Cox Wins Rosarito Desalination Contract; Olinia Carga Launches

This week in sustainability: Cox has secured a US$304 million contract with CONAGUA to construct the Rosarito desalination plant in Baja California. Meanwhile, Mexico unveiled Olinia Carga, a state-backed EV designed for commercial transport, urban freight, and last-mile logistics. Separately, SEMARNAT recovered and recycled more than 644kg of single-use plastics during its Goal for the Environment campaign.

More news below:

Cox Wins US$304 Million Contract for Rosarito Desalination Plant

Cox has secured a US$304 million contract with Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) to construct the Rosarito desalination plant in Baja California. The award mandates the engineering, specialized equipment procurement, and construction of an initial facility capable of treating 2,200 liters per second, supplying approximately 190 million liters of potable water daily to municipal distribution networks. The infrastructure will provide an independent drinking water source for one million residents across Playas de Rosarito and southwestern Tijuana, with construction scheduled to run over a three-year execution timeframe between August 2026 and July 2029.

Mexico Unveils Olinia Carga EV Prototype Ahead of 2027 Launch

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the prototype of Olinia Carga, the second electric vehicle model developed under the state-backed electromobility initiative. Designed for commercial transport, urban freight, and last-mile logistics, the domestic micro-vehicle marks the formal transition of Project Olinia from engineering design toward large-scale industrialization. The vehicle is scheduled to enter commercial sales in late 2027 at an estimated retail price of MX$150,000 (US$8,400). 

Mexico Targets Plastic Waste Through Circular Economy Efforts

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) recovered and recycled more than 644kg of single-use plastics during the second stage of its Goal for the Environment campaign, exceeding its target by more than 144kg. The campaign, promoted by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) under the federal Social World Cup program, ran from June to August, with voluntary participation from government employees. Ten containers and collection sacks were installed, gathering mainly PET, as well as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). ECOCE and Rennueva supported the initiative by managing collected materials for recovery, recycling and reintegration into new production cycles. The collaboration enabled the recovered waste to be converted back into raw materials, avoiding final disposal.

WRI Launches Cool Cities Lab to Map Heat Risks Across Mexico

The World Resources Institute Mexico (WRI) has launched Cool Cities Lab, a public-access climate analysis platform designed to assess cities’ thermal resilience and identify the cooling potential of different urban adaptation solutions at both neighborhood and citywide scales. Funded by Google, the project seeks to generate high-resolution thermal comfort data to inform decision-making and maximize the impact of climate adaptation solutions through the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), which estimates how people experience heat in public spaces. The index complements other forms of temperature measurement by providing a more comprehensive perspective on the human experience of heat in cities. The project is currently being implemented in 25 cities worldwide. In Mexico, the platform is available for Mexico City, Monterrey, and Hermosillo.