Sacyr Agua, a subsidiary of the Spanish group Sacyr, has officially been awarded the project for the construction, financing, and operation of a desalination plant in the Coquimbo Region. The contract was confirmed following its publication in the Official Gazette.
The project involves a total investment of US$318 million. Located in the El Panul sector of Coquimbo, the facility will be the first of its kind in the region dedicated to providing potable water.
The infrastructure will have an initial production capacity of 800 liters per second, with the potential to expand to 1,200 l/s. The project is set to directly benefit more than 540,000 residents across the La Serena and Coquimbo municipalities.
Infrastructure details
The construction plan includes a 20-kilometer pumping network, pumping stations, and a regulation tank. The bidding process, managed by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), featured competition between two business groups.
Sacyr submitted the most competitive bid last November, outperforming the PDAM Mamanchay Consortium, which comprised COX Water and Cointer Chile. With this award, the company aims to implement solutions to address the water scarcity affecting the region.
“The final award for this desalination plant represents a significant milestone for Sacyr Agua in Chile and reinforces our commitment to developing sustainable solutions to meet the country's water challenges,” said Lucas de Marcos, General Manager of Sacyr Agua in Chile.
De Marcos also noted that the project will leverage the company's international expertise to improve the quality of life for thousands of people in the region. The infrastructure is intended as a concrete response to the area's natural resource crisis.
“This initiative is a key step in developing resilient and sustainable infrastructure to tackle the effects of climate change and water scarcity,” the executive added.
Sacyr has been operating in Chile since 1996, with a diversified presence in concessions, engineering, and water management. The company currently manages five water treatment plants, along with various hospital and airport infrastructure projects across the country.
