OHL Environmental Inima Signs for its Second Desalination Plant in the United States

OHL Environmental Inima has added its second U.S. desalination plant to its portfolio through its subsidiary Inima U.S.A.. The city of Hialeah (Florida) awarded the concession for the design, construction and operation for 20 years of a plant that will supply the city’s population.

This project was awarded following a long, international tender process in which the sector’s biggest companies made bids. With this award Inima has re-affirmed its presence in desalination in the North American market. They already have one plant there in Dighton (Massachusetts); it is also a 20 year concession and it is now operating following its design, building and financing, for which Inima is solely responsible.

The desalination plant agreed with the city of Hialeah will be able to produce 40,000 m3 of drinkable water per day – enough to supply for a population of 150,000 inhabitants; the investment into its construction will reach 55 million dollars. It’s set to increase its production to 70,000 m3 per day.

OHL Environmental is the leading Spanish concessionaire in the market for desalination and water treatment; they have 11 plants in operation or under construction throughout the following countries: Algeria (2 plants), Brazil (2), Chile (1), Spain (3), United States (2) and Mexico (1). Their portfolio abroad includes a water treatment plant in Brazil under a rental scheme for 20 years, and the construction and operations for 2 years of the Ponte do Baia water treatment plant in Portugal. In 2009 they obtained a turnover of 129.4 million euros, 53% of which was produced abroad.