Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that a total of 24 international utility project developers have prequalified for the Al Haer Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP) project

located in Riyadh Province that boasts a total 200,000 cu m/day capacity.

 

The top firms eyeing the project include Spanish infrastructure majors (Acciona Agua; Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios, GS Inima Environment and Copasa); French utility specialists (Saur Sas and Suez International) and Mumbai-based ESG-focused water utility Vishvaraj Environment in addition to Chinese groups Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment and Everbright Water Investment.

 

Regional heavyweights Metito Utilities, Utico and Besix (Sharjah) are also in the race for the key Saudi ISTP project.

 

SWPC had indicated in December last year that a total of 39 companies had expressed their interests in the Al Haer ISTP. Of these, 19 were Saudi companies.

 

The leading local companies vying for the project are Ajlan & Bros; Marafiq; Tawzea; Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies; Miahona Company; Alfanar; Civil Works Company; SETE Energy Saudia for Industrial Projects; Lamar Saudi United; Mowah, Jinluo Water Company and Tamasuk Holding Company.

 

SWPC in an earlier notification said it will be conducting a competitive process to select a developer/developer consortium for the project which will be responsible for the development, financing, engineering, procurement, construction, implementation, ownership, operation, maintenance and transfer of the sewage plant.

 

The Saudi utility said the winning bidder, under a 25-year sewage treatment agreement with the utility firm, will be incorporated to develop the project and treat the entire sewage capacity supplied by SWPC. 

 

SWPC’s obligations under the STA will be supported by a credit support agreement from the Government of Saudi Arabia.

 

For the project, KPMG Professional Services are acting as financial and lead advisor to SWPC, while White & Case are the legal advisors and Future Water and Power Consulting the technical advisors.-TradeArabia News Service