Ghana is poised to start up its first seawater desalination plant in the capital, Accra, by February, 2015.
President John Dramani Mahama has been reported to have indicated that the construction of the US$ 125 million project was already complete and the plant was awaiting inauguration.
The plant in Accra suburb, Nungua, will produce fresh water at 66 Ml/d and distribute it to about 500,000 people in Teshie and Nungua.
Japan’s largest rare earth metals importer, Sojitz Corporation, partnered Spanish water technology firm, Abengoa Water, to establish the project.
The investors have entered into a 25-year build, own, operate and transfer contract with state-owned utility, Ghana Water Company, to sell the plant output to the utility for distribution to customers.
Demand for water in Ghana particularly the capital, keeps rising as a result of economic growth, increasing population and urbanisation.