### Desalination Plant in Rosarito to Cost Over 12 Billion Pesos
The desalination plant set to be constructed in Playas de Rosarito will have an estimated construction cost exceeding 12 billion pesos, according to Arturo Espinoza Jaramillo, the head of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Urban Development, and Territorial Reorganization (SIDURT). This facility aims to supply water to the coastal area of Baja California for the next two decades. The project is projected to produce 2.2 cubic meters of desalinated water per second.
To facilitate this volume of water, adjustments to the water infrastructure in the Tijuana and Rosarito areas will be necessary, leading to the substantial investment required. The project’s planning and evaluation are being conducted by various state entities, including the SecretarÃa para el Manejo, Saneamiento y Protección del Agua (Seproa), the Department of Finance, and the legal sector of the state executive alongside SIDURT.
The project will be funded through both state and federal resources, and it has yet to be determined whether the bidding process will be public or private. The land for the plant was acquired using federal funds from the National Infrastructure Fund (Fonadin) and Banobras. The proposed site, in Ejido Mazatlán, was previously owned by NSC Agua, a subsidiary of Consolidated Water.
### Additional Context: Water Treatment and Legal Challenges
The plant sits on a significant site that became available following a legal resolution involving the Aguas de Rosarito consortium. A dispute arose when the previous state’s administration canceled an agreed contract for the plant’s construction, leading to a $51 million demand by the consortium. The resolution followed the treaty between Mexico and the European Union.
Despite this ambitious project, environmental advocacy group Costa Salvaje noted that merely constructing this plant won’t comprehensively address existing issues, such as wastewater discharges into the sea. Additional infrastructure development is essential for integrating the new water supply effectively.
### Additional News: Steel Shortage and Economic Impact in Baja California
The ongoing steel shortage has caused significant delays in infrastructure projects across Mexico, including the Nodo Morelos initiative. These disruptions are contributing to higher project costs and extended timelines.
In other economic developments, the Tijuana Chamber of Commerce (Canaco) is set to launch online sales by mid-November. With 40% of Tijuana’s consumers already making purchases online, the initiative aims to modernize local commerce in response to shifting consumer behaviors.