Hyflux: Sustainable Solutions for a Better Tomorrow

Water is a critical requirement for human beings. With a growing population combined with alarmingly high levels of pollution and increasing inflation on account of geopolitics, water is becoming tougher to access for people in third world countries. To add to these woes, clean drinking water is even scarcer than water for domestic purposes. Major cities in the olden days and the medieval period were established near sources of fresh water. But modern technology has allowed us to draw water from afar with various irrigation and treatment measures. But the water problem is a constantly looming threat for developing counties.

A Singaporean company has come up with an innovative business model to streamline water treatment and turn it into a lucrative business model. As a global leader in sustainable solutions, focusing on the areas of water and energy, Hyflux is committed to providing cost-effective and innovative solutions that contribute to resource optimization and sustainable growth for communities and industries. A specialist in water treatment and among the top global desalination plant providers, Hyflux is distinctive in its ability to address the challenges at every point of the entire water value chain. In the area of energy, the company has expanded from energy generation and retail to include waste-to-energy, providing clean and renewable energy. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, Hyflux has operations and projects spanning across the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

Focused on Sustainability

Hyflux was founded with the mission of providing innovative and effective environmental solutions to deliver water that is clean, safe and affordable. All of Hyflux’s technological solutions are aimed at making a positive impact on the environment and the community.

Desalination

Hyflux’s membrane-based desalination solutions are helping fast-growing cities and industries in water-scarce regions throughout the world to meet their water needs and develop a stable, sustainable water supply for the future.

Desalination is the process of removing salt and other minerals from water to make it suitable for drinking or for industrial use. In water-stressed areas, desalination can be a sustainable solution that eliminates the need to transport water over long distances. Membrane-based desalination uses semi-permeable reverse osmosis membranes and pressure to separate salts from water. Reverse osmosis technology uses less energy than thermal distillation, and technology enhancements have led to a reduction in overall desalination costs over the last decade.

Hyflux’s desalination projects range from small plants for power stations to large-scale ones like the 500,000 m3/day Magtaa Desalination Plant in Algeria that will supply clean water to support the country’s rapid urbanization. Magtaa Desalination Plant is currently the largest desalination plant in the world using reverse osmosis membrane technology. The firm designs, engineers, operates and maintains plants and may also arrange a comprehensive financing plan to fund large-scale projects. Hyflux also has a range of pre-engineered, modular Standard Membrane Systems integrated with our proprietary Kristal^® ultrafiltration technology to provide industries and communities facing water shortages and water usage restrictions with a reliable, high-quality supply of water in a simple, quick and cost-effective way.

Wastewater Treatment & Recycling

Water recycling is the process of reclaiming used water or wastewater and treating the reclaimed or recycled water by removing solids and impurities for reuse in a variety of applications. The level of treatment depends on the quality required. Water recycling is a good alternative to seawater desalination for water-stressed areas that do not have access to the sea.

A pioneer in providing NEWater (high-grade recycled water produced through advanced membrane technology) solutions in Singapore, Hyflux makes wastewater safe for cities and industries to discharge into the environment or to reuse as potable or industrial-grade water. The company customizes treatment processes, build, operate and maintain plants to meet the specifications of municipal and industrial customers.

Hyflux’s wastewater treatment and water recycling plants, Kristal^® ultrafiltration and PoroCep^® membrane bioreactor (MBR) installations around the world are helping to reduce the strain on freshwater sources, potable water supplies, and the environment as well as to address the stringent restrictions that many industries face on water usage and discharge. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs), an advanced wastewater treatment method for demanding environments, combine the membrane filtration process with biological treatment into a simple, cost-effective process that reduces footprint, capital, and operating costs.

Energy

Significant amounts of water are used to generate electricity. Similarly, large amounts of energy are required to extract, convey, and deliver water. With the interdependence between water and energy, Hyflux’s capabilities in energy complement and enhance our water solutions for cities seeking ways to meet water and energy demand in response to rapid urbanization and industrialization. The company is also able to contribute to resource optimization and sustainable growth by generating clean and renewable energy from waste. In Singapore, Hyflux is an electricity retailer committed to helping businesses effectively manage their energy needs through our subsidiary, Hyflux Energy.

Meet the Brilliant CEO of Hyflux, Olivia Lum

Ms. Lum is the Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer. She heads the Board's Investment Committee and is a member of the Nominating Committee.

Ms. Lum started corporate life as a chemist with Glaxo Pharmaceutical and left in 1989 to start up Hydrochem (S) Pte Ltd, the precursor to Hyflux Ltd. Managing the Group for more than 25 years now, Ms. Lum is the driving force behind Hyflux's growth and business expansion and is responsible for policy and strategy formulation as well as corporate direction.

Ms. Lum has received many accolades for her entrepreneurial achievements including the Nikkei Asia Prize for Regional Growth 2006, the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 and the Financial Times ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Award 2011 for Entrepreneurship.

Ms. Lum holds an Honours degree in Chemistry from the National University of Singapore.

“We provide efficient and cost-effective solutions to meet our clients’ needs through innovation and technological advancement.”