Lantania and NMDC Group have signed an acquisition agreement under which NMDC Group will acquire a 51% stake in Lantania Aguas, the water-focused subsidiary of Spain’s Lantania Group. The remaining 49% will be retained by Lantania Group. Following completion of the transaction, the business will operate under the name Lantania NMDC Water.
The new company will be headquartered in Seville, with a regional office in Abu Dhabi, and will continue to be managed by the current Lantania Aguas executive team, led by Pedro Almagro as Chief Executive Officer. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
The agreement brings together NMDC Group’s commercial strength and technical capabilities with Lantania’s experience in desalination, water treatment, purification, and large-scale industrial projects. The partners said the move responds to growing global challenges related to water scarcity and the need for effective water management.
Lantania NMDC Water will operate under a joint-management structure designed to strengthen its technological, financial, and operational capacity. The company aims to expand its presence in strategic markets, including the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, South and Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
The new entity, comprising more than 300 professionals, begins operations with a project backlog under execution totalling €450 million across several countries.
The agreement brings together NMDC Group’s commercial strength and technical capabilities with Lantania’s experience in desalination, water treatment, purification, and large-scale industrial projects
“This alliance marks a milestone in the history of our company and a turning point for Lantania Aguas,” said Federico Ávila, Chairman and CEO of the Lantania Group. “NMDC Group’s technical and commercial strength, combined with Lantania’s engineering capabilities and experience in this market, will enable us to jointly undertake major projects and establish a global benchmark in sustainable water solutions. We share the same vision, focused on promoting innovation, energy efficiency, and sustainability in each of our projects, contributing in a tangible way to global water security.”
Eng. Yasser Zaghloul, Group CEO of NMDC Group, said: “This acquisition marks NMDC Group’s first entry to the European market as we are set to export UAE-grown capabilities and scale to complement Lantania’s proven expertise. It also aligns with our strategic expansion objectives and diversifies our portfolio across many of the world’s most critical industries and markets. NMDC Group has long recognized the global challenges posed to water, and through Lantania NMDC Water, we affirm our commitment to harnessing innovation and advanced solutions to a more sustainable future.”
Lantania Aguas delivers integrated solutions across the water cycle, covering desalination, drinking water treatment, and the purification of urban and industrial wastewater. The company undertakes turnkey (EPC) and BOT projects, with capabilities spanning the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water infrastructure.
In the desalination segment, Lantania Aguas develops and operates plants worldwide using technologies such as low-energy reverse osmosis, energy recovery systems, and pressure rings, alongside approaches including brine valorization and the integration of renewable energy sources. The company currently has more than 900,000 m³/day of desalination capacity under construction, which will bring its total operational and committed capacity to over 1,550,000 m³/day once completed. Its portfolio includes major projects such as the Jubail and Ras Mohaisen plants in Saudi Arabia.
