China is using seawater desalination to ensure water supply for people's livelihood, and also for advancing major projects at some of the nation's principal ports.
An integrated refining and petrochemical base on Yushan Island, in Zhoushan City in east China's Zhejiang Province, which requires a lot of water, has given rise to the world's largest seawater desalination project cluster built specifically for a petrochemical refinery.
It uses self-developed dual desalination technology, which can provide over 515,000 tons of water every day, with an annual freshwater output of more than 140 million tons of water which meets high-end industrial production standards.
"Seawater desalination is the core guarantee for our industrial development. The stable supply of high-quality desalinated water fully meets the requirements of production processes and has completely resolved the water supply challenges faced by major industrial projects on islands. Without seawater desalination, the petrochemical base could not achieve efficient and stable operation," said Guo Ai, manager of Zhoushan Green Petrochemical Base's water supply department.
In 2026, China's seawater desalination industry is aiming for higher quality, greater sustainability, and a broader international market for its technology and know-how. It continues to strengthen the country's capacity to safeguard water resource security, while injecting strong momentum into the efficient and sustainable utilization of water resources.
"China's seawater desalination sector has progressed from meeting domestic needs to exporting technology and equipment, achieving a leap from independent innovation to international development. This advancement has not only addressed the country's own water resource shortages, but also provided mature and practical solutions for water-scarce countries and regions worldwide. It has become a significant symbol of China's high-end manufacturing to the world," said Xiang Wenxi, director of the Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilization in Tianjin, which is under the administration of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
China uses seawater desalination to ensure success of major projects
