Saudi Arabia has awarded a major contract worth SR985 million ($262.3 million) to Turkey’s Mapa Construction and Trade Company for the development of the Arafat-Taif Water Transmission System project, said a report.

Work on the strategic project, which will consist of a 45-km pipeline from Arafat to Taif as well as pumping stations and 12.5-km tunnels, is set to be supervised by Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), according to the Arab News.

The pipeline will involve the construction of a 60-inch single line from PS2E near Arafat Tanks to Taif Strategic Reservoirs, said the report, citing a top official.

"This section includes pipe installation in the tunnel and installation of pipe supports/fixed points,"  remarked Cihan Yilmaz, the general manager of Mapa.

"The project also includes laying of a second buried 60-inch line in the area upstream and downstream of the west portal," he added.

He revealed that a housing compound and an administration area will be built near the SWCC Taif Terminal as part of the project.

The Arafat-Taif Water Transmission System comes as part of an ambitious plan to ensure an adequate water supply and management, said the report. The entire project will be completed within the next four years, it added.