Cox, a global company specialising in water and energy, and AMEA Power, a renewable energy developer active in the Middle East and Africa, have been awarded a concession by Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) to build a large-scale seawater desalination plant on the Mussulo peninsula.
The facility, which represents an investment of more than USD 200 million, will have a production capacity of 100,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day. Once completed, it is expected to serve nearly 800,000 residents of Mussulo and the neighbouring Futungo district, helping to ease water shortages in the capital, Luanda.
Enrique Riquelme, Executive Chairman of Cox, said: “With this new concession, we continue advancing our strategic plan and take a fundamental step in our international growth strategy in the water sector. Angola is a country with major challenges and opportunities regarding water, and together with AMEA Power and the Angolan government, we aim to provide sustainable solutions that guarantee access to safe drinking water for its citizens.”
The facility, which represents an investment of more than USD 200 million, will have a production capacity of 100,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day
Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, added: “Our partnership with MINEA represents a transformative step toward securing a sustainable and climate-resilient water supply for Angola. We have been driving this project since 2022, and today we reach an important milestone, made possible thanks to the strong support of the UAE government. This landmark project demonstrates the power of public-private collaboration to close critical infrastructure gaps, strengthen communities, and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people for generations to come.”
The project will be carried out through Water Alliance Ventures, a joint venture between Cox and AMEA Power. According to the partners, the venture combines Cox’s technological expertise with AMEA Power’s local and institutional presence, and is currently advancing water projects in the Middle East and Africa with a combined capacity exceeding two million cubic meters per day.
Construction of the Mussulo facility will take place in two phases of 50,000 cubic meters per day each. Each phase is expected to create 200 to 300 jobs during construction and about 25 permanent jobs once operational.
The project was initiated in 2022, when AMEA Power signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MINEA. A subsequent Development Agreement in 2023 enabled a detailed feasibility study, which was completed in late 2024. The initiative is backed by the United Arab Emirates, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of efforts to strengthen ties with Angola and support sustainable infrastructure development.
Technical and environmental studies will precede construction, with commissioning of the first phase targeted for the second quarter of 2028.
