In January 2016, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that plans for Chennai's fourth desalination plant had advanced after Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officials visited. The state had asked JICA to fund the 400,000 m³/day project; Chennai Metrowater was to finish it 42 months after award. Already running were Nemmelli (100,000 m³/day, a Wabag-led venture) and Minjur (100,000 m³/day, IVRCL). A third plant of 150,000 m³/day costing US$208 million had secured KfW backing in September 2015.
The report showed how heavily Chennai was betting on seawater desalination, and how development lenders from Japan and Germany were expected to help finance the expansion of supply.