Saudi Arabian utility to invest $5.3bn in water projects

State-owned National Water Company has unveiled plans to implement water and sanitation projects valued at SAR20bn ($5.3bn) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The projects will include the construction of water tanks, pipelines, pumping stations, wells and water treatment stations in several cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Taif, in order to secure the nation’s water supply.

National Water Company chief executive Loay A Saad Al-Mussalam was quoted by MENAFN as saying the utility will also start work on other various-sized projects within the framework of the plan, in different parts of the country.

Saudi Arabia Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Hussayen has signed a number of contracts with contractors to implement several water projects in various parts of the Kingdom.

"The signing of the new contracts come within the framework of the government’s plan to provide all necessary utility services to citizens across the country," Al-Mussalam said.

A total of SAR 417m ($111.1m) will be allocated for water and sanitation projects in Riyadh, while Jeddah will receive SAR9bn ($2.3bn) to build household supply lines and sewage connections and an SAR1bn ($266.6m) pumping station, which will be operational by September 2012.

Water projects being implemented in Taif are worth SAR2.5bn ($666.6m), and Makkah will see the implementation of water projects worth SAR2.6bn ($693.2m) including expansion of sewage treatment plants.

"There is a need for a public-private partnership, which can eventually help to cut costs and save water resources that are depleting fast," Al-Mussalam added.

The utility is currently executing a number of projects worth SAR6bn ($1.5bn), which include building the main supply lines, water reservoirs, sub-network sewage systems and household connections, which, on completion, are expected ensure the efficient distribution of water in Riyadh.