Marbella Desalination Plant to Increase Capacity by Year-End
The Andalusian Government announced on Wednesday that the capacity of the Marbella desalination plant will be increased to 20 cubic hectometres annually before the end of the year. This is not an expansion, but rather an effort to reach the theoretical production for which it was built in 1997. Currently, the plant only offers 6 hm3, which will be doubled this summer.
Andalusian Government’s Announcement
Carmen Crespo, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, revealed in the Commission of her area in the Parliament of Andalusia that the capacity of the Marbella desalination plant will be increased to 20 cubic hectometres before the end of the year. She noted that the Costa del Sol triples its population in summer and needs up to one cubic hectometre of water per week.
Work Underway to Double Desalination Plant’s Capacity
Crespo also mentioned that work is already underway to double the capacity of the Marbella desalination plant, so it is prepared to generate 12 cubic hectometres of water by this summer. The increase in the plant’s capacity from 12 to 20 cubic hectometres is contemplated with the IV Drought Decree and this action has already been approved by the Government Council, she said.
Long Overdue Actions to Mitigate Drought Effects
The Minister made it clear that these are actions that should have been taken decades ago and would have been very beneficial in mitigating the effects of the drought. The Marbella desalination plant was built in 1997 with a theoretical capacity of 20 cubic hectometres per year and a real capacity of 15 cubic hectometres. However, it is currently only offering 6 cubic hectometres, despite having eight lines of 7,000 cubic metres per day each.
