SINGAPORE - Mainboard-listed Hyflux announced on Tuesday that it has won a US$48 million (S$65.04 million) contract to build a desalination system for Saudi Arabia, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Hydrochem Saudi Limited.

The award from the state-owned Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) is to design, build and supply a containerised desalination system with a total designed capacity of 30,000 cubic metres per day - among the largest of its kind.

The system will be located on the site of the existing Yanbu Desalination Plant on the Red Sea coast, 350 km north of Jeddah and augment the plant's capacity to ensure a continuous and reliable water supply to the industrial city of Yanbu and the nearby Medina region.

Under the contract, Hyflux will build 10 modular containerised units, which will incorporate its proprietary Kristal® ultrafiltration membrane technology. The system is compact and flexible, which makes it easy to deploy, install and commission, said Hyflux.

Each unit will have the capacity to desalinate 3,000 cubic metres of water per day.

Said Olivia Lum, Hyflux executive chairman and group CEO: "We are honoured to be given this opportunity to work with SWCC. This project is a great example of Hyflux's ability to provide quick, cost-effective solutions for our customers."

The project is set to be completed in about eight months and is expected to contribute to the firm's results for the current financial year.