AVAIO Capital ("AVAIO") is pleased to announce that Macquarie Capital has joined AVAIO as a partner in finalizing the development and construction of a new desalination facility in Belgium's Port of Antwerp.
As an environmentally sustainable water source, the project will serve to substantially improve the resiliency of the Antwerp region's water supply. Approximately forty per cent of the water sourced from the Albert Canal, the primary source of drinking water for the Antwerp region, is consumed by the industrial sector, stressing the local water supply. The project aims to provide a sustainable source of lower-cost, high-grade processing water for industrial customers - that reduces industrial use of the local community's domestic water supply, while simultaneously reducing the need for water treatment chemicals.
Working closely with the Port of Antwerp and its anchor customers - including Covestro and Evonik - AVAIO intends to apply for the core permits in 2021 and to commence construction in 2022, with an online target of 2024. Macquarie Capital's expertise in advancing early stage infrastructure projects will be applied to provide development capital for the project.
Mark McComiskey, partner at AVAIO 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."
Jeroen Zanders, a Managing Director for Macquarie Capital in the Benelux region 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."
