The country's first Deep Seawater Development Plant in Taitung is set to be up and running starting next month.

As one of the Economic Ministry's twelve construction projects, the plant, which took a long and complicated process to complete, will mark the beginning of deepwater research.

The 37 fishing boats aren't fishing on the calm waters. They are here to help the Economics Ministry lay the pipe for the Deep Seawater Research Plant in Taitung County's Taimali. The 7 excavators on land were busy trying to finish the job.

The group's first attempt to lay the pipe at the beginning of this month failed due to strong currents. They hope to finish the work this time around, before the currents turn strong again.

The Economics Ministry chose Taitung County for the nation's first Deep Seawater Research Plant because of its clean water and black current, which carries over 90 different minerals. These minerals may help research in food, agriculture, aquaculture, and cosmetics, and is estimated to generate tens of billions NT$ in revenue.

It took over 12 hours to finish laying the pipe, which was done by domestic engineering teams. The pipe reaches 700 meters deep and can pump up over 10,000 tons of seawater each day. The plant will start testing operations next month.