SINGAPORE, June 5 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is debating the construction of desalination plants in Crimea to solve the peninsula’s water supply problem, Albert Kasparov of the Ministry of Natural Resources told RIA Novosti Thursday.

"[New] desalination technology and desalination plants could be used in Crimea, because there are many underground salt lakes on the peninsula. Singapore uses desalinized water for irrigation and for technical purposes; the same can be done in Crimea," Kasparov, the director of the ministry’s Center for Development and Water Supply said at Singapore International Water Week.

It is also possible to introduce new water conservation technologies, such as drip irrigation and rainwater collection, Kasparov said.

“Singaporean technology can also be used in the construction of membrane bioreactor systems. It is also possible to learn water supply planning [from Singapore], friction loss [a major cause of energy loss] in water pipes is almost nonexistent in Singapore," Kasparov said.

Ukraine used to supply up to 85 percent of Crimea’s fresh water through the North-Crimean channel that runs from the Dnieper River. Earlier in April, in response to Crimea’s reunification with Russia, the Ukrainian government decided to halt all fresh water supplies to the peninsula, arguing the republic owes the country for earlier supplies.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said that about $73 million (2.5 billion rubles) is needed to restore the water delivery system in Crimea, including well drilling and laying water pipes.