SEOUL, Nov 3 — Sime Darby Bhd’s energy and utilities division, Sime Darby Energy Sdn Bhd, expects to supply 500 million liters per day (mld) of groundwater for public consumption by Dec 31, 2012.

“We expect the first supply of drinkable water to reach the public in January 2013 as well as to the industrial areas in Selangor,” its Head for Water Management Dr Azuhan Mohamed told Malaysian reporters on a familiarisation tour of groundwater technology in South Korea here today.

The 500 mld groundwater project is located at Batang Padang, Perak, and covers an area of approximately 2,700 kilometres. The groundwater will be supplied from 10 wells each with a capacity of 50 mld.

Batang Padang was chosen as the location due to its high annual rainfall of between 2,500 mm and 3,300 mm and large undeveloped land, including forest reserves and water catchment areas.

Azuhan said the project would be undertaken in two stages, the first would involve a development of a 50 mld pilot well which is expected to be ready by Dec 31, 2009.

The development of the second stage will cover the remaining 450 mld from nine wells, he added.

Asked on the cost of the project, Azuhan said it would be twice as cheap than to construct a dam, adding that it would also provide a competitive tariff for consumers.

Saying that the company planned to tender out the groundwater project development contract by mid-January next year, he added that South Korea’s Da Joo Construction Co Ltd was one of the bidders.

Azuhan said Malaysia needs groundwater supply due to the growing demand for water in the country which is expected to increase significantly by 2010 to approximately 17,000 mld.

Currently, surface water accounted for more than 98 per cent of the national public water supply and the high level of dependence on surface water needs to be diluted due to the impending climate change.

Meanwhile, President of Da Joo Construction Byung Chul Yoon said the construction cost of each groundwater collector well system would range between US$1.7 million (RM5.8 million) and US$1.8 million.

Chul Yoon said Korea has 300 wells, of which 200 wells were operated by Da Joo Construction, and each well can supply between 25,000 mld and 40,000 mld per of water of groundwater per day.

He said South Korea developed the groundwater technology 38 years ago and has delivered quality drinkable water to the public and industries, adding that there was no case of land collapsing due to groundwater development. — Bernama