A foreign businessman has claimed he could save taxpayers more than $600,000 over a Government plan to buy a mobile plant to convert undrinkable water into fresh water.

However, Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said he was convinced the taxpayer will get value for money over the expected $1.9 million purchase of a mobile desalination plant.

French businessman Thierry Cabot, who lives in St. George's and has installed this equipment in other parts of the world, said he believes he could save the taxpayer a third of the price.

He was reacting to Mr. Scott's announcement that Government is spending $1.9 million on a mobile desalination plant that can convert up to 250,000 gallons per day of brackish water into drinkable water.

Mr. Scott said the $1.9 million was a "ballpark'' figure set aside for the equipment, which may come down when the contract goes out to tender.

And he invited Mr. Cabot to get in touch with the department with details of the cut-price plant.

Mr. Cabot told The Royal Gazette he is the agent for a French company, which he will not name, which has fitted the equipment in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

He said: "It could save about a third of the cost. I am the agent for a well-known international company and I am very familiar with the type of equipment.

"In a past business in Morocco I installed this type of equipment, which is the same type installed in Saudi Arabia.'' Mr. Cabot, who imports coffee and wine for Miles Market and Le Figaro restaurant, added: "I don't recall this going out to tender. Anywhere else I have worked it goes out to tender.'' Mr. Scott said: "It has not yet gone out to tender. If we think we can get it locally we will go there first.

"If he (Mr. Cabot) has an interest he should make himself known to us. It may be a wonderful buy, but it may be that we get what we pay for.

"The folks who we end up trading with, we do due diligence and they provide support for equipment and maintenance.

"When you go into the support aspects to such a deal, you sometimes find you can buy something for less but you get stuck with it.''