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First stone laid for Águilas marine research centre and desalination plant expansion
The two projects are laying the foundation for marine species research and water sustainability in Murcia
During her recent visit to the Region of Murcia, Sara Aagesen, Vice-President of the Spanish Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), presided over the foundation stone ceremony for the Águilas Marine Species Production Centre.
This facility, located on land provided by the Águilas town council, marks a significant step in marine research and conservation efforts. Aagesen was joined by Águilas Mayor Mari Carmen Moreno, Deputy Juan Andrés Torres, Government Delegate in Murcia Mariola Guevara and other local officials.
The centre, which is set for completion within 18 months, will be the first dedicated research hub for the experimental production of marine species from both the Mediterranean Sea and the Mar Menor. The project, with a budget of €13.61 million, aims to enhance scientific understanding and conservation efforts for marine biodiversity.
In parallel, work continues at the Directorate General for the Coast and the Sea’s facilities in Portmán (La Unión). These research efforts focus on multiplying marine phanerogams such as Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa, crucial seagrass species for maintaining marine ecosystems.
So far, more than 50,000 seeds have been collected, leading to the cultivation of 19,000 plants. These seedlings, developed in specialised substrates, are being used in experimental plantations in the Bay of Mazarrón to evaluate different anchoring techniques.
To support and expand these research initiatives, a contract worth €2 million has been awarded, ensuring the continuation of work in Portmán until at least November 2025.
Águilas desalination plant expansion
Following her visit to the research centre site, Aagesen toured the Águilas desalination plant, a key infrastructure project for water sustainability in the region.
With a recently approved expansion budgeted at €45.5 million, the facility’s desalination capacity will increase significantly, reaching up to 70 cubic hectometres per year. This upgrade will enable the plant to produce an additional 30,000 cubic metres of desalinated water per day, strengthening Murcia’s water supply resilience.
Typically a very dry and arid corner of coastal Spain, Murcia has come to rely heavily in recent years on desalination plants to provide fresh water for human use, meaning that projects like this one in Águilas are increasingly important as the changing climate means that alternating periods of flooding and drought become ever more common.
These developments reflect the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and resource management, combining scientific research with infrastructure improvements to support both marine ecosystems and water security in the region.
For more local news, events and information, go to the home page of Águilas Today
Image: Ayuntamiento de Águilas
