Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that a developer consortium led by top Spanish infrastructure company Acciona with Saudi partners Tawzea and Tamasuk has emerged preferred bidder for three major independent sewage treatment plant projects in Saudi Arabia.

 

These are Madinah Al Munawwarah Independent Water Treatment Plant (Phase Three) with a capacity of 200,000 cu m per day; Buraydah-2 (200,000 cu m/day) and Tabuk-2 (90,000 cu m/day).

 

According to SWPC, a consortium led by another Spanish utility project specialist FCC Aqualia along with Saudi partners Alfanar and Al Khorayef were declared reserved bidders for all three projects. 

 

For Madinah-3 ISTP, the Acciona consortium had submitted the lowest levelised water costs of SR1.2157 per cu m, while the FCC Aqualia consortium's water costs were SR1.5993.  

 

Madinah-3 project is part of the government's programme to commission a further round of new ISTPs in the kingdom, said a statement from SWPC. It is expected to start commercial operation in the first quarter of 2024.

 

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (DIFC Branch – Dubai) was the lead and financial advisor, while DLA Piper was the legal advisor and WS Atkins & Partners Overseas Engineering Consultants the technical advisor for the project.

 

SWPC said for the Buraydah-2 and Tabuk-2 projects, the Acciona-led consortium had submitted

the lowest levelised water costs of SR1.4395, while FCC Aqualia-led consortium emerged as reserved bidder with their water costs of SR1.7078.-TradeArabia News Service