BBVA México granted a loan for 1,190 million pesos to MITinfra to strengthen the water infrastructure of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area

This is an automated translation of the press release issued in Spanish

BBVA México entered into a credit operation with Mitsui & Co. Infrastructure Solutions , (MITinfra) for an amount of 1,190 million pesos for the Expansion of the “El Ahogado” Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) , located in the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco.

The expansion , together with the current “El Ahogado” WWTP, will treat 3,250 liters per second and will serve to clean up 75% of the water that is discharged into the Santiago River, benefiting more than 5.2 million inhabitants . Additionally, the project contemplates the use of biosolids for the generation of electrical energy.

For Álvaro Vaqueiro Ussel, general director of Corporate and Investment Banking at BBVA México , “participating in the financing of a water infrastructure project in Mexico is very relevant for the institution. Furthermore, it is presented in a context where there is a lot of interest in the obtaining, management and responsible use of this important liquid.” Regarding the operation with MITinfra, he added: “We recognize the trajectory and importance of MITinfra in the development of various projects in Mexico and we thank them for being an important part of this development.”

According to Ichikawa Makoto, president and CEO of MITinfra, “the expansion of 'El Ahogado' aligns with MITinfra's commitment to creating real solutions to social problems with a sustainability perspective . While working on water treatment projects, MITinfra shows its commitment to its responsibility for proper water management and, therefore, in building a bright future in Mexico .” In addition, Makoto thanked BBVA México for its support: “Together, MITinfra and BBVA are working to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society and economic growth for the benefit of Jalisco and its citizens.”

The “El Ahogado” WWTP expansion project includes the design, construction, electromechanical equipment, operational tests, capacity tests, operation, conservation and maintenance of the infrastructure necessary to expand the biological treatment with removal of nutrients in a flow design of 1,000 liters per second (l/s). The development also includes the filtration and disinfection with ozone of a flow rate of 3,250 liters per second (l/s), which corresponds to 2,250 liters per second (l/s) that are currently treated in the “El Ahogado” WWTP and the 1,000 liters per second (l/s) that will be generated by the expansion.

The treated water will be the first in Mexico with a tertiary treatment since the project will comply with NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021 , which is the strictest on the matter and allows the reuse of water for industrial, agricultural, recreational and for urban public use. Likewise, the development contemplates the removal and final disposal of organic waste resulting from wastewater treatment (biosolids) , as well as the solids generated in the monofill, which will be used for the generation of electrical energy , thereby It is estimated that the facilities will be 50% self-sustaining in electrical energy consumption.

This transaction demonstrates the close relationship that BBVA Mexico has managed to have with Japanese companies in Mexico through a specialized service model for them, since in Mexico there are around 1,300 companies from that country. In recent years, investments in Mexico by these firms have increased as a result of the nearshoring phenomenon, whereby Japan sees a great opportunity in Mexico to supply the North American market.