Mexican State to Launch Independencia Pipeline Tender

CEA, the water authority of the Mexican state of Sonora, is to launch a tender for the construction of the second phase of the Independencia potable water pipeline by the end of April 2011.

The project will cost Mex$3.6bn ($301m) and aims to improve access to potable water in the state capital Hermosillo.

The project includes a 180km pipeline from the El Novillo reservoir to Hermosillo, which is currently being finalised.

The pipeline will supply 2.4m³ of water per second to two potable water plants to be built near Hermosillo, according to bnamericas.com.

To save time, the water utility may award the construction contract to the awardee of the pipeline project.

Exploraciones Mineras del Desierto, a consortium of 16 local firms, started construction on the first 135km stretch of the pipeline on 28 February 2011 and both phases of the project are scheduled to be complete by June 2012.

The project is part of Sonora’s Mex$11bn ($916m) Sonora SI integrated water plan, which involves the construction of six new dams and reservoirs, as well as new water plants.