SA desalination pilot plant proceeds ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Stanvac desal deal struck

18 June 2008

Agreement has been reached between the South Australian Government and Exxon Mobil for a $10 million pilot desalination plant to be built on the company's mothballed oil refinery site at Port Stanvac in Adelaide's south.

A 2,500-square-metre leased area will be used for the test plant, ahead of the planned construction of a $1 billion plant which is expected to provide up to one quarter of Adelaide's drinking water.

SA Premier Mike Rann says the pilot plant will help guide plans for the main 50-gigalitre plant.

"All major desal plants in the world have to have a pilot plant which is basically testing the pre-treatment, testing the post-treatment, testing the water quality," he said.

"At the same time there's a range of other studies going on, looking at tidal flows, looking at the environmental issues, looking at eco-toxicology."

SA Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald says talks with the company about a permanent site for the main desalination plant are continuing.

She says Exxon Mobil is free to reactivate its oil refinery if it chooses.

"If they decide to re-open refining in the future well then they will have to ensure they do that on the basis that it won't impact on water quality for the desalination plant," she said.

SA Water is already assembling pipes at Taperoo for the pilot water plant.

See - ABC News - Stanvac desal deal struck.