Abengoa commissions Ghana’s first desalination plant at Accra

Spain-based Abengoa has inaugurated the Accra Sea Water desalination plant in Accra, Ghana, a first for the African country.

The facility, which has been treating water for the past two months, is also the first desalination facility in West Africa region.

The plant has a daily capacity to deliver nearly 60,000m³ of freshwater, which is sufficient for 500,000 local residents.

Treated water from the facility is being purchased by Ghana Water Company in accordance with a 25-year build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model which aims at distributing potable water to households and businesses.

The project, which has been scheduled to operate for 25 years, is expected to offer nearly 400 direct and indirect job opportunities and bears a revenue forecast of around $1,300m.

Abengoa vice-chairman and CEO Manuel Sanchez Ortega said: "This project is the perfect example of Abengoa’s commitment to help fight water scarcity in those places faced with shortage issues. I am confident that this plant will inspire other countries in the region thanks to its unique development model and advanced technology."

Desalination is one of the most reliable treatment methods for deriving potable water, and is in compliance with the WHO standards. More than 230 million people around the world are dependent on the process for their drinking water supplies.

Besides Ghana, the Spanish firm Abengoa has set up desalination facilities in several countries including the US, Algeria, Spain, China, Chile, and India.