PPPs: advancing global expansion and reshaping water utilities for resilient, sustainable models – Smart Water Magazine

Report on Public-Private Partnerships in Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Goals

Case Study: Saudi Arabia’s Shuqaiq 3 Desalination Plant

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Under the Saudi Vision 2030 framework, ACCIONA has developed the Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant, a significant project aligning with multiple SDGs through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC).

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The reverse osmosis plant is one of the largest in the country, supplying potable water to over three million people, directly advancing the goal of ensuring access to water for all.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The facility incorporates advanced technology and high standards of energy efficiency, reducing its energy consumption and contributing to sustainable energy management.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The project has stimulated the local economy by creating employment opportunities and promoting knowledge transfer within the region.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: Shuqaiq 3 serves as a regional benchmark for successful public-private collaboration, strengthening institutional capacity for managing large-scale, sustainable infrastructure projects.

Case Study: Morocco’s Casablanca Desalination Plant

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In response to increasing water stress, Morocco has prioritized water system reinforcement through PPPs. The ACCIONA-led Casablanca Desalination Plant is a cornerstone of this national strategy, with a capacity of 822,000 cubic metres per day.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The plant is designed to meet the growing domestic, agricultural, and industrial water demands of the Greater Casablanca region, making a direct and substantial contribution to SDG 6.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By providing a stable and secure water supply, the project enhances the resilience of urban and surrounding areas, making communities more sustainable and prepared for environmental challenges.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The facility improves Morocco’s resilience to climate-induced water stress and drought by reducing dependence on overexploited natural aquifers. Its design prioritizes energy efficiency and environmental protection, reflecting a commitment to climate action and sustainable growth.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most prominent SDG, explicitly mentioned in the article regarding the Casablanca Desalination Plant. The entire text focuses on projects aimed at ensuring water security, providing drinking water, and managing water resources sustainably in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article repeatedly emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency in the desalination process. Both the Shuqaiq 3 and Casablanca plants are described as incorporating “the highest standards of energy efficiency” and advanced technology to “reduce energy consumption.”

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The Shuqaiq 3 project is noted to have “created local employment,” which directly contributes to economic growth and decent work opportunities in the region.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article centers on the development of resilient, large-scale infrastructure (desalination plants) using “advanced technology” and “innovations” like reverse osmosis to solve critical resource challenges.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The projects are designed to supply water to large urban populations, such as the “more than three million people” served by Shuqaiq 3 and the entire “Greater Casablanca region.” This enhances the resilience and sustainability of these communities against water stress.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as the core model for developing these infrastructure projects. It describes the Shuqaiq 3 project as a “regional reference for successful public-private collaboration” and notes that Morocco has “relied on PPPs to speed up” its water system reinforcement.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

   The article states that the Shuqaiq 3 plant “supplies drinking water to more than three million people” and the Casablanca plant will help “meet growing demand for water in domestic… uses.”

2. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.

   The projects aim to achieve “water self-sufficiency” and “strengthening resilience against water stress” by “reducing dependence on overexploited aquifers and ensuring a stable water supply.”

3. Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

   Both projects are designed with a priority on “energy efficiency” and technology to “reduce energy consumption,” directly aligning with this target.

4. Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.

   The mention that the Shuqaiq 3 project has “created local employment” directly relates to this target of providing work opportunities.

5. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

   The article is entirely focused on the development of “large-scale infrastructure” (desalination plants) that is resilient to challenges like drought and ensures “long-term water security.”

6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

   The article champions the PPP model, citing the “successful public-private collaboration” in Saudi Arabia and Morocco’s reliance on PPPs to accelerate infrastructure development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator related to 6.1.1 (Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services): The article provides a direct quantitative measure by stating the Shuqaiq 3 plant supplies water to “more than three million people.”
• Indicator related to 6.4.2 (Level of water stress): Progress can be measured by tracking the reduction in dependence on overexploited aquifers, a key outcome mentioned for the Casablanca project. The goal of “strengthening resilience against water stress” is a qualitative indicator of this progress.
• Indicator of plant capacity and efficiency: The capacity of the Casablanca plant is specified as “822,000 cubic metres per day,” which serves as a direct indicator of the scale of infrastructure being developed to meet water demand. The emphasis on “energy efficiency” implies that metrics on energy consumption per cubic meter of water produced are being used.
• Indicator related to 8.5.2 (Unemployment rate): The number of “local employment” opportunities created by the Shuqaiq 3 project is a direct indicator for measuring progress on job creation.
• Indicator related to 17.17.1 (Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships): The existence and scale of the Shuqaiq 3 and Casablanca Desalination Plant projects serve as concrete examples and indicators of successful financial and operational commitments to PPPs.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: smartwatermagazine.com