By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : October 23, 2025 6:05 pm
Veolia has designed and built 18 per cent of the world’s installed desalination capacity
Veolia, the global leader in ecological transformation, has been awarded the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract for the Aguas Pacífico multipurpose desalination plant in Valparaíso, Chile. This milestone project marks the country’s first combined municipal and industrial desalination plant with a capacity of 1,000 liters per second.
Following a highly competitive bidding process involving six major international companies, Aguas Pacífico selected Veolia to manage both the operation and maintenance of the desalination plant and its 105-kilometer pumping system. The contract, initially set for four years, includes renewal clauses extending through 2040.
Veolia has designed and built 18 per cent of the world’s installed desalination capacity using its proprietary technologies, reaffirming its leadership in sustainable water management worldwide.
“We are very pleased with the transparent and competitive development of this bidding process, which marks a new milestone for Aguas Pacífico,” said Javier Moreno Hueyo, General Manager of Aguas Pacífico.
“The award to Veolia, a company with a strong national and international track record in desalination operations, gives us full confidence in delivering efficient, safe, and sustainable services that meet the highest environmental and social standards. This step is crucial in our mission to combat drought and the effects of climate change in central Chile.”
Elier González, CEO of Veolia Chile and Peru, added: “We are grateful for the trust placed in us by Aguas Pacífico to operate such a significant project. This partnership allows us to contribute directly to water security in central Chile, a region facing growing challenges due to climate change. Through our extensive experience in desalination operations worldwide, we can ensure the highest standards of efficiency and sustainability. This contract also reinforces our GreenUp strategic plan, which aims to accelerate ecological transformation through innovative solutions in water and energy management.”
The O&M contract will begin with a support phase during the commissioning and start-up of the plant and aqueduct. Once the facility reaches full operational capacity—producing 1,000 liters per second of desalinated water and delivering it to customers across the Valparaíso and Metropolitan regions—Veolia will assume full operational responsibility for both the desalination plant and the aqueduct, including its storage systems.
The Aguas Pacífico Desalination Plant will operate entirely on renewable energy and employ 60 per cent local labor