The Southeast Consortium will invest over 3 million euros in the modernisation of the Pozo Izquierdo desalination plant, which will allow for a 15% increase in water production, benefiting 138,000 residents of Agüimes, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, and Ingenio.
The Southeast Consortium of Gran Canaria has initiated the modernisation of the Seawater Desalination Plant (IDAM) of the Southeast, located in Pozo Izquierdo (Santa Lucía de Tirajana). The project, which has an investment of 3,059,672.80 euros funded by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, will increase the daily production of desalinated water by 15%, from 33,000 to 38,000 cubic metres. This action will ensure supply to more than 138,000 people in the municipalities of Agüimes, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, and Ingenio.
A necessary expansion for the growth of the region
The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, highlighted that the Southeast desalination plant was a pioneer in its day and that now, with the population increase, this expansion is necessary. “The region has doubled its population since the creation of the Consortium, going from 60,000 to over 138,000, and future projections continue to rise,” Morales pointed out. The project aims not only to increase production but also to improve energy efficiency and reduce production costs.
The president of the Consortium and mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, emphasised that this action is key to ensuring water supply for both human consumption and agriculture and livestock. “It compensates for the losses occurring in the production and capture of water in the wells,” Hernández explained. The works, which began in December 2025, have an execution period of 18 months and are being carried out by CONSTRUPLAN Construcciones y Planificación, S.L.U., while ACCIONA AGUA, SAU is responsible for the technological equipment.
Technological innovation for water efficiency
The project includes the incorporation of the experimental module DESALRO 2.0, developed by the Technological Institute of Canarias. This technology will allow for the validation of new reverse osmosis configurations under real conditions that will significantly reduce the energy consumption of the desalination process. The plant will thus become a reference space for innovation applied to the integral water cycle.
The foundation works for the building and the new structure are already completed. In the coming months, the lateral and roof enclosure, the interior slab, and the channels for pipe distribution will be executed. Subsequently, the electrical installations and the transformation centre necessary for the new desalination module will be installed. The project is being monitored preventively by ICMOVE Ingeniería y Prevención SLP.
For the residents of the region, this modernisation represents a guarantee of supply in a context of recurring drought. The Southeast Consortium reminds that desalinated water is essential for daily life and the economic activity of the area. The works will not affect supply during their execution, as the plant will remain operational while the facilities are expanded.
The councillor for the Primary Sector, Miguel Antonio Hidalgo, highlighted that the investment is part of the Cooperation Plan with the Consortiums 2024-2027 and has the support of the Insular Water Council of Gran Canaria. “It is an example of institutional collaboration to ensure such a vital resource as water,” Hidalgo stated. The expectation is that the expanded plant will be operational by mid-2027.
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