Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, and with extensive operations across Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and beyond, sustainable infrastructure management company ACCIONA is on a mission to leave a positive legacy for society. Carlos Cerezo Ramos, APAC Water Regional Director, tells us more.
BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL
As it faces rapid urbanisation, climate change, and resource scarcity, the sustainability outlook across the APAC region is complex, with a mix of developed and developing countries at different stages in their climate journeys.
Australia, for example, is currently doing everything it can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade, which aligns with its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
In Southeast Asia, meanwhile, organisations are seeking to decrease their carbon footprint by purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon credits, particularly in areas with limited access to renewable energy.
Driven by its ambition to design a better planet, ACCIONA, a leader in renewable energy and water management, is redefining how sustainable infrastructure is implemented across the APAC region to assist nations in achieving their sustainability targets.
“ACCIONA flies the flag for sustainability, implementing projects that utilise renewable energy so we can mitigate the impact of carbon emissions,” introduces Carlos Cerezo Ramos, APAC Water Regional Director.
In response to global water scarcity, the company is working to ensure universal access to the vital resource through comprehensive and sustainable water infrastructure and management systems.
“We are aware that the water business, especially desalination, consumes a lot of energy, so we’re finding ways to implement more sustainable projects in the near future,” Ramos adds.
“ACCIONA flies the flag for sustainability, implementing projects that utilise renewable energy so we can mitigate the impact of carbon emissions”
Carlos Cerezo Ramos, APAC Water Regional Director, ACCIONA
FACILITATING THE PHILIPPINES
ACCIONA’s activities in the Philippines began in 2016 with the Putatan 2 direct water treatment plant (DWTP) for Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI), which is adjoined to the existing Putatan 1 DWTP and has a capacity of up to 150,000 cubic meters (cbm) per day, supplying clean drinking water to almost six million people across Manila.
The company has recently increased its presence in the country, having successfully commissioned Laguna Lake DWTP earlier this year, adding a further 150,000 cbm per day of capacity.
“Between both projects, we supply the majority of Southern Manila with safe drinking water,” Ramos states.
Elsewhere, ACCIONA is undertaking the East Bay 2 DWTP in the north of the Philippine capital for Manila Water.
“In this case, the project will have a capacity of 200,000 cbm per day to serve a population of two million,” he clarifies.
Something that both projects have in common is their source, Laguna de Bay – the largest inland freshwater lagoon in the Philippines and the second largest in Southeast Asia.
Utilising Laguna de Bay has helped ACCIONA ensure a clean and healthy water supply for Manila when other methods have proven challenging.
With two large dams close to Manila – Kaliwa and Laiban – not expected to reach completion until at least 2027, the water supplied from Laguna de Bay has proven crucial in sustaining the population in the interim.
Meanwhile, the quality of untreated water remains unsuitable for consumption, tainted by rainfall and runoffs from agricultural irrigation containing ammonia, solids, and organic materials.
“Desalination is also not an option for Manila, with the sea being so far from the city and the costs associated with this process being too high,” Ramos points out.
Therefore, extracting from Laguna de Bay presents the most sustainable and cost-effective option for supplying the capital with fresh drinking water, which is why ACCIONA has been the first choice in overseeing the city’s last three DWTP initiatives.
“We consider the design and execution of these projects in the Philippines to be a major success, and we hope to continue to do more,” he prides.
ENABLING AUSTRALIA
With a presence in Australia spanning more than two decades, ACCIONA has been involved in numerous successful projects in the country, namely the Adelaide desalination plant in South Australia (SA) and the Mundaring DWTP in Western Australia (WA).
Delivering water to the Goldfields region, over 500 kilometres away from the source, the Mundaring DWTP continues to supply one of the longest water networks on Earth – a project Ramos has been personally involved in since its inception 15 years ago.
“WA’s water connection network remains one of the best I’ve seen in the world, with advanced treatment plants and processes in place,” he reflects.
However, the recent lack of rainfall in WA and Perth specifically has led to some of the city’s subterranean water supply and underground well systems drying up.
When combined with the rising demand for drinking water caused by a rapidly growing population and subsequent residential and industrial development, the need for further water infrastructure has been recognised.
Therefore, ACCIONA has been selected to lead a consortium on behalf of Water Corporation, the pre-eminent water utility in WA, to develop the Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant (ASDP) in Perth over the next 10 years.
The third desalination plant in the city, ASDP will be responsible for supplying clean drinking water to the north of Perth, with a network featuring an integrated water supply scheme capable of delivering 332 billion litres annually to over two million people.
Presenting an innovative solution, ACCIONA’s Water Corporation will utilise treated wastewater to replenish existing underground systems in Perth.
“This natural filtration method will ensure that even farms and communities far away from the capital can access water for agriculture and businesses,” Ramos insights.
“This is the perfect use of a water cycle in WA, to which we are actively contributing. In this way, the state continues to be a leader in water treatment,” he adds.
AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
Having renewed its Top Employer certification in 12 of its global markets in 2025, ACCIONA’s ability to attract and retain talent is second to none.
A prestigious accolade awarded to only those with a first-class working environment and high employee well-being statistics, the company has proven its status as an employer of choice.
“Our approach is a combination of training young talent whilst maintaining equality and diversity targets and investing in areas of the business owned by minorities,” Ramos shares.
ACCIONA’s PEOPLE strategy, which is part of its 2025 Sustainability Master Plan, places individuals at the core through four key areas of focus – recognition of merit, diversity and inclusion, a transformative work environment, and leadership – each of which has been recognised by the company’s Top Employer certification.
“We value the balance between work and family, which has led to many of us working for the company for over 20 years,” he adds.
Rather than working in silos, ACCIONA maintains positive interdepartmental interactions whilst promoting the values at the heart of the company – sustainability, social impact, local interest, and innovation.
In addition, ACCIONA maintains ongoing agreements with equipment companies, meaning that when projects ramp up, they can go to market quickly.
The agility afforded by this agreement allows the company to remain ahead of the curve, offering greater job stability to employees.
Elsewhere, internal mobility is very important to ACCIONA, with the company committed to providing flexibility and travel opportunities for its employees.
“As I look to the future, these are the values that will attract new generations to ACCIONA,” Ramos surmises.
“We value the balance between work and family, which has led to many of us working for the company for over 20 years”
Carlos Cerezo Ramos, APAC Water Regional Director, ACCIONA
LOOKING AHEAD
As the company continues to grow and provide water services throughout the APAC region, ACCIONA is seeking to expand its presence in Southeast Asia whilst continuing to develop further projects in Australia.
The company has also recently entered New Zealand, having been contracted to carry out various transportation projects in the country, where it hopes to expand its presence to include the Water Division in 2025.
“In addition to our Tseung Kwan O (TKO) desalination plant currently in operation, we are also bidding on projects in Hong Kong and beginning to look into other countries in Southeast Asia,” Ramos tells us.
With plans to extend beyond its waterworks in the Philippines to Vietnam, ACCIONA anticipates future development across Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with conversations already taking place on the logistics of exploring the markets in these nations.
“We’re not exploring China purely because there are other developing nations in the region that require more help from us,” he assesses.
As such, ACCIONA’s mission to bring water to the people, expand the brand, and prioritise sustainability is clear.
“In short, those are our targets for the year – to expand in Southeast Asia and continue our growth in Australia,” Ramos concludes.
ACCIONA PARTNER
