and gain first-hand knowledge of how the technology operates.
The proposed system differs from conventional desalination facilities by accessing seawater at a depth of around 500 metres. MWSC expects the approach to provide several operational advantages, including improved energy efficiency and access to seawater containing lower levels of organic matter.
The company also expects the technology to simplify the management and discharge of brine, a highly concentrated saline by-product produced during desalination.
Fahmy said water collected at greater depths is considerably cleaner than seawater typically obtained through conventional borehole intake systems, potentially improving the efficiency of the treatment process.
Another major advantage for the Maldives is the comparatively small amount of land required for the system. Land scarcity has long been a challenge when developing large utility facilities, particularly within the densely populated Greater Malé Region. Moving a significant portion of the desalination infrastructure offshore could reduce the need for large land-based facilities.
Water network planned through Thilamalé Bridge
MWSC is also exploring plans to use the Thilamalé Bridge to establish a more interconnected water supply network across the Greater Malé area.
Fahmy said the concept involves developing water storage facilities in Gulhifalhu or Thilafushi, from where fresh water could be supplied through pipelines connected via the bridge infrastructure to Malé and Hulhumalé.
Discussions are currently underway with the government to coordinate the water network with progress on the bridge project.
The Thilamalé Bridge is being developed to establish a permanent road connection between Malé, Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. In addition to transport connectivity, major bridge infrastructure can provide corridors for utilities and other essential services between the connected islands.
The proposed desalination and interconnected water network projects come as demand for utility services continues to increase across the Greater Malé Region, driven by population growth and major housing and urban development projects.
The Maldives relies heavily on desalination to provide potable water due to the limited availability and vulnerability of naturally occurring freshwater resources. Improving the efficiency and resilience of desalination infrastructure is therefore considered particularly important for ensuring long-term water security across the islands.
MWSC has been expanding its operations beyond the capital in recent years, taking on water and sewerage projects across the atolls alongside efforts to modernise utility infrastructure in the Greater Malé Region.
If the feasibility assessments are successfully completed and the project proceeds according to schedule, MWSC expects physical work on the subsea desalination system to begin by the middle of 2027.
