On Tuesday, 19 September, Minister of the Natural, Rural and Marine Environment Rosa Aguilar toured the Bajo Almanzora Desalination Plant in the province of Almería on the occasion of the plant's commissioning.

The budget for the plant's construction was 75.9 million euro, co-funded by the European Union. The plant will satisfy the growing demand of Almería's thirsty coastal cities and towns.

The plant, developed by nationally-owned Aguas de las Cuencas Mediterráneas (Acuamed) and built by FCC Construcción and Aqualia in a joint venture with other firms, will produce 20 cubic hectometres of desalinated water. Fifteen cubic hectometres of this total production will be set aside for irrigating the 12,000 hectares of cropland in the Almanzora Valley. The remaining five cubic hectometres will be supplied to several Almería cities and towns for consumption.