China Plans to Boost Desalination to 4.5 Million Tonnes Daily by 2030

Beijing, Oct 6 – The Chinese government has set a clear target to lift its daily seawater desalination capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by the end of the decade. Current operational capacity sits at 3.077 million tonnes per day, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

A supplemental 1 million‑plus tonnes per day is already earmarked in projects that have received clearance and are under construction. The July work plan, jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission, the natural resources and water ministries, outlines the roadmap for this expansion, highlighting the role of desalination in bolstering national water security and supporting economic growth.