Abengoa named Desalination Company of the Year at Global Water Awards

SEVILLE, Spain, April 25, 2013

The Global Water Awards, which are divided into nine categories, are given for excellence in the international water industry for achievements such as agreements, projects and technologies. The winners are voted by global experts in the field along with members of the International Private Water Association and the International Desalination Association.

Manuel Sanchez, CEO of Abengoa, said, "We are very honored by this award. At Abengoa, we strongly believe that water is essential for communities to achieve prosperity, and we are committed to applying our technology and know-how to take water wherever it is needed."

This year's guest of honor at the awards ceremony was Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico. Also in attendance was the Mayor of Seville, Juan Ignacio Zoido, who welcomed the more than 550 international delegates to the event.

Among Abengoa's many victories in the water sector this year were its first desalination plant in Western Africa located in Nungua, Ghana, and its first water project in the Middle East, in Barka, Oman. With these two projects, Abengoa could supply drinking water to eight million people in total thanks to its total desalination capacity of more than 1,300,000 m³ per day, of which 810,000 m³ comes from concession agreements.

Abengoa also commissioned two new projects in 2012. The Honaine desalination plant in Algeria has a capacity of 200,000 m³ per day and is Abengoa's largest desalination plant currently being operated by the company, while Abengoa's first desalination plant in China, in Qingdao, has a capacity of 100,000 m³ per day.

Abengoa has reinforced its commitment to search for innovative solutions in the water sector by increasing its investment in its R&D program. The company is currently improving existing water solutions by developing cutting edge technology in desalination, water treatment, reuse and industrial water in order to differentiate itself and maintain a competitive advantage.