Seven Seas Water Group and APUA Open Barnacle Point Plant, Antigua’s Second New Water-as-a-Service® Desalination Facility, Adding 2 Million IGPD

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 20, 2026--

The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and Seven Seas Water Group (SSWG), a multinational provider of Water-as-a-Service® (WaaS®) solutions, today announced the opening of the Barnacle Point seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant. The second WaaS® desalination plant inaugurated in Antigua within a year, has a production capacity of 2 million imperial gallons per day (IMGD) and will serve communities in the island’s northwestern corridor. The plant is located adjacent to APUA’s existing Ivan Rodrigues desalination plant, leveraging existing infrastructure and enabling efficient integration.

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The Barnacle Point plant is the second new SWRO facility delivered under the Water-as-a-Service® agreement signed between APUA and SSWG in March 2024. Together with the Ffryes Beach plant, which was already commissioned earlier in 2025, the two facilities will provide up to 3 IMGD of reliable, high-quality drinking water. Water production at the new Barnacle Point plant began in November 2025.

The Honourable Melford Nicholas, Minister of Information, Communication Technologies (ICTs), Utilities, and Energy, underscored the national significance of the project, stating: “This facility plays a critical role in strengthening water supply for one of Antigua’s most vital service areas. It also reflects the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s unwavering commitment to addressing longstanding water challenges and improving reliability for our citizens. The successful delivery of this plant demonstrates APUA’s dedication to building infrastructure that is resilient, sustainable, and future-focused. It stands as a clear example of what can be achieved through purposeful collaboration and shared resolve.”

APUA CEO John Bradshaw emphasized the operational benefits of the project, noting: “The commissioning of the Barnacle Point desalination plant represents a significant step forward in strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s water security. By strategically expanding production capacity while integrating seamlessly with existing infrastructure, APUA is better positioned to respond to growing demand in the northwestern corridor. This project also reflects our commitment to building local technical capacity. The speed and efficiency with which this plant was delivered speaks to the strength of our partnership with Seven Seas Water Group and the shared focus on delivering reliable, sustainable water solutions for our people.”

Henry Charrabé, CEO of Seven Seas Water Group, highlighted the partnership and community impact: “We are proud to support APUA and to serve the people of Antigua through this important project. The Barnacle Point plant demonstrates how the Water-as-a-Service® model can deliver dependable water supply while maximizing existing infrastructure. We greatly appreciate APUA’s dedication and collaboration and look forward to further strengthening our relationship with APUA by expanding our commitment to providing sustainable, long-term water solutions across the island.”

About Seven Seas Water Group

Headquartered in Tampa and Houston, with operations across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America, Seven Seas Water Group delivers water and wastewater treatment solutions to governmental, municipal, industrial, and hospitality customers and owns more than 220 water and wastewater treatment plants. The Seven Seas Water-as-a-Service® model has been successfully deployed for over 20 years, demonstrating our leading capabilities with project execution, financing, risk management, and operations. In addition to building new plants, the company is actively acquiring existing water and wastewater treatment plant operations.

Seven Seas is a portfolio company of EQT, a purpose-driven global investment organization that partners with companies worldwide through its Private Capital and Real Assets strategies, supporting them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership. For more information, please visit www.sevenseaswater.com

About APUA

The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) was founded on July 4th, 1973, in accordance with the Public Utility Act. APUA functions as a three-part organization, delivering Electricity, Telecommunications, and Water services to the residents of Antigua and Barbuda, ensuring they meet reliable, affordable, and internationally recognized quality standards.

From left to right: Peter Benjamin, APUA Chairman; Hon. Max Fernandez; Sen. Michael Joseph; Jason Peters, Acting Water BU Manager; John Bradshaw, APUA CEO; Hon. Melford Nicholas; His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General; Hon. E.P. Chet Greene; Henry J. Charrabé, Seven Seas Water Group CEO; Catherine Wilson, Seven Seas Water Group Caribbean Business Development Director; and Erik Arfalk, Seven Seas Water Group Chief Growth Officer.

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer, said it will buy unsold cocoa stocks to keep exports flowing and ensure farmers are paid, as global prices have plunged in recent months.

Since October, falling global cocoa prices in the West African country have slowed exports, causing unsold stocks to build up.

Synapci, the Ivory Coast's main cocoa farmers’ union, estimates that 700,000 tons of cocoa remain unsold and therefore unpaid. Some farmers, deprived of income for nearly two months, have been forced to sell their stock at a discount or destroy rotten cocoa, plunging them into severe hardship.

“We want to reassure them,” Agriculture Minister Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani told reporters on Tuesday. “The situation is now under control, and collection operations will begin in the coming days,” he said.

Adjoumani said the government would purchase unsold cocoa stocks at the guaranteed seasonal price.

Cocoa is traded on a regulated, global market. In Ivory Coast — which produces between 2 million and 2.5 million metric tons of cocoa annually, almost half the world’s cocoa supply — the government usually sets cocoa prices at the start of each season, with prices reflecting market trends and global prices.

Unlike most African countries, Ivory Coast's government controls cocoa sales through the Coffee and Cocoa Council to protect farmers from price swings. About 85% of the harvest is sold in advance at a fixed price, guaranteeing farmers a stable income.

In 2024 cocoa prices reached record highs. In October 2025, the council set the price at a record level — roughly $5,000 per metric ton — raising hopes ahead of the country's presidential election. But global prices have since fallen to around $4,630 per metric ton. Multinational buyers have refused to purchase the remaining 15% of cocoa, leading the government to step in and buy the unsold stocks.

The government's announcement failed to convince Moussa Koné, president of Synapci. “They are making nice promises, but what guarantees are they offering?” he said. “And what about those who have already had to throw away cocoa that rotted because of the blockade?”

The new purchase price for the mid-crop season, due to be announced on April 1, is expected to fall sharply.

FILE - Cocoa pods hang on a tree in Divo, West-Central Ivory Coast, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia, File)