In a global context where access to drinking water remains a crucial challenge, Welysis has established itself as an inspiring model of resilience, innovation and international partnership. Starting from a local issue in the Canary Islands, Welysis has developed know-how that can be exported worldwide, in particular to meet the pressing needs of the African continent.

In this interview, Welysis' Development Director looks back at the company's history, its strategic positioning, and the benchmarking mission it is organizing in Tenerife with an African delegation led by the AfWASA. A dive into a cutting-edge industrial ecosystem, where technology serves people and sustainability.

Mr. Oriol Domenech, Welysis has established itself as a key player in the field of intelligent water management. Could you give us an overview of your company's history and the key stages in its development?

Welysis is a company created from two very powerful industrial groups of Spanish origin for the manufacture of modular electrolysis plants for the production of chlorine and caustic soda. The story began with the need to solve a major problem in the Canary Islands, which was heavily dependent on imports of a vital commodity such as chlorine. From there, it was decided to invest in the first sodium hypochlorite manufacturing plant in Tenerife, made with modular and scalable technology. Since 2015, this unit has been used to make the Canary Islands independent of imports of this essential water purification product.

After this successful experience, we decided to make Welysis an exportable model for other regions of the world suffering from the same need. We have become the benchmark for flexible, efficient manufacturing to solve the problem of access to chlorine for water purification and wastewater treatment. Because of this, we currently have a very strong demand (over 40 projects underway) from different parts of the world who wish to access the successful Welysis model.

Welysis is playing a leading role in organizing this benchmarking mission to Tenerife. Why did you decide to welcome an African delegation to your territory? And what strategic objectives are you pursuing through this initiative?

Our fundamental objective has always been to prioritize projects for the African continent. We know that on most of the continent, chlorine is only manufactured in the north and in South Africa. Other countries import most of it from Asia or Europe.

We decided to join the AfWASA right from the start because it helped us understand the needs of each African country and because of the good service they provide to their associates. That's why we take part every year in the congress and international exhibition they organize. For this reason, we thought it would be interesting for AfWASA members to learn about our reality in the Canary Islands, and to explain first-hand our Welysis project and the benefits for each of our member countries. Our main strategy is to contribute to the industrialization of the African continent, in the same way as we did in the Canary Islands, and to create first-rate technological know-how that can stay and grow in every African country.

Our proposition is not just to sell a Welysis factory, but to accompany the African investor throughout its life, becoming part of a worldwide network of similar factories. This is why we have created WIN (Welysis International Network), which encompasses 5 fundamental pillars to provide services to our members.

Pillar 1: Innovation Hub (ensuring that R&D projects generated in Welysis are transmitted throughout the network).

Pillar 2: Continuous Training (From the initial training of at least 3 months on our premises to the ongoing training we provide in our Welysis Academy).

Pillar 3: Quality System (Ongoing audits and KPI monitoring to ensure that plant efficiency remains the same as on day one).

Pillar 4: BEST Practices (Integrating process and product best practices throughout the network to move forward together towards continuous improvement).

Pillar 5: Supplier Management (We help choose the best raw materials and ensure that spare parts are always available). 

This technical visit promises to be rich in discoveries and exchanges. Can you tell us about the main innovations and technological solutions that participants will have the opportunity to discover during their stay?

The aim of the visit will be not only to get to know Welysis, but also all the high-level industries we have in the Canary Islands concerning the WASH (WAter Sanitation Hygiene) world. We'll be visiting a state-of-the-art desalination plant, a modern wastewater treatment plant recently inaugurated, and a drinking water treatment plant equipped with the most advanced technology.

The Canary Islands are recognized as one of the regions in the world with the most experience and knowledge in the world of water. For many years, the region has been committed to centers of excellence in this sector, creating a unique and innovative ecosystem that we aim to make available to all our visitors.

We will also have the opportunity to share panel discussions and conferences with recognized experts who will be able to solve more specific problems in the sector. 

In your opinion, what practical lessons and concrete benefits could African decision-makers and operators in the water sector draw from this immersion in your ecosystem? And how do you see this cooperation being extended in the medium and long term? 

The main idea behind this exchange of experience is to learn first-hand about the success stories that the Canary Islands have implemented to solve water problems, and to be able to help each of the participating countries find the best solution to their needs in the sector. Technical solutions, R&D solutions, implementation solutions and financing solutions that aim to support African countries in their future industrial growth.

We are putting the experience of the Canary Islands at the service of visitors, and are open to future collaborations to launch similar projects. At Welysis, as members of the AfWASA, we will continue to give priority to projects on the African continent.