Norton Rose Fulbright advises Abengoa and InfraMaroc on the launch of one of the world's largest shared water seawater desalination plant

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised a consortium comprising Spanish company Abengoa SA and investment fund InfraMaroc SA (CDG Group), on the structuring, drafting and negotiation of contractual documentation relating to a seawater desalination plant in Morocco. The purpose of the plant is to provide irrigation and drinking water supply in the Grand Agadir and Souss-Massa regions. The project signed on June 29, 2017.

With a production capacity of 275,000 m3 / d which is expandable to 400,000 m3 / d, this desalination project will be one of the largest in the world, and will in the future be fueled by renewable energies. The project is structured  as a PPP (Public Private Partnership) which sees collaboration between a number of private organisations and public bodies including the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Regional Office for the Development of Souss-Massa and ONEE.

Financing for the almost MAD 4 billion project will be provided by the Kingdom of Morocco, private partners, and a bank loan.

Alain Malek, corporate partner and co-head of the Casablanca office, Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

"Our team is particularly proud to have assisted Abengoa and InfraMaroc, with whom we have worked with for many years. It is great to be part of a project which to our knowledge, is unique."

The Norton Rose Fulbright team advising Abengoa and InfraMaroc at this stage of the Souss-Massa plant project was led by of counsels Godefroy Le Mintier and Mathieu Dahan, assisted by Ismaël Sinaceur. Anne-Laure Bernard-Bouissières, of counsel, led on the financing aspects of the deal.

Other advisors:

The Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development and Water and Forests and the Regional Office for the Development of Souss-Massa were advised by Maria Bahnini on legal issues and by Hassan Benabderrazik on financial and technical matters, both through Agro Concept and BRLi.

For further information please contact:

Carole Guettier, Senior business development manager, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Tél: + 33 (0)1 56 59 52 75
carole.guettier@nortonrosefulbright.com

Charles Billiard, Communication Executive, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Tél: + 33 (0)1 56 59 52 96
charles.billiard@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

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