Chilean ministry recommends approval of Aguas Antofagasta’ desal plant proposal

A proposal has been submitted by water utility Aguas Antofagasta to build the new Desaladora Sur desalination plant in Chile’s northern region II.

A unit of the Chilean environment ministry MMA has recommended the approval of the environmental impact assessment for the project.

The project, worth $120m, will involve construction of an intake building and processing facility.

A decision on the recommendation will be made today by the region’s environmental evaluation committee.

The water utility, part of Chile-based Luksic group, first submitted the project proposal in September 2011.

On completion, the city is touted to become the first country in Latin America to secure 100% of its potable water from desalination facilities.

The new desalination plant in regional capital Antofagasta is expected to produce 1,000l per second of potable water.

The reverse osmosis plant will also includes building a 10m-diameter seawater intake and a 2.4km pipeline, which will transfer water to the utility’s storage tanks.

Once the project gets clearance for the EIA, Aguas Antofagasta will invite tenders for construction works.

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Image: The project will make Antofagasta the first city to produce 100% drinking water from desalination plants. Photo: W. J. Pilsak