Saudi Arabia invites private investments for sewage treatment plants

Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) has invited private sector participation in 114 sewage treatment plants that have a capacity of 5.1 million m³/day.

By inviting private investors, NWC aims to support National Water Strategy 2030 objectives by increasing investments in the water sector and also engage private companies in projects in the years to come.

Initially, NWC intends to procure contracts for 15 sewage treatment plants that will have a capacity of 2.5 million m³/day, which will be 50% of the total treatment capacity of Saudi Arabia.

The sewage treatment plants that will be covered in the contract include four plants in Manfuhah, Riyadh, two plants in Makkah region and in Taif Governorate as well as two plants in the Jeddah governorate.

Other plants that are part of the contract are located in Arar, Turaif and Sakaka, Northern Borders and Al-Jouf regions.

By the third quarter of this year, NWC is planning to send a request for proposals (RFP) for the first contract.

NWC said: “The other four contracts will be procured subsequently. As well as operations and maintenance the scope of the five contracts will cover rehabilitation, operational improvements and capacity increases for these sewage treatment plants.

“As well as operations and maintenance the scope of the five contracts will cover rehabilitation, operational improvements and capacity increases for these sewage treatment plants.”

NWC further explained that the contract will primarily focus on sludge treatment that is in accordance with the environmental best practices and will also concentrate on the production of treated sewage effluent (TSE) that are compliant with environmental regulations.