The International Conference and Exhibition Desalination Latin America will take place in Santiago, Chile on June 17-18, 2026. This eighth edition of the event serves as a strategic hub for the desalination industry in Latin America, focusing on development, investment, and partnership growth. The gathering brings together over 300 delegates, including C-level executives from leading utilities, government officials, and international financial institutions.
Key participants regularly include major industry players such as Aguas de Antofagasta, Econssa, and Esval, alongside mining corporations like Codelco and Anglo American. Governmental bodies, including Chile's Ministry of Mining and the General Directorate of Water, also participate, alongside financial institutions like CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and BID Invest. This convergence of public and private sectors underscores the event's role in shaping regional water policy and infrastructure.
The conference agenda addresses critical regional challenges through specific investment projects. These include Desalination for Mining Expansion Programs in Chile and the Northern Chile Water Supply Corridor, which aims to integrate multi-user desalination pipelines. In Peru, Coastal Desalination PPPs for Lima, Ilo, and southern industrial clusters are a focus, alongside Chile's Renewable-Powered Desalination Projects that integrate solar and wind energy with seawater reverse osmosis plants.
Emerging areas of innovation, such as Regional Brine Valorization and Circular Economy Initiatives for lithium and salt recovery, will be discussed, highlighting the industry's move toward sustainability. Upcoming 2026–2027 bidding rounds in Chile and Peru for new public-private partnerships and multi-client desalination hubs indicate significant near-term market activity. The event also features technical site visits in Spain, including one to the AcuaMed Desalination Plant in Murcia (https://desalbusinessvisit2026.com/registration-request-media) and another to the ATL Desalination Plant in Llobregat (https://desalvisitbcn.com/registration-request-media), offering professionals hands-on learning opportunities.
Sponsors and partners from previous years, such as Schneider Electric, Valmet, and Dupont, reflect the involvement of technology and engineering firms driving innovation. Official supporters include Chilean governmental ministries, while media partners like BNamericas and Global Water Intelligence facilitate broader industry communication. The concentration of decision-makers and project showcases at this event makes it a critical indicator of Latin America's approach to securing water resources for economic development, particularly for mining and urban centers, through advanced desalination and renewable energy integration.
