Spanish company Abengoa to build $115m desalination plant for Ghana
The first desalination plant in West Africa is set to be built in Ghana.
The Spanish company with expertise in technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, Abengoa says it has signed an agreement with the Ghana Water Company Ltd. (GWCL) to construct the $115 million desalination plant at Nungua in Accra.
According to the company, by the terms of the agreement it will operate the plant which will have a capacity to produce 60,000 cubic metres of water per day for 25 years. The project when completed will supply water to areas like Teshie, Nungua and the port city of Tema.
Abengoa in a press release says the new plant will be developed under a DBOT format – design, build, operate and maintain, own and possibly transfer.
“The agreement also includes the development of the necessary infrastructure for the seawater intake, the application of the ultra-filtration pre-treatment system using proprietary technology, desalination using reverse osmosis (the most up-to-date technology), and the use of efficient energy recovery solutions, among others,” it says.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi
If Abengoa decide to build such plant and operate for 25 years why not transfer it to Ghanaian operations. I think 25 years is too long , thinking about parts, maintenance and the cost is too high considering supplying water only for Accra. Who is initiating this agreement, it seems this company feels Ghanaians are not smart enough.