During the period from December 13th to 19th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. EnviTec Biogas expands in Germany
Germany's EnviTec Biogas has signed three new contracts in Bavaria, Bremen, and Saxony-Anhalt, all with first-time customers. The projects involve biogas upgrading plants, with the Bieberg project having a capacity of 1,000 normal cubic meters per hour and planned grid connection in July 2026. EnviTec utilizes a flexible containerized design and provides booster compressors to accelerate grid connection. The company's current capacity is saturated, and it is concurrently advancing its first biogas project in the Philippines.
2. Wood to support Rio Grande LNG under new contract
Global engineering consultancy Wood has been awarded a ten-year operations and maintenance contract to provide maintenance services for the Rio Grande LNG export facility in Brownsville, Texas, owned by NextDecade. The first phase of the facility, comprising three trains, is expected to commence operations in 2027, with an annual capacity of 18 million tonnes. Wood will establish a local office and create over 100 jobs to support the expansion of US LNG export capacity.
3. UTA takes full ownership of Sydney Desalination Plant
The Utilities Trust of Australia (UTA) has exercised its right of first refusal to acquire the 60% stake in the Sydney Desalination Plant held by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, thereby achieving full ownership of the asset. The plant produces 250 million liters of fresh water daily, meeting approximately 15% of Sydney's daily water needs, and is powered entirely by renewable energy. Having held a 40% stake since 2012, this acquisition aims to support Sydney's long-term water security.
4. Morocco aims to source 60% of drinking water from desalination by 2030
Morocco plans to increase the share of desalinated water in its drinking water supply to 60% by 2030, with an annual production target of 1.7 billion cubic meters. The country is accelerating the construction of renewable energy-powered desalination plants, with the largest project located near Tiznit, involving an investment of about MAD 1 billion. Currently, 17 desalination plants are operational, with four more under construction, expected to be completed by 2027. The government will also promote floating solar on reservoirs to reduce evaporation losses and safeguard water supply and agricultural production.
5. Swakop Uranium partners with NamWater on Namibia's second desalination facility
Swakop Uranium, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Group, has formed a joint venture with Namibia's national water utility, NamWater, to build the country's second seawater desalination plant. The project, located near Swakopmund, will have an annual capacity of 20 million cubic meters, primarily supplying the Husab uranium mine while also benefiting coastal communities. Swakop Uranium holds a 70% stake, with NamWater holding 30%. The project's estimated investment is approximately NAD 3 billion.
6. IDB backs $307.8 million project to upgrade wastewater and stormwater systems in Peru
The Inter-American Development Bank has approved a USD 307.8 million loan to support improvements to urban wastewater treatment and stormwater drainage systems in Juliaca, Peru. The project will directly benefit approximately 48,000 households and reduce flood risks for around 13,400 households through the stormwater system. The loan has a 17-year term, including a 6.5-year grace period. This initiative aims to enhance the operational and financial management capabilities of the local water and sanitation service provider.
7. Ireland's largest €6 billion water project moves to planning stage
Irish Water will submit a planning application for the East-West Regional Water Supply Project, involving an investment of approximately EUR 4.6-6 billion. The project will provide a 170-kilometer water pipeline to serve Dublin and surrounding areas, addressing the reliance on a single water source for 1.7 million people. Construction is planned to start in 2028, with completion within five years, expected to create over a thousand jobs and include a community benefit fund. This aims to support population growth, housing development, and climate adaptation.