Cox has signed an agreement to expand the Agadir desalination plant in Morocco by an additional 125,000 m³/day, bringing its total capacity to 400,000 m³/day. The plant currently operates at 275,000 m³/day. Once the expansion is complete, the facility, described as the world’s largest dual-use desalination plant, will be able to supply drinking water to an estimated two million people and provide irrigation water for approximately 13,600 hectares of agricultural land in a region affected by water scarcity.
The company, which has over 55 years of experience, currently manages five water infrastructure assets that exceed or are expected to exceed a total of 945,000 m³/day. In addition, it operates seven power generation projects and holds three transmission line concessions. Its activity in the water sector includes over 250 client certifications, more than 20 international industry awards, and the delivery of more than 8.3 million m³/day of desalination and treatment capacity worldwide.
The Agadir desalination plant operates as a public-private partnership between Cox and Moroccan authorities. It serves two primary clients: the Office National de l’Électricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests. The partnership model has been recognized by the International Desalination Association (IDA) as the best public-private partnership of the year.
The total investment for both the desalination plant expansion and the new wind facility is projected to exceed €250 million between 2025 and 2027
Cox also plans to build a wind power facility with a capacity of over 150 MW to complement the desalination plant. The project follows the company’s “Energy Follows Water” model, which integrates renewable energy with water infrastructure.
The total investment for both the desalination plant expansion and the new wind facility is projected to exceed €250 million between 2025 and 2027. The desalination component is expected to become operational between 2026 and 2027, with the wind facility scheduled to begin operations in 2027.
Enrique Riquelme, Executive Chairman of Cox, stated: “The expansion of Agadir represents a highly significant milestone for Cox, reinforcing our commitment to Morocco and consolidating our growth strategy in the water and energy sectors. We continue to advance with determination in fulfilling our commitments and providing essential resources where they are most needed.”
