Keppel supports water security seminar and expands Living Well initiative in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta

CAN THO, Vietnam — Keppel Ltd. expanded its flagship water security program in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, marking the fifth anniversary of an initiative designed to combat the rising threat of saltwater intrusion and climate change in the region.

The Singapore-based global asset manager announced the installation of two new solar-powered water filtration systems in Khanh Hoa Ward and Lieu Tu Commune within Can Tho City. The new infrastructure is capable of producing more than 4.3 million liters of clean water daily, serving approximately 68,000 residents.

Strengthening Regional Resilience

The expansion was unveiled alongside a seminar titled “Water Security in the Mekong Delta under Climate Change,” organized by Tien Phong Newspaper and the People’s Committee of Can Tho City. The event brought together government officials, industry experts, and stakeholders to address the intensifying environmental pressures on Vietnam's primary agricultural hub.

“The Mekong Delta continues to face increasing pressure from climate change, particularly in relation to water availability and saltwater intrusion,” said Joseph Low, Chief Representative for Vietnam at Keppel Ltd. Low emphasized that the "Living Well" initiative focuses on "practical, community-level support".

Impact and Infrastructure

Since its launch in 2022, the Living Well program has reached significant milestones in its effort to stabilize water access:

-Reach: Approximately 157,000 people across 11 communes in seven provinces.

-Capacity: 11 total filtration systems providing roughly 24 million liters of clean water annually.

-Focus: Targeting areas most affected by drought and salinity during the dry season.

The Mekong Delta is currently grappling with "severe and irreversible external pressures," according to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Quynh, Deputy Director of the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research. Nguyen Hoang Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, noted that even with a dense canal network, the region’s central hub is increasingly vulnerable to freshwater shortages.

Delegates exploring Keppel’s Living Well exhibition, which showcases the initiative’s efforts to improve access to clean water in salinity affected communities.

Launched in 2022, Living Well supports communities affected by drought and saltwater intrusion arising from climate change, one of the growing challenges in the Mekong Delta. To date, the initiative has provided access to clean water for some 157,000 people across 11 communes in seven provinces, through 11 water filtration systems with a total capacity of around 24 million litres of clean water per year.

Keppel has a longstanding track record in the investment, development and operation of water infrastructure, spanning desalination as well as water treatment and reuse solutions. In Singapore, for example, Keppel developed and operates the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant, the country’s fourth desalination plant and its first and only large‑scale, dual‑mode facility capable of treating both seawater and freshwater, supporting Singapore’s water resilience.