A new report from Vostock Capital, titled “Desalination Projects Latin America,” provides an exclusive overview of 23 flagship desalination projects across Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Brazil. The report highlights the most impactful initiatives shaping the future of water security and sustainability in the region, addressing critical water scarcity challenges exacerbated by climate change and growing demand.
Among the featured projects is the El Abra Mill Project in Chile, a US $7.5 billion development by Freeport-McMoRan and Codelco. This project will expand El Abra’s production through a concentrator, a seawater desalination plant, and a desalinated water pumping system with a capacity of 500 liters per second. Another Chilean initiative, the Desalination Plant in Coquimbo Region, valued at US $350 million and led by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), will deliver a 1,200 l/s seawater desalination plant to supply potable water to Coquimbo and La Serena.
In Peru, the Tía María Copper Project, developed by Southern Copper Corp at a cost of US $1.8 billion, features a 235 l/s seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant supplying water exclusively for mining processes. The project includes pumping, storage, and transport infrastructure. In Mexico, the Los Cabos, Baja California Sur plant, a US $85 million state-of-the-art desalination facility with a capacity of 250 l/s, aims to meet growing water demand sustainably. Brazil’s Ceará Seawater Desalination Plant, developed by Cagece for US $620 million, will supply potable water to over 720,000 people in Fortaleza, standing as a flagship water resilience project in the semi-arid northeast.
As part of the 2026 desalination agenda, Vostock Capital will host two exclusive technical site visits in Spain, aimed at professionals seeking to strengthen their expertise in advanced desalination techniques. These visits will take place in Murcia and Llobregat, where participants will gain first-hand insight into operating facilities and cutting-edge processes. The technical visit to the AcuaMed Desalination Plant in Murcia is scheduled for May 13–14, and the visit to the ATL Desalination Plant in Llobregat is set for September 22–23. Professionals interested in participating may request further information from the company.
The report underscores the growing importance of desalination in Latin America as a critical solution to water scarcity. With large-scale investments and innovative technologies, these projects are poised to enhance water security for both urban populations and industrial sectors. The region’s focus on desalination reflects a broader trend toward sustainable water management in the face of increasing environmental and demographic pressures. For more details, the full report is available on the Vostock Capital newsroom.
