The International Conference and Exhibition Desalination Latin America will convene in Santiago, Chile on June 17-18, 2026, marking its eighth edition as a pivotal gathering for addressing water security challenges through desalination technology. This event serves as a critical platform for strategy development, investment attraction, and partnership growth across Latin America, where water scarcity increasingly impacts communities and industries.
The conference's importance stems from its role in confronting tomorrow's desalination challenges while unveiling projects driving sustainable transformation. With over 300 delegates expected, including C-level executives from leading desalination utilities, government officials, and international financial institutions, the event facilitates meaningful dialogue between public and private sectors. Key participants include major mining companies like Codelco, Anglo American, and Antofagasta Minerals, alongside water utilities such as Aguas de Antofagasta and Esval, demonstrating the cross-industry collaboration necessary for addressing regional water needs.
Investment projects to be discussed include Chile's Northern Chile Water Supply Corridor, which involves integration of multi-user desalination pipelines, and Peru's Coastal Desalination PPPs for Lima, Ilo, and southern industrial clusters. Renewable-powered desalination projects incorporating solar and wind energy with seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plants represent a significant focus, alongside regional brine valorization and circular economy initiatives for lithium and salt recovery. Upcoming 2026-2027 bidding rounds in Chile and Peru for new public-private partnerships and multi-client desalination hubs will also be addressed.
The event organizer, Vostock Capital, has established this conference as a hub for the desalination industry's leaders, with previous sponsors including Schneider Electric, Valmet, Dupont, and Andritz. Official supporters include Chile's Ministry of Mining, Ministry of Public Works, and General Directorate of Water (MOP), while media partners have included BNamericas, Global Water Intelligence, and The Business Year. International financial institutions participating include CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, BID Invest, and ProInversión Perú.
As part of the 2026 agenda, two exclusive technical site visits in Spain will offer professionals opportunities to strengthen expertise in advanced desalination techniques. The Technical Visit to the AcuaMed Desalination Plant in Murcia will occur May 13-14, with registration available at https://desalbusinessvisit2026.com/registration-request-media. A second Technical Visit to the ATL Desalination Plant in Llobregat is scheduled for September 22-23, with details at https://desalvisitbcn.com/registration-request-media. These visits provide first-hand insight into operating facilities and cutting-edge processes for professionals seeking practical knowledge.
The conference's continued relevance after seven years of operation demonstrates the growing importance of desalination solutions for Latin America's development. With water scarcity affecting mining operations, agricultural production, and urban water supplies, the technologies and partnerships developed through this platform have direct implications for economic stability, environmental sustainability, and community water access across the region. The integration of renewable energy with desalination processes represents a crucial advancement for reducing the environmental footprint of water production, while brine valorization initiatives offer potential for creating economic value from waste streams.
