AMEA Power & Cox to deliver new desalination plant
The total project cost is expected to amount to more than US $200mn and will be constructed in two phases of 50,000m3 per day each
AMEA Power in partnership with Cox, a water and energy focused company, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Water of Angola (MINEA). The deal will see the development of a large seawater desalination plant on the Mussulo Peninsula, which will have a capacity of 100,000m3 per day and will supply water to approximately 800,000 people.
The agreement was signed in the presence of His Excellency Salem Ali Khamis Obaid Al Shamsi, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Angola, by João Baptista Borges, Angola’s Minister of Energy and Water; Ignacio Carreras, Head of PtX at AMEA Power; and Emiliano Agustín Espinoza Labbé, Chief Africa, Middle East & Asia at Cox.
“Our partnership with MINEA represents a transformative step toward securing sustainable and climate-resilient water for Angola. Today marks an important milestone made possible by the strong support of the UAE government. This landmark project showcases the power of public-private collaboration to close critical infrastructure gaps, strengthen communities, and enhance the lives of hundreds of thousands of people for generations to come,” explained Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power.
AMEA Power said that it began initial development activities in 2022 with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that has advanced, driven by the strengthening of commercial relations between the UAE and Angola and the support of their leadership.
Enrique Riquelme, Executive Chairman of Cox added, “With this contract, we take a fundamental step in our international growth strategy. Angola faces significant challenges and opportunities in the water sector, and together with AMEA Power and the Angolan government, we aim to provide sustainable solutions that ensure access to potable water for citizens.”
The project will be executed through Water Alliance Ventures, a joint venture formed by Cox and AMEA Power, which combines Cox’s technology and innovation with AMEA Power’s local expertise and institutional support.
The collaboration is said to strengthen Cox’s growth in the Middle East and Africa, while minimising risks in these high-demand water and energy markets. The partnership is driving desalination and water treatment projects in these regions exceeding two million m3 per day.
The total project cost is expected to amount to more than US $200mn and will be constructed in two phases of 50,000m3 per day each. Each phase will generate 300 jobs during construction and around 25 permanent positions during operation.
Once operational, the infrastructure project will ensure a reliable supply of potable water to approximately 800,000 residents of the Mussulo Peninsula and the neighboring Futungo district, significantly improving access to water in Luanda, Angola. In addition, the plant will complement public initiatives such as the Bita and Quilonga projects, which are key to addressing the capital’s water infrastructure challenges.
The construction of the first phase is expected to begin following the completion of technical and environmental studies, with commissioning scheduled for Q2 2028.
