Abengoa Begins Construction on the First Desalination Plant in Western Africa, in Ghana

SEVILLE, Spain, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Abengoa, the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has begun construction of the Nungua desalination plant in Ghana, the first in western Africa.

The desalination plant, which will require an investment of US$ 125 million, will have the capacity to produce 60,000 m³/day using reverse osmosis technology. Abengoa will be responsible for the design and construction of the plant, as well as its subsequent maintenance and operation for a 25 year period. Revenues from water sales are forecast to exceed US$ 1,300 million during this time.

The work is expected to take 24 months and will create some 400 direct and indirect jobs.

The plant, which has been welcomed by Ghanaian authorities and local people, will enable drinking water to be supplied to more than 500,000 residents in the towns of Teshie, Nungua and Tema, improving their quality of life.

Accra, the capital of Nungua, with nearly three million inhabitants, currently struggles to meet the demand for water from its more remote towns and villages. In a country with a rapidly growing population, only 50% of the 800,000 m³/day of water currently required to cover the needs of the population can be supplied. The Ghanaian authorities have therefore prioritized water supply projects and private investment within the country's Economic Recovery Program, which was launched in the 1980s to revitalize its economy.

This project will increase Abengoa's installed water desalination capacity to nearly 1,200,000 m³/day, sufficient to supply drinking water to more than 7.6 million people. Its technology contributes to resolving the serious lack of drinking water in numerous countries around the world, encouraging their global development.

Abengoa is consolidating its position as a world leader in the water sector and has already developed desalination plants in Algeria, Ghana, India, China and Spain.

About Abengoa

Abengoa (MCE: ABG) is an international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, generating electricity from the sun, producing biofuels, desalinating sea water and recycling industrial waste. (www.abengoa.com)

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Anisha Shah
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SOURCE Abengoa