The Ministry of Science and Technology on Aug 29 released the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) for the scientific and technological development of seawater desalinization.

Under the plan, an innovative system for seawater desalinization has to be created during the period, and desalinization technology should reach an advanced level.

The plan estimates that the seawater desalinization industry nationwide will have a market value of between $70 billion and $95 billion by the end of 2015.

The fastest growing markets for desalinization in the next 20 years are expected to remain the Middle East, the United States, Australia, Spain, India and China.