Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that 20 developer/developer consortiums have been prequalified for the Riyadh-Qassim Independent Water Transmission Pipeline (IWTP) project, which on completion, will boast a transmission capacity of 685,000 cu m per day.

 

Through this IWTP programme, the Saudi government aims to achieve its goals of ensuring sustainable development of the country’s water resources while providing affordable high-quality services, said a statement from SWPC.

 

The list of the pre-qualified bidders (lead and/or technical) for the project include global players such as Spanish infrastructure major Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios; Japan's Marubeni Corporation; Italy's Sicim and Chinese groups - Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment, Harbour Engineering Company; Railway Construction Corporation in addition to regional firms - Utico and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (both from UAE), Kuwait's Gulf Investment Corporation and Bahrain-based energy investment company Lamar Holding.

 

SWPC said that in December last year, a total of 31 companies had expressed their interest in the Riyadh-Qassim project, of which 19 were Saudi firms.

 

The big Saudi firms which have now been prequalified are Abdul Aziz Al Ajlan Sons; Hak Pijpleidingen Saudi; Al Bawani Water & Power; Al-Fahd Trading Industries & Contracting; Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies; Mowah; Al-Rawaf Trading & Contracting; Al Sharif Group; Mutlaq Al Ghowairi; Nesma and Vision International Invest Company. 

 

SWPC in an earlier notification said it will be conducting a competitive process to select a developer/developer consortium for the 1,392-km-long pipeline project which will be implemented on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis. 

 

As per a deal inked with SWPC, the successful bidder will provide the entire transmission capacity to the Saudi utility company under a 35-year water transmission agreement.

 

With this project, the government will develop the necessary potable water transmission systems (WTS) network comprising pipelines and interim/terminal storage facilities within the Eastern Supply Group to provide critical connectivity between the consumption centers and the upcoming desalination plants.