19 developers in race for key Saudi water pipeline project
RIYADH, February 23, 2022
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that a total of 19 developer/developer consortiums have been prequalified for the Ras Mohaisen-Baha-Makkah Independent Water Transmission Pipeline Project (IWTP) in the kingdom.
On completion, the 300-km-long Ras Mohaisen-Baha-Makkah pipeline project will boast a transmission capacity of up to 400,000 cu m per day, 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; and Chinese companies - Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment, China Harbour Engineering Company and China Railway Construction Corporation; in addition to regional firms - Utico and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (UAE), Kuwait's Gulf Investment Corporation and Bahrain-based Lamar Holding.
SWPC said in June last year, 37 companies had expressed their interest in the project, of which 25 were Saudi firms.
The big Saudi firms which have now been prequalified are Abdul Aziz Al Ajlan Sons; Al Bawani; Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies; Al Sharif Group; Al Yamama; Mutlaq Al Ghowairi; Mowah; Sarh Attaqnia, Tamasuk 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 Ras Mohaisen-Baha-Makkah pipeline project which will be set up on a build, own, operate and transfer (Boot) basis.
The winning developer will provide the entire transmission capacity to SWPC under a water transmission agreement (WTA), which is likely to be up to 35 years.
SWPC’s obligations under the WTA will be supported by a credit support agreement entered into by the Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For the project, SWPC had appointed Synergy Consulting IFA as the lead and financial advisor), Amer Al Amr Law Firm as legal advisor and Fichtner GmbH & Co KG as technical advisors.
