The company closed a long term non-recourse finance deal with the Infrastructure National Fund (Fonadin) and National Works and Public Services Bank (Banobras) to build, operate and maintain the El Zapotillo Aqueduct.
The project will be developed in a three-year construction term and a 22-year operation period.
Fonadin will contribute 48.44% of the total investment and the remaining 51% will be funded by a $177m non-recourse credit and Abengoa’s equity participation.
The $487m financing provided by the Fonadin and Banobras will replace the current bridge facility of $296m included as non recourse debt in process.
The agreement includes a 25 year concession to deliver services for drinking water treatment, transport and water distribution from the El Zapotillo dam to the city of León and several other communities.
It will carry water to the municipalities of Los Altos de Jalisco and supply drinking water to nearly 1.5 million people in a sustainable way.
The project includes the construction of 139km of large diameter pipes, pumping stations with a total installed capacity of 24,000 kilowatts.
Plans also include a water treatment plant with a 3,800 liter/second capacity, a 100,000 cubic meter storage tank, and a 40km distribution circuit in the municipality of León.
Abengoa said the project will consolidate its experience of water pipelines, applying its knowledge of developing water infrastructures by using new technology solutions.
