Mexican State to Award Desalination Plant Contract

Baja California state water authority CEA is to award a Mex$400m ($33.2m) contract to build and operate the El Salitral desalination plant in Ensenada, Mexico.

CEA launched the tender on 22 February 2011 and the contract has attracted six bidders so far, according to bnamericas.com.

The project includes designing the desalination plant, which will have a capacity to treat 250l of seawater per second.

Construction of the plant is expected to take 18 months and the successful bidder will operate the plant under a 20-year concession contract.

The winning company will invest 60% of the total cost and the remaining funds will be financed by Mexican development bank Banobras.