10:19:01 AM | 3/24/2026
Keppel marked the fifth anniversary of its Living Well initiative - its flagship corporate social responsibility programme dedicated to improving access to clean water for communities affected by saltwater intrusion - by supporting a seminar on water security and expanding its outreach in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta through the installation of new solar-powered water filtration systems.
Mr Louis Lim, CEO, Real Estate, Keppel Ltd., delivering a speech at the event
Held in conjunction with World Water Day, the seminar titled “Water Security in the Mekong Delta under Climate Change” was organised by Tien Phong Newspaper and the People’s Committee of Can Tho City. As part of Keppel’s continued commitment under the Living Well initiative, the company also contributed two solar-powered water filtration systems to Khanh Hoa Ward and Lieu Tu Commune in Can Tho City, further strengthening access to safe and sustainable water sources at the community level.
Mr Joseph Low, Chief Representative, Vietnam and President, Vietnam, Real Estate, Keppel Ltd., said, “The Mekong Delta continues to face increasing pressure from climate change, particularly in relation to water availability and saltwater intrusion. Through this seminar, we hope to support ongoing dialogue among policymakers, experts and stakeholders on strengthening water resilience in the region.
Mr Joseph Low, Chief Representative, Vietnam and President, Vietnam, Real Estate, Keppel Ltd. at the panel discussion on solutions and vision for water security in the Mekong Delta amid climate change
“Alongside this, our Living Well initiative focuses on practical, community-level support. To date, the initiative has helped provide access to clean water for some 157,000 people across 11 communes in seven provinces, reflecting how targeted efforts, delivered in partnership with local stakeholders, can make a meaningful difference to daily life in the Mekong Delta.”
Supporting dialogue on water security in the Mekong Delta
The seminar brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture & Environment, local authorities from provinces across the Mekong Delta, as well as representatives from Keppel, Tien Phong Newspaper, industry experts, business representatives, social organisations and students from Can Tho University.
Delegates exploring Keppel’s Living Well exhibition, which showcases the initiative’s efforts to improve access to clean water in salinity‑affected communities
Discussions focused on the importance of water security in supporting the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, particularly as the region faces increasing pressures from saltwater intrusion and climate-related challenges.
Mr Nguyen Hoang Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, shared: “In recent years, the Mekong Delta has experienced increasingly frequent droughts, saltwater intrusion, and freshwater shortages during the dry season. Can Tho City, the region’s central hub, despite its dense river and canal network and relatively abundant water resources, is still facing growing impacts from climate change.”
At the same event, Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Phu Quynh, Deputy Director of the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, emphasised that the Mekong Delta is facing severe and irreversible external pressures. He noted that sustainable development of the region requires a combination of technological solutions, multi‑purpose operations, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
Delegates viewing water samples, including untreated water and water purified by Living Well’s water filtration systems from previous beneficiary areas
Expanding the Living Well initiative for local communities
As an expansion of its Living Well initiative, Keppel donated two solar-powered water filtration systems with a combined capacity of over 4.3 million litres of clean water per day to Khanh Hoa Ward and Lieu Tu Commune in Can Tho City. The systems will help provide a more reliable source of clean water for over 68,000 residents, particularly during periods of drought and saltwater intrusion.
The delegates taking a group photo after the event
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.
Mr Lee Leong Seng (right), Head, Property Development, Vietnam, Real Estate, Keppel Ltd., and Mr Phan Van Nghiem, Vice President of Khanh Hoa Ward People’s Committee, at the event
Keppel volunteers helping the local residents of Khanh Hoa ward taking water from the water filtration system
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.
By Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
