KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 25): Ranhill Holdings Bhd is targeting to increase its water treatment aggregate capacity in Thailand to 174 litres per day (mld) by 2022 from 114 mld currently by securing more water and wastewater projects from major industrial parks like Amata City Rayong Industrial Estate.

Its president and chief executive Tan Sri Hamdan Mohamad said this is part of its international expansion in the long term, with Thailand and China as its two primary markets.

"Our (10 water treatment, wastewater treatment and water reclamation) plants have gained a stellar reputation for meeting the standards set by local authorities and for efficient, technology driven, cost-effective water management. Given Ranhill Group's expertise, track record and sustainable practices, clearly there are opportunities to be tapped in water and wastewater management in Thailand," he said.

In a statement today, Ranhill announced that its new 7 million mld reclamation water treatment plant in Thailand's Amata has commenced operations.

With the completion of this project, Ranhill has two water reclamation projects in Thailand with a total capacity of 17 mld.

"The other facility in Amata City Chonburi has been in operation since 2008 and is performing well," added the group.

The completion of the build, operate and transfer project brings Ranhill's investment in the water treatment, wastewater treatment and water reclamation plants in Thailand to 992 million baht, capable of generating water, waste water and reclaim water sales of over 4,100 million baht throughout the concession period.

"Water reclamation is a growing component of our environment business overseas, with reclaimed or recycled water as an alternative water source that can efficiently meet the growing industrial demand as the volume of wastewater discharge increases," Hamdan said.

"We see tremendous prospects in Thailand, especially with the Thai government's focus on regulating the water sector and continued growth expected in industrial projects in the Eastern Seaboard region," he added.

At 2.54pm, Ranhill shares were unchanged at RM1.18, with 185,500 shares done, bringing a market capitalisation of RM1.05 billion.