Lantania And NMDC Infra Sign A Strategic Agreement To Create A Global Leader In The Water Sector

• The agreement includes the acquisition of a 51% stake in Lantania Aguas by the Emirati giant
• Post transaction completion, the business will operate under the name Lantania NMDC Water

Lantania and NMDC Group one of the largest engineering and construction groups in the Middle East, have signed an acquisition agreement to create a new international benchmark in the water sector. Under the agreement, NMDC Group will acquire 51% of Lantania Aguas, the Lantania Group’s subsidiary specialized in desalination, water treatment, and purification projects. The Spanish Group will retain the remaining 49% of the business, which will operate under the name Lantania NMDC Water (post completion). The company will maintain its headquarters in Seville, have a regional office in Abu Dhabi, and continue to be managed by the current Lantania Aguas executive team, led by Pedro Almagro as CEO. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Given the current challenges posed by water scarcity and its effective management, both companies are joining forces in a move that strengthens their shared commitment to providing effective solutions for the most critical needs of clients and communities worldwide.

Lantania NMDC Water will combine NMDC Group’s commercial strength and technical capabilities with Lantania’s experience, credentials, and expertise in desalination, wastewater treatment, and water reuse, as well as in large-scale industrial projects, to create a leading global operator in water infrastructure. The agreement establishes a joint-management structure that will enable the business to strengthen its technological, financial, and operational capacity, boosting its presence in strategic markets such as the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, South and Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

The company, comprising over 300 professionals, begins its operations with a project backlog under execution across several countries, totaling EUR450 million, a solid foundation that supports its growth outlook.

“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,” Ávila added.

Eng. Yasser Zaghloul, Group CEO, 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 harness innovation and advanced solutions to a more sustainable future.”

Lantania Aguas, experts in integrated water solutions
Lantania Aguas operates across all stages of the water cycle, from abstraction, purification and distribution to wastewater treatment and return to the natural environment. It provides solutions tailored to all types of processes, delivering turnkey (EPC) and BOT projects, with full capabilities in the design, construction and operation of facilities.

In desalination, the company designs, builds, operates, and maintains plants worldwide, applying advanced technologies such as low-energy reverse osmosis, energy recovery systems, and pressure rings. Its sustainable approach includes brine valorization and hybridization with renewable energy sources. It currently has more than 900,000 m³/day of desalinated water under construction, which, once operational, will combine with the company’s existing desalination plants to reach a total production of over 1,550,000 m³/day.

Lantania Aguas ranks fourth worldwide among EPC desalination contractors by awarded capacity for 2024–2025, according to the latest Global Water Intelligence (GWI) ranking. Its portfolio includes major desalination plants such as Jubail (600,000 m³/day) and Ras Mohaisen (300,000 m³/day) in Saudi Arabia, among others.

The company is also a leader in drinking water treatment and the purification of urban and industrial wastewater, providing solutions that cover everything from pre-treatment to advanced treatment using technologies such as MBR, reverse osmosis, evaporation, and customized biological processes. It operates its own laboratory in Seville to optimize design and operations, having treated more than 500,000 m³/day of drinking water and over 700,000 m³/day of urban wastewater. In the industrial sector, it has treated more than 1,000,000 m³/day, optimized resource reuse and achieved zero liquid discharge (ZLD), with a presence in sectors such as mining, energy, agri-food, chemicals, steelmaking, and automotive.

About Grupo Lantania
Lantania Group designs, builds, and operates major infrastructure, building, water, and energy projects, with a commitment to generating sustainable value for society. It has a project backlog of more than €1B, operates in 16 countries, and employs more than 1,400 professionals. Since its incorporation in 2018, Lantania has identified the water sector and its global market as a strategic area, driving its development through innovation, technology, and the attraction of specialized talent.

About NMDC Group
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, NMDC Group is a home-grown global leader with 50 years of experience, providing cutting-edge engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) solutions for onshore and offshore projects, and state of the art marine dredging and construction capabilities. With projects executed across the MENA region and Southeast Asia, NMDC Group offers its clients high-quality turnkey solutions, underpinned by a commitment to sustainability and international standards. NMDC Group has a backlog of around US$ 17B as of 3Q 2025.

The Group operates through five main business verticals: NMDC Dredging & Marine, NMDC Energy, NMDC Logistics and Technical Services, NMDC Infra, and NMDC Engineering.