Saudi expects $11 bln investment in mega water projects

Saudi Arabia is expecting an investment of $11 billion into large-scale water projects planned across the Kingdom, Zawya reported, citing a Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) official.

Around $10 billion will be invested in five mega desalinated water projects, and $1 billion in three sewage water treatment plants, Mohamed S. Al-Abdalla, energy and water sector manager, SAGIA, told Zawya.

The largest desalinated water investment will be built in Jubail 3, an Independent Water and Power Project with a water production capacity of 1,170,000 cubic meters per day and power capacity of 3,000 Megawatts. The four other Independent Water Projects will come up at Yebrin, Rabigh 3, Yanbu 4 and Shuqaiq-3.

Meanwhile, the largest sewage treatment plant planned is in Jeddah, with a production capacity of 500,000 cubic meters per day. The remaining two sewage treatment plants will come up at Dammam and Northern borders province (Tarif, Arar and Rafha), the report said.

Last week, the Saudi government announced plans to build nine water desalination plants on the Red Sea coast at an investment cost of over SAR 2 billion.