News | 26 May 2026
BBVA Brasil participates in the financing of one of South America’s largest sanitation projects
The water and sanitation concession for the State of Pernambuco, awarded to the consortium formed by Acciona and BRK, has secured key financing to launch one of the largest water infrastructure projects in Brazil.
The initiative involves investments of nearly BRL 20 billion and will expand access to drinking water and sanitation services across 185 municipalities in the state, helping improve the quality of life of millions of people and accelerating the region’s sustainable development.
The transaction has been structured through a two-year syndicated bridge loan of BRL 3.8 billion, designed to cover part of the concession’s initial investment needs. The financing combines a cross-border loan in euros with onshore institutional debentures in Brazilian reais, providing a structure tailored to the project’s characteristics and requirements.
BBVA participated in the transaction as Sole Blue Loan Coordinator and Joint Mandated Lead Arranger, in a deal aligned with the ICMA and LMA Blue Finance Principles applicable to water supply and wastewater treatment projects.
The project supports Brazil’s goal of universalising access to treated water and sanitation by 2033. In Pernambuco, where sanitation coverage currently stands at around 18%, the concession is expected to increase coverage to 90%, while also expanding drinking water access to 99% of the population and significantly reducing distribution network losses.
This transaction reflects the importance of developing financing solutions capable of supporting large-scale infrastructure projects with a direct impact on communities, particularly in essential areas such as access to water and sanitation.
Through this transaction, BBVA continues to strengthen its sustainable finance and infrastructure activity in Latin America, supporting clients in strategic projects with economic, social and environmental impact.