Desalination plant for Cape

DRAFT REPORT: OPERATIONAL BY 2030

- Liesl Peyper

The City of Cape Town aims to start construction of a permanent desalination plant in Paarden Eiland in 2026 with the aim of having it operational by 2030 if the plan receives all the necessary regulatory approvals.

This is according to a draft scoping report prepared by Cape Town-based engineering firm Zutari, which was appointed to do the environmental impact assessments of the proposed plant.

The identified site in Paarden Eiland—a light industrial area in Cape Town—is adjacent to the container staging area of Transnet National Ports Authority near the N1 and R27 highway interchange.

The proposed plant, expected to produce between 50 million and 70 million litres of water per day, is part of the City of Cape Town's broader strategy to secure water supply for a growing population.

Water security