Saudi Arabia seeks EOIs for big desalination project

Saudi Arabia's Water & Electricity Company (WEC) has invited expressions of interest (EOIs) for the development of an independent water project (IWP) in Yanbu province using reverse osmosis (RO) seawater desalination technology.

The desalination plant will be located near the town of Ar Rayyis (140 km west of Madinah), on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia and power supply will be facilitated from the high voltage network, said a statement from the Saudi utility firm.

On completion, the new IWP will boast a potable water capacity of up to 450,000 cu m per day, it stated.

A strategic project for the Saudi region, the Yanbu Phase 4 Independent Water Project will have several leading global industry experts in the advisory role, said the WEC in its statement.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation DIFC Branch are the lead and financial advisors for the transaction, while DLA Piper Middle East LLP are the legal advisors and ILF Consulting Engineers the technical advisors, it added.

WEC said it will conduct a competitive process to select a developer or developer consortium for the development, financing, procurement, implementation, operation and maintenance of the 450,000-cu-m desalination plant, together with associated infrastructure and facilities.

Under a 25-year water purchase agreement, the winning developer or developer consortium will sell the entire capacity and output to WEC, said a statement from Saudi uitility firm.