Suez to acquire majority stake in industrial water treatment firm Driplex

Suez has agreed to acquire the majority stake in India-based industrial water treatment solutions provider Driplex for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition will allow the French firm to better meet increasing water demand and stringent environmental regulations in India.

With more than 350 employees, Driplex offers engineering, design, manufacturing and commissioning services for water treatment plants for the power, oil & gas (refinery) and other industrial sectors.

Driplex is capable of producing demineralised water, used in the generation of steam, by removing salts and organic matters. It also provides ash handling solutions which involves the collection, conveying, interim storage and load out of various types of ash residue left over from solid fuel combustion processes.

It also provides condensate polishing, a method of producing high purity demineralised water from recovered boiler condensate.

Suez CEO Jean-Louis Chaussade said: "This investment in Driplex is in line with Suez’s strategy to develop its industrial activity and its business internationally, particularly in fast growing markets like India, where the group is already managing water distribution services for major municipalities such as Mumbai and New Delhi and has built more than 200 water treatment plants.

"The industrial water market in India offers substantial opportunities for development and our goal is to become a strategic partner for industries, sustainably managing their resources so that they can achieve their economic and environmental performance objectives and tackle new industrial challenges."

Additionally, Suez said that it is strengthening its manufacturing capacities in India in accordance with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, as Driplex has several manufacturing facilities in India.

The Indian government’s Make in India program is aimed at encouraging multinational, as well as domestic, companies to manufacture their products in India.

Suez also acquired a 52% stake in the Méta Bio Energies waste recycling centre from Chazé Environnement.

Located in Combrée, France, the centre is involved in biowaste-to-energy recovery by methanation and the production of organic soil conditioners. It also provides deconditioning, methanation and composting services.