In the sun-scorched landscape of Kutch in Gujarat, water scarcity is a daily reality. Industries and communities have long faced a pressing question: how do you sustain growth when nature offers so little? At Mundra, this challenge was more than operational. It was existential. Copper manufacturing, a cornerstone of industrial progress, needed a lifeline. That lifeline came in the form of a bold idea, turning seawater into a dependable source of industrial-grade water. The 33 MLD seawater desalination plant at Mundra is not just a facility. It is a story of vision, precision and perseverance. Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) stood at the heart of this transformation, guiding the project from concept to commissioning and proving that engineering can rewrite the rules of possibility.

From Idea to Reality: Comprehensive Scope

The project began with a clear goal: create a system that could deliver high-quality water consistently, despite harsh coastal conditions. TCE managed the entire lifecycle of engineering consultancy services, ensuring consistency and quality at every stage.

Our scope included:

The plant is fully automated through a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, enabling real-time diagnostics and smooth operation with minimal human intervention.

The Science Behind the Solution

Desalination is more than removing salt from seawater. It is a precise, multi-stage process that demands engineering finesse. At Mundra, the journey begins with seawater drawn from the Arabian Sea, carrying up to 42,000 ppm of dissolved salts. Through pre-treatment, two-stage media filtration, seawater reverse osmosis and brackish water reverse osmosis, this saline water is transformed into high-quality industrial water. A final re-mineralisation step ensures the water meets stringent standards for copper manufacturing.

Energy recovery devices and SCADA-based automation make the plant efficient and intelligent, reducing power consumption and enabling real-time monitoring.

Key Highlights

This project sets benchmarks for performance and sustainability:

Driving Sustainability through Engineering Excellence

This project is more than a technical achievement. It is a testament to what engineering can accomplish when guided by purpose. In a region where water scarcity could have stalled progress, this desalination plant secures industrial growth and sets a benchmark for sustainable resource management.

By combining proven technology, energy-efficient systems and automation, the project demonstrates that complexity can be mastered and sustainability can be engineered. It is a model for future water security solutions in resource-constrained regions.