In October 2018, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported, citing Globes, that Israel had launched the tender for the Sorek 2 desalination plant. Bidders were to plan, construct and fund a facility of 200 million m³ a year (about 548,000 m³/day) with 25 years of operation. Seven groups took part, and two were to be shortlisted in November 2018. The European Investment Bank signalled €200 million through a letter of intent, and an optional 140 MW power station was outlined. Operations were planned to start in 2026.
The report showed Israel organising further growth in seawater desalination as a public-private partnership. Sorek 2 was to lift national capacity to 785 million m³ a year, then put at 85 per cent of demand.