Ahead Of Commissioning The BVI Minister Of Communications And Works Tours Paraquita Bay Desalination Plant

Observing the progress of works at Biwater’s Desalination Plant in Paraquita Bay in the British Virgin Islands, Hon. Mark Vanterpool, BVI Minister of Communications and Works, toured the facility with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Anthony McMaster.

Leading the tour, Richard Smith, Director for the Americas, Biwater International Limited, said, “It was a pleasure to lead a tour of the desalination plant for Hon. Mark Vanterpool and his staff as we near commissioning; we discussed key elements of the works and were able to demonstrate the excellent progress that has been made to date. The visit also gave the Minister the opportunity to meet with some of the local contractors involved with the project.”

Once commissioned, the seawater desalination facility will generate 10,400 m3/day of treated water serving residents, tourists, cruise ships and industries on the island of Tortola, the largest and most populated island of the British Virgin Islands.

Last year, Biwater (BVI) Ltd. successfully completed a USD 43 million project financing with Barclays Bank for this project, which benefited from a 100 percent guarantee from ECGD, UK Export Credit Agency.

Alongside ensuring an adequate and reliable supply of drinking water year-round, Biwater is also constructing wastewater facilities on the island as part of the ‘British Virgin Islands Water and Sewage Improvement Scheme’.

The scheme was recognised by Global Water Intelligence in the 2014 Global Water Awards, saying it demonstrated ‘inspired financing for an inspired contract’ under the Desalination Deal of the Year category.

About Biwater
Biwater provides large-scale water and wastewater solutions for clients across the world. Since its inception in 1968, Biwater has gained recognition for its innovative approaches aimed at overcoming the world’s most pressing water-related challenges. Throughout its history, the company has grown to meet the demands of many water-stressed countries and their burgeoning populations. It has a successful record of accomplishment, having completed over 25,000 projects in over 90 countries – financing, consulting, process engineering, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and owning water facilities – in both rural and urban environments.

Americas
Biwater have been working in the Americas since the 1960’s, starting with equipment supply and going on to deliver the company’s first regional turnkey project, the Northern Range Guanapo Water Treatment Plants, in Trinidad. Subsequently, Biwater have carried out work across South, Central and North America. Biwater AEWT, based in Los Angeles, handles the company’s desalination activities and currently has more than 440 million gallons per day (MGD (US)) of installed membrane treatment capacity globally. Notably, Biwater’s ongoing work in Managua, Nicaragua has provided the capital with its first large-scale wastewater treatment plant; it has been recognised for its sustainable design and operation by Global Water Intelligence, boasting the largest sludge drying facility in the Americas.

Membrane Treatment and Desalination Sector:
Biwater’s Membrane Treatment and Desalination Sector is a premier membrane system designer and supplier producing high purity drinking, process and reuse water for both municipal and industrial clients. The Group currently has more than 450 MGD (US) of installed membrane treatment capacity globally utilizing MF, UF, MBR, NF and RO technologies. For more information, visit biwater.com