An ACCIONA-led group has been chosen by Water Corporation, the biggest water utility in Western Australia, to plan, construct, run, and uphold the upcoming Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant (ASDP) in Perth for a decade.
The plant’s Stage 1 will have an initial capacity of 150,000 m³ per day, with an additional 150,000 m³ per day under Stage 2 when needed.
The Stage 1 design and build project aims to provide drinking water by 2028 as part of a Water Corporation program valued at AU$2.8 billion (€1.7 billion) to ensure water supply to millions of Western Australians.
The project will be executed as an alliance involving Water Corporation, ACCIONA, and Jacobs, with a focus on safety, wellbeing, and sustainability in the plant’s design, implementation, and operations.
The construction of ASDP within the Alkimos Water Precinct will assist the region in addressing the challenges posed by reduced rainfall and population growth.
Winter rainfall in southwest Western Australia has decreased by approximately 20% since 1970, while Perth’s population, currently at 2.12 million, is projected to reach 2.9 million by 2031 and 3.5 million by 2050. This growth will make Perth Australia’s third-largest city and significantly increase the demand for drinking water.
Local Leadership
ACCIONA was established in Australia in 2002 and has emerged as one of the leading infrastructure companies in the country.
In 2009, the company secured one of its most iconic projects in Australia, the Adelaide desalination plant. With a daily capacity of 300,000 m³, the plant caters to a population of two million. It was the first of its kind in the country, incorporating advanced pre-treatment methods to enhance energy efficiency and boost the recovery of treated water for human consumption.
In 2011, ACCIONA was awarded its inaugural water project in Western Australia, involving the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Mundaring Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to the Goldfields, one of the state’s nine regions.
Beyond the water sector, ACCIONA is engaged in several significant infrastructure projects across the country. Most recently, it was chosen by the Government of Victoria to construct the initial set of tunnels for the Suburban Rail Loop East project in Melbourne, as part of the Suburban Connect consortium with CPB Contractors and Ghella.
The AU$3.6 billion (€2.2 billion) contract will revolutionize Melbourne’s public transport network, manage urban growth, and reduce traffic congestion.
In 2023, ACCIONA also secured the AU$1.4 billion (€850 million) contract to construct the eastern segment of the HumeLink electricity transmission line in New South Wales.
Additionally, the company is currently involved in designing and building the Western Harbour Tunnel, valued at around AU$4.24 billion (€2.746 billion), which represents ACCIONA’s largest construction contract to date and has recently commenced tunneling.
Other major projects in the country include constructing the runway at the new Western Sydney International Airport (Nancy Bird Walton); developing the central section of Sydney Metro West, an underground railway that traverses much of the country’s largest city; and eliminating level crossings on the Frankston railway line in Melbourne.
Source :ACCIONA
