The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) highlights 'the comprehensive implementation of a sustainability strategy” in the design, construction and management of the project by the joint venture in which ACCIONA Agua participates.
The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at Atotonilco (Mexico), whose design, construction and management is being undertaken by the joint venture 'Aguas Tratadas del Valle de México' in which ACCIONA Agua participates, has won the “Infraestructuras 360º” award from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in recognition of the comprehensive implementation of a sustainability strategy.
The project was selected as the winner in this third edition of the “Infraestructuras 360º” award from 50 projects from 10 Latin American countries, in recognition of 'a model of excellence in sustainability practices and the example represented by the impact that infrastructures have on the living conditions and development of the communities where they are built.”
The Atotonilco plant, one of the biggest in the world, has a treatment capacity of 35,000 litres per second, although it can reach a maximum of 50,000. It will treat approximately half of the wastewater of Mexico City, which has a population of around 20 million. The plant has the capacity to generate 70% of the electricity it consumes thanks to systems to recycle the methane gas produced in the sludge digestion process.
To date, the wastewater and rainwater from the Valley of Mexico was sent to Hidalgo State in the Valley of Mezquital, where it was used (untreated) for irrigating more than 90,000 hectares of cropland.
The start-up of the Atotonilco WWTP will improve the environmental conditions and quality of life of more than 700,000 people in the Valley of Mezquital, eliminating bad health conditions in the area; cleaning up and conserving river beds and springs and restoring ecosystems; providing treated water for more than 90,000 hectares of cropland that have been irrigated with wastewater to date, and increasing crop diversification thanks to the greater availability of water. All this will contribute to the sustainable development of the area.
Atotonilco will improve the quality of life of more than 700,000 people in the Valley of Mezquital
In December 2009 the Federal Government of Mexico -through the National Water Commission (Conagua)- awarded the design, construction and operation of the Atotonilco WWTP to the joint venture Aguas Tratadas del Valle de México, consisting of ACCIONA Agua, Promotora del Desarrollo de América Latina; Controladora de Operaciones de Infraestructura (ICA); Atlatec; Desarrollo y Construcciones Urbanas; and Green Gas Pioneer Crossing Energy.
The second IDB award for an ACCIONA project
In the 2015 edition of the 'Infraestructuras 360º' awards, the Eurus wind farm in Mexico, developed by ACCIONA Energía, received the prize for the best project in the 'Population and Leadership' category as a result of the impact of social initiatives associated with the project on the local community.
The Eurus wind farm is located in Juchitán de Zaragoza in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. It was built, and is operated by, ACCIONA Energía México as a self-supply project for the cement company Cemex. One of the biggest wind farms in Latin America with a capacity of 250.5 MW, it will produce clean electricity equivalent to the consumption of a population of around 500,000, avoiding the emission of around 600,000 metric tons of CO2 in the process.
ACCIONA in Mexico
ACCIONA México has been in existence for 40 years. At present, its activity includes the infrastructure, water, services and energy sectors and it holds a consolidated position in all of these with reference projects on a global level.
In Water, its presence in the joint venture that is building and managing Atotonilco represents a long-term commitment to the country and a strategic reference on a global level due to the size of the project and the technical and environmental innovation applied to it.
In Infrastructures, the company’s track record demonstrates its ability to undertake a wide range of projects: concessions, transport infrastructures, office and other buildings, seaports and industrial facilities. In the real estate sector, the company operates through Parque Reforma and has exclusive residential developments in Mexico City and Acapulco.
ACCIONA Service, the Group's service division, is present in the automotive, hypermarket, health and education sectors, providing employment for around 1,600 people.
ACCIONA Energía currently owns and operates 556.5 MW in Mexico with four wind farms in Oaxaca that represent around 20% of operational capacity in the country. It has also constructed another 303 MW for customers.
The company was recently awarded the supply of 585.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy in the first long-term energy auction in the wholesale electricity market organised by the National Energy Control Centre of Mexico (CENACE). The award will take the form of a 168 megawatt (MW) wind farm in the state of Tamaulipas that will enter service in 2018.