SINAGPORE — Singapore on Tuesday opened its fourth recycling plant designed to turn sewage into water, as part of the water-scarce island nation's move to self-sufficiency.

The plant in Ulu Pandan, just outside the Central Business District, is the largest in the country and will supply water for downtown business air conditioners by 2006, Junior Finance Minister Raymond Lim said at its opening.

No further details on the plant's capacity were provided.

Singapore, which has for decades been largely reliant on neighboring Malaysia for its water, has made self-sustainability one of its national priorities since a recent breakdown in talks over water imports. The first of its water import deals with Malaysia ends in 2011.

Separately, the country's environment minister, Yaacob Ibrahim, said Monday the administration was looking to turn 90 percent of the entire island into fresh water catchment areas.

Both Lim and Yaacob said there was a need to get Singapore's 4.2 million citizens to conserve and appreciate their water sources.

"The intention is to get more people closer to water, to build a relationship with it so that they will regard the reservoirs as a resource to cherish," Yaacob said.

Source: Associated Press