Italian-based Sphinx AMA cleaning company has signed a BD42.8 million ($114 million) five-year contract with two municipal councils in Bahrain.

The company is set to start work from February next year at the Central and the Northern governorates when its equipment arrives.

The Southern Municipal Council, which was originally included in the deal, pulled out because it said that it would wait for a proposed BD10 million local cleaning company which the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry will have a 51 per cent stake in.

It said that it would continue to hire a group of local contractors to carry out the work.

Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry assistant under-secretary Dr Juma Al Ka’abi said that Bahrain’s population was dramatically increasing in the two governorates and that the contract makes sure the company would be able to deal with this through manpower and machinery.

’The deal would help avoid another ’state of emergency’ in garbage collection that hit the three governorates early this year,’ he told a Press conference following the signing ceremony at the ministry in Manama.

’There has been much negotiations regarding choosing a cleaning company for both governorates and we decided to go for Sphinx AMA for its good reputation in its services.’

Dr Al Ka’abi said that the company had already started ordering the equipment to avoid any delays.

’We look forward to dealing with the company and hope that they will always offer impeccable services,’ he said.

Central Municipal Council chairman Abdulrahman Al Hassan said that he was certain that the company would fulfil its duties and improve the cleanliness in the two governorates, which he said has been deteriorating over the last two years.

’This issue has taken the time of all the municipal council members and reflected negatively on their performance because it was an issue of great importance and could not be delayed.’

Sphinx AMA international aid manager Salvatore Ficara said that the company would serve the country and will do its best to ensure total cleanliness.

’I think it is an honour and a pleasure to be a witness of the signing of the contract,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Southern Municipal Council chairman Ali Al Mohannadi said in a statement that a clearer picture of the local cleaning company would be available once the parliament approves it.

’The BD10m company will be under the umbrella of the ministry, which will have a 51 per cent share in it, while the rest will be open to other interested shareholders,’ he said.

The Kuwaiti National Cleaning Company, whose contracted recently ended, claimed last month that it has been twice ignored in bidding for the refuse collection contract at the three governorates.

It was short listed alongside the eventual winner, French company Veolia Proprete by consultants Atkins.

But the Tender Board threw out the selections, saying the process did not meet the proper criteria and reissued the tender.-TradeArabia News Service