Global, local firms eye Saudi Yanbu 4 desalination project

Saudi Arabia's Water & Electricity Company (WEC) on Sunday said that a total of 71 companies have expressed interest in the independent water project (IWP) being set up in the Yanbu province using reverse osmosis seawater desalination technology.

Of these nearly 30 are Saudi companies, the utility provider said in a statement.

Global companies such as SNC Lavalin (Canada); Suez International, Veolia Middle East and Engie (France);  Tecnicas Reunidas and Abengoa (Spain); Sumitomio and JGC Corporation (Japan); Bechtel (US); Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (Korea); Fisia Italimpianti (Italy); Shanghai Electric Group (China) and Adani Infra  and VA Tech Wabag (India) have shown interest.

Among the regional bidders are UAE's Mubadala Investment Company; Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Utico, and Orascom Construction (Egypt).

The list of Saudi bidders include ACWA Power, Saudi Binladin Group; Abdul Ali Al Ajmi Company; Abdullatif Jameel Commercial Development Company;  Alblagha Holding Company; Aljomaih Holding Company; AlKawther and Almashariq Al Bawani Company; Alfanar Company and Aqua Treat Group besides GS Inima Environment; Gulf Investment Corporation; Haji Abdullah Alireza & Company; Malakoff International and Marafiq.

The desalination plant is planned to have a capacity of 450,000 cubic meters a day.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation DIFC Branch is the lead and financial advisor for the transaction, DLA Piper Middle East the legal advisor and ILF Consulting Engineers the technical advisor.