The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and Seven Seas Water Group (SSWG), a multinational provider of Water-as-a-Service® (WaaS) solutions, have jointly announced the signing of a 12-year Build-Own-Operate-Transfer agreement.
Seven Seas Water Group will build two new seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plants, adding a combined three million imperial gallons of daily drinking water production capacity for the people of Antigua.
These new plants will be strategically located next to the existing facilities at Ffryes Beach and Ivan Rodrigues, utilizing some of the current infrastructure. The implementation of the new plants will occur in two phases, with Ffryes Beach expected to start water production within seven months of signing the agreement.
Honourable Melford Nicholas, Minister of Information, Communication Technologies (ICT’s), Utilities, and Energy, shared his thoughts on this significant development, stating, “This signifies a crucial improvement in our production capacity to meet the rising demand driven by increased tourism, cruise ship arrivals, and economic activity on the island. Partnering with Seven Seas guarantees a fast, reliable, and cost-effective water production source, nurturing a strong, local, long-term partnership. I extend my sincere gratitude to APUA General Manager Mr. Bradshaw and his team for their outstanding efforts in bringing this collaboration to fruition. This project will be a valuable addition to our potable water production capacity.”
John Bradshaw, the APUA General Manager, highlighted the significance of responding to the increasing water demand, emphasizing the impact of climate change in Antigua, resulting in severe droughts and subsequent water restrictions. Despite these obstacles, the Authority is resolute in its dedication to providing a reliable water supply to its customers. The collaborative efforts of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda with APUA reflect commendable initiatives and investments in meeting this demand through expanding water production sources.
Henry Charrabé, CEO of Seven Seas Water Group, expressed his thoughts on collaborating with the Government of Antigua and APUA, stating, “We are honored and excited to collaborate with Minister Nicholas and the team at APUA and to contribute to their dedication to expanding and enhancing the local water infrastructure. We are eager to expand Seven Seas Water Group’s network of water treatment plants by swiftly bringing them online, solidifying our position in the Americas as a reliable, long-term Water-as-a-Service® provider for the citizens of Antigua.”
Source :Seven Seas Water
