FRANCE – French start-ups Ecosun Innovations and Mascara Nouvelles Technologies collaborated on the development of a novel solar powered desalination system. The companies combined two of their products, the autonomous solar-powered desalination system Osmosun and the solar container Mobil-Watt, into developing the Osmo-Watt system which can produce 100 m3/d drinking water. The fully equipped container does not require any civil engineering expertise to set up and thus can be rapidly deployed in disaster or emergency situations. (pv magazine)
MEXICO – Two years after commencing construction, a desalination plant in Sonora is close to completion. Sonora’s state water commission recently announced that the facility on the El Cochorit beach on the Sea of Cortez is now 77% complete. The plant has a production capacity of 17,200 m3/d and will supply residents of the municipalities of Guaymas and Empalme. (FRONTERAS)
EGYPT – The Ministry of International Cooperation and the Kuwait Fund for Development have agreed on $18 million financing for the construction of two new desalination plants. The facilities will be located in the new cities of Rafah and Bir Al-Abd. (Daily News Egypt)
The existing desalination plant in Antofagasta, Chile. Credit: BNamericas
CHILE – Due to revised marine works and a desalination plant extension, Antofagasta’s Los Pelambres expansion project will cost an extra $400 million, totalling $1.7 billion. Construction of the project restarted in August, after being halted due to the pandemic, and was 45% complete as of December 2020. (The Northern Miner)