SPAIN – A consortium led by ACCIONA and Aqualia has secured a $15.41 million contract to operate and maintain three desalination plants in Ibiza for the next four years, with a potential one-year extension. The contract, awarded by The Balearic Water and Environmental Quality Agency (Abaqua), covers the plants in Ibiza Town, Santa Eulària, and San Antonio, as well as the interconnecting network of 74 kilometers of pipelines. These plants collectively produce 44,500 m3/d and serve five municipalities on the island. ACCIONA and Aqualia are already responsible for managing these desalination plants and the upstream water supply network. The contract underscores their ongoing role in ensuring water supply across Ibiza. (ACCIONA)
Estepona Council has revived several long-abandoned wells to address the town's water shortage caused by ongoing drought. The extracted water will be sent to a new desalination plant, set to begin operations soon, which will produce 3,000 to 4,000 m3/d. This plant aims to address the salinity issue of the water sourced from the Padron River's alluvial aquifer. Mayor José María Garcia Urbano announced plans to further increase production to 8,000 m3/d by mid-2024 with a portable desalination plant, and to reach 20,000 to 30,000 m3/d by 2025. This expansion will potentially make Estepona self-sufficient in water production using seawater. (EuroWeekly News)
ALGERIA – By the end of 2024, Algeria plans to produce 3.7 million m3/d, which will meet 42% of the needs for its 47 million residents. The country aims to increase this production to 5.6 million m3/d by 2030. Algeria has already invested $2.1 billion in desalination infrastructure and intends to invest an additional $2.4 billion to meet its future goals. This initiative is part of Algeria's strategy to address its water scarcity challenges, given its arid and semi-arid climate. The Algerian Energy Company’s CEO, Mohamed Boutabba, highlighted these plans in a recent statement. (Reuters)
SENEGAL – Saudi-based ACWA Power has secured an $800 million contract to build one of Africa’s largest desalination plants, known as the Grande Cote, in Dakar, Senegal. The facility will be constructed in two phases, each with a capacity of 200,000 m3/d, totaling 400,000 m3/d upon completion. The contract, spanning 32 years, includes the design, financing, operation, and maintenance of the plant, which will use reverse osmosis technology. ACWA Power aims to start commercial operations by the first quarter of 2028. This project reflects. (Constructionreview)
OMAN – South Korean construction firm GS Engineering & Construction has secured a $1.7 billion contract to build a desalination plant in Oman, with its unit GS Inima Environment handling the project. The agreement with Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) includes a 20-year operation and maintenance period post-completion. The plant, set to be located in Muscat, is scheduled for completion by 2027 and will have a daily capacity of 339,900 m3/d. This project is a significant investment aimed at addressing the sultanate's water needs. The contract highlights GS E&C's expanding role in global infrastructure development. (ZAWYA)
GS Engineering & Construction has secured a $1.7 billion contract to build a desalination plant in Oman. Credit: RETEMA
NAMIBIA – Namibia is set to begin construction of a second desalination plant in early 2025 to address severe water scarcity in the coastal and central regions. The new plant will enhance water infrastructure and boost supply capacity, particularly for the water-intensive Namib Desert mining sector. The existing Orano desalination plant at Wlotzkasbaken, which costs $162.46 million, currently meets only a fraction of the demand, underscoring the need for additional capacity. Swakop Uranium is expected to finance part of the new plant, which will have a modular capacity exceeding 54,794 m3/d and will be developed through a public-private partnership. (Windhoek Observer)
Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has proposed developing a desalination pipeline to address water challenges in Namibia's Kunene region, highlighting that Namibia's coastal location makes this feasible. Her suggestion follows reports of poor water quality and scarcity in Opuwo, where the town's outdated infrastructure struggles to meet demand. Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized the need for strategic vision and collaboration to implement such a project, drawing parallels with Europe's gas pipelines. Meanwhile, PDM leader McHenry Venaani has pledged to desalinate and transport water from the Atlantic Ocean to northern regions if elected. (The Namibian)
AUSTRALIA – Residents and businesses in Marla, South Australia, can now access safe, drinkable water from a newly operational desalination plant, marking a significant upgrade from their previous reliance on private rainwater tanks and bottled water. Located over 1,000 kilometers north of Adelaide, the small-scale plant produces up to 87 m3/d using reverse osmosis technology, drawing from the Great Artesian Basin. This development follows a similar upgrade in Oodnadatta and represents SA Water’s ongoing efforts to enhance water security in remote communities. The plant’s construction involved extensive planning and adaptation to local conditions, with the facility housed in a shipping container to withstand harsh weather. Future upgrades are planned for other remote towns, highlighting SA Water’s commitment to improving drinking water access in outback areas. (Utility Magazine)