Desalinization plant begins operations in Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada, Baja California – Today the desalinization plant entered into operation with the capacity to treat 5.7 million gallons a day (mgd) of water to meet current and future demand in the city of Ensenada, Baja California, while also helping to preserve underground water resources.
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Baja California Governor Francisco Vega de la Madrid, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Rafael Pacchiano Alamán along with other dignitaries, presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony of this US$55.8 million project, which beginning today is benefitting 96,000 residents of Ensenada by ensuring a sustainable and reliable drinking water system.
NADB provided a US$31.6 million loan to Aguas de Ensenada, S.A. de C.V. (ADESA), a subsidiary of GS Inima Environment, S.A., the company awarded a 20-year Build-OperateTransfer (BOT) contract for the plant. The remaining projects costs was covered with a federal grant from the Mexican National Infrastructure Fund, Fondo Nacional de Infraestructura (FONADIN) and equity contributions from GS Inima.
“With water resources becoming increasingly scarce, this plant is vital for meeting the current and future demand for water of Ensenada residents,” stated Alex Hinojosa. “Works of this magnitude are indispensable for guaranteeing the water supply of future generations, and we are pleased to have partnered with the various levels of government to make this plant a reality.”
The project consisted of the construction of a desalinization plant using reverse osmosis, seawater intake works, pretreatment facilities and a conveyance system for discharging concentrate into the ocean, as well as a storage tank, pump station and water lines to connect to the drinking water distribution system in Ensenada. It is worth noting that part of the infrastructure was built to anticipate future water needs based on urban growth trends in the municipality of Ensenada and to facilitate expansion of plant capacity from 5.7 mgd to 11.4 mgd in the future.
In the past 25 years, the Bank has provided US$207 million in loans and grants to support the implementation of water and wastewater projects worth more than US$695 million in Baja California.