Accra desalination project, Ghana

What is it? A 20,000m3/d SWRO project in Nungua, near Accra in Ghana.

Who is responsible? Aqualyng Ghana is the developer, with Doosan Hydro Technology acting as the OEM provider of the SWRO system. The client is Ghana Water Company (GWC).

Why is it shortlisted?

• It is the first large-scale build-own-operate (BOO) desalination deal ever to be signed in West Africa. The deal will see Aqualyng operate the plant for 25 years.

• Aqualyng's water purchase agreement with GWC, overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), is also ground-breaking for the region, reversing a trend towards low tariffs which exacerbated a lack of investment in water infrastructure.

• The trail-blazing agreement will spur local industrial development, which has been limited by a lack of water resources, and increases the potential for further deals of this sort to be signed in sub-Saharan Africa.