RWL consortium wins Baja California desalination deal

Mid market water treatment firm, RWL Water, in a consortium with Mexican partners, Libra Ingenieros and RJ Ingenieria, has won a contract to build a 22,000 m³/d seawater desalination plant in San Quintín, Baja California.

The build, own operate deal for the plant – located 250 km from the US Mexico border - will run for 30 years. The project aims to preserve the groundwater resources by covering the demand for 100,000 Baja California residents. It will seek also to boost region’s the economic development.

The Secretariat of Infrastructure and Urban Development for the state of Baja California (SIDUE) and the State Water Commission of Baja California (CEA), issued an invitation to tender for the project In June this year following an unsolicited proposal prepared and submitted by Libra Ingenieros and RJ Ingenieria under new PPP legislation.

The consortium will fund the project with a mix of equity investment and limited recourse finance. The desalination plant will be built by RWL Water based on its technology, know-how and project management.

RWL Water president and chief executive officer, Henry Charrabé, said: “This confirms our business concept of providing complete high-tech water solutions with turnkey contracting and investment into our clients’ water infrastructure.” The plant is expected to start operation in autumn 2017.