Macquarie Capital, AVAIO Capital team up for Antwerp desalination plant

Macquarie Capital has joined AVAIO Capital as a partner in finalising the development and construction of a new desalination facility in Port of Antwerp of Belgium.

This project is expected to boost the resiliency of the Antwerp region’s water supply.

Around 40% of the water sourced from the Albert Canal is consumed by the industrial sector, thereby causing stress on the local water supply.

The project intends to offer a sustainable source of lower-cost but high-grade processed water for industrial customers. This would cut down industrial use of the domestic water supply meant for local communities, while minimising the need for water treatment chemicals.

AVAIO, by working closely with the Port of Antwerp and its anchor customers including Covestro and Evonik, plans to apply for the core permits in 2021 and to begin construction in 2022, with a target to bring it online by 2024.

Macquarie Capital’s expertise in advancing early-stage infrastructure projects will aid in providing development capital for the project.

AVAIO partner Mark McComiskey said: “The global need for new resilient and sustainable solutions to combat water scarcity is an important focus for AVAIO. The proposed desalination plant will reduce industrial use of drinking water at a time of water stress, increasing local sustainability while offering higher quality, lower-cost process water supply to industrial customers – therefore enhancing the long-term competitiveness of the Port of Antwerp.

“The participation of Macquarie Capital, with its breadth of resources, local knowledge and infrastructure investment experience, will accelerate bringing this important facility online.”

Macquarie Capital in the Benelux region managing director Jeroen Zanders said: “AVAIO’s desalination project represents the opportunity to develop a sustainable project that will significantly reduce industrial consumption of drinking water in Antwerp, benefiting both local industry and community alike.

“As global leaders in infrastructure development financing and having an established presence and track record in the Benelux region since 2005, we are proud to be joining our capabilities with those of AVAIO to bring this important project to fruition.”