Funeral services company La Ascensión announced that Neiva will pioneer alkaline hydrolysis in Latin America as an alternative for the final disposition of the deceased. The new service center is projected to open in the first quarter of 2027.
The company, approaching its 25th anniversary, selected Neiva for its investment in a high-tech complex that will include aquamation through alkaline hydrolysis. The technology was recently authorized in Colombia by the Ministry of Health under resolution 717 dated April 21, 2026.
The process uses high-temperature water, alkaline compounds and pressure to break down soft tissues, leaving only bone fragments that are then turned into ashes for families. CEO Guillermo J. Chaves Ocaña noted the center will feature five viewing rooms, a chapel, laboratories and space for 5,000 urns.
The facility will be located in the Medical City-Empresarial Primavera node and will include solar panels along with rainwater collection systems. The firm operates in more than 20 Colombian cities and recently earned an international award for its artificial intelligence-based research center.