Work on a BD94.5 million ($250.7 million) sewage treatment plant in Bahrain is set to begin by the end of the month, said officials.

The first private sector project of its kind in the kingdom will be carried out by a Samsung Engineering-led consortium of Abu Dhabi's Invest AD and the UK's United Utilities.

They will build, own and operate the plant in the Muharraq Governorate for 27 years on reclaimed land off the coast of Hidd.

The consortium was awarded the project in February when it also entered into a long-term agreement with Bahrain's Works Ministry.

The first phase of the project is set to be operational by October 2013, but other connections will not be ready until October 2014.

Muharraq Municipal Council has urged residents to co-operate with the consortium's surveyors, who will assess homes and take pictures to help them with layout plans.

Samsung Engineering technical interface office manager Samir Al Assadi said strategic studies had shown Muharraq to be the best location for the project.

'Muharraq is an expandable urban area and is in need of a plant that can treat waste without it being taken to Tubli Sewage Plant, which is currently overloaded,' he said.

'Our project is unique and will help reduce the number of sub-sewage networks in Muharraq's neighbourhoods with plans to have 24 removed. The plant takes into consideration the highest environmental and health standards in line with our concern for people's safety and well-being.'

The project will involve the development of a green field with a daily capacity of 100,000 cubic metres wastewater treatment that can expand if necessary to 160,000 cubic metres.

It will also have a 15.9km deep gravity sewer conveyance system.

Al Assadi, who was speaking during a presentation at the Muharraq Municipality in Busaiteen, said no trenching would be required with the existing system replaced by precast sewage micro-tunnelling technology.

'Precast cement tunnels will replace the regular trenches and they are cleaner and less noisy and have a life warranty of 80 years,' he said.

'There will be no effect on homes, but we will need to survey neighbourhoods to take the best strategic decision possible on how the tunnels will be laid.

'Letters will be sent to homeowners, where we are planning to have the tunnels nearby and we hope they will co-operate with us in the best way possible.'

Works Ministry assistant under-secretary for sanitary affairs Khalifa Al Mansoor said the plant could be expanded.

'The plant can take up to 100,000 cubic metres a day, but we may expand to 160,000 cubic metres depending on need, considering that the network will be already designed to meet that amount,' he said.

'The project will help Muharraq and hopefully it will be operational in October 2013 with just minor connections being left.'

Council project supervisor councillor Khalid Bu Onk said residents had no choice but to co-operate with the company surveying their areas.

'There is a form that will be given to them to sign and if they refuse then action will be taken against them considering that this project is there to serve the whole of Muharraq,' he said.

'Anyway there is no fear that the project may harm homes considering that it does not involve trenching, but only the step of laying precast cement tunnels which will be built elsewhere. There are 47 connection points for the project's network and only those with homes on them will have to co-operate,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service