Expansion of Water Treatment System in Buenos Aires Province Making Progress, to Benefit 2.5 Million Residents

The meeting was attended by Sergio Díaz-Granados and Malena Galmarini, president of Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos (AySA)—the public company in charge of supplying running water and sewer services. The officials toured the expansion works of the General Belgrano water purification plant and reviewed the progress in each of the areas of the facilities.

During the tour of the Agua Sur System, Díaz-Granados stressed that CAF is deeply proud to be part of the solution in the water supply for millions of residents of the southern part of the province of Buenos Aires, which directly and positively impacts the quality of life of these people. “For CAF, this is one of the flagship projects in terms of urban transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean and we have come to confirm and ratify CAF’s commitment to AySA, not only in this project but in the next ones that we are going to structure and continue developing in this process of fulfilling by 2030 our goal for all Buenos Aires residents to have access to quality drinking water and to a reliable wastewater management system as well,” he said.

Díaz-Granados was accompanied by CAF’s Corporate Vice President for Strategic Programming, Christian Asinelli, CAF’s Vice President for Sustainable Development, Julián Suarez,  CAF’s Vice President for Infrastructure, Antonio Silveira, CAF’s Chief of Staff and General Counsel for the Presidency, Andrés Rugeles, and CAF Representative in Argentina, Santiago Rojas.

In addition, the head of AySA highlighted: “It is a pleasure and a real honor to have the entire CAF delegation here at the plant. CAF is a strategic partner not only in this project, but for the overall development of infrastructure in Argentina. Specifically, these works aim to extend and improve an essential service, but also help create actual jobs, and foster social, economic and industrial development. We are very happy and very grateful to CAF.”

On behalf of AySA, in addition to Galmarini, its most senior managers were also present. Similarly, other Argentine authorities participated in the meeting, including the Undersecretary of International Financial Relations for Development, Leandro Gorgal and the National Director of Financing with Regional Credit Organizations, Marcos Vago, both officials of the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs.

The Project

With an amount totaling ARS 10,889,046,716, the expansion of the General Belgrano Water Treatment Plant aims to raise the water production capacity from 1,950,000 m³/day to 2,950,000 m³/day, i.e., to increase production by 1,000,000 m³/day.

Funded 70% by CAF and 30% by AySA, the project employs approximately 1,500 people. Upon completion, expected in May 2024, the expansion will benefit 2,500,000 residents of the southern area of Greater Buenos Aires, through improvements in the current water supply.

To increase the water flow rate, 3 new water treatment modules will be built, which will be commissioned in different stages as the works in the System are completed. Each module will consist of 3 flocculation sections, 3 decanting sections and 8 filters. The modules will be fed raw water through a new pumping station (which is not part of this project and is currently under tender).

Thus, CAF reaffirms its commitment to improve the quality of life of the residents of every corner of the region, promoting a sustainable development model through credits, non-reimbursable funds and support in the technical and financial structuring of public and private sector projects in Latin America.