Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), the principal off-taker for water and wastewater projects in Saudi Arabia, is expected to award the Jubail 4 and 6 Independent Water Project (IWP) by the second quarter of 2023.

“The expression of interest (EOI) was issued in early December 2022 and the bid submission was on 9 January 2023. The contract is expected to be awarded by mid of May 2023,” a source aware of the project details told Zawya Projects.

The Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the 600,000 cubic metres per day capacity desalination plant was issued on 26 January 2023.

SWPC had said in a press statement that the deadline for the submission of RFQ is before 21 February 2023.

A total of 35 companies including 16 Saudi companies have expressed their interest in the project.

1. Abengoa Agua

2. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA)

3. Acciona Agua

4. ACWA Power

5. Ajlan & Bros Holding

6. Al Kawther Industries Co. Ltd.

7. Al Shalawi

8. Al Sharif Group Holding

9. Alfanar Company

10. Alghanim International General Trading and Contracting Co.

11. Aljomaih Energy and Water Company

12. Awad Saad Binzafrah Contracting Co

13. Buhur for Investment Co.

14. China First Heavy Industries International Development Co., (CFHI)

15. Elecnor Group

16. Fas Energy

17. Fisia Italimpianti

18. GS Inima

19. Hainan Litree Purifying Technology Co.

20. Kahrabel FZE (Engie Middle East)

21. Kindasa Water Services

22. Lantania Aguas

23. Marubeni Corporation

24. Metito Utilities

25. Mowah Company

26. Nesma Company

27. Orascom Construction

28. Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu (Marafiq)

29. Saleh Saeed Taishan and Sons

30. Saudi Pan Kingdom Company (SAPAC)

31. Shapoorji Pallonji

32. Utico

33. VA TECH WABAG

34. Veolia Middle East

35. Vishvaraj Environment

The Expressions of Interest (EOI) notice for the plant, based on Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) technology, was issued on 6 December 2022 with a submission deadline of 9 January 2023.

The desalination plant will be located 18 kilometres south of Jubail Industrial City in the Eastern Province on the Arabian Gulf coast.

Jubail 4 & 6 IWP would be built adjacent to existing Jubail Phase 1, Jubail Phase 2, Jubail 3A & 3B plants.

The source said the project is slated for completion by the fourth quarter of 2026, adding that his estimate of the project cost is $300 million.

According to the EOI notice, the successful bidder, through a project company to be incorporated, would finance, build, operate and maintain the project and sell the entire capacity and output to SWPC under a 25-year concession pursuant to a Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) with SWPC’s obligations backed by a credit support agreement from the Saudi government, the notice said.

SWPC’s advisors on the project are KPMG Professional Services as Lead Advisor and Financial Advisor; Eversheds Sutherland as Legal Advisor; and WSP as Technical Advisor.

(Writing by Senthil Palanisamy; Editing by Anoop Menon)