The government of Saudi Arabia has recently announced its plans to invite bids for six wastewater treatment projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. These projects will include five Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP) projects, as well as a Small Sewage Treatment Plants (SSTP) and Collection Network project. These projects aim to treat wastewater for reuse in non-agriculture municipal and industrial applications, as per the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP).
The total capacity of the five ISTPs for wastewater treatment will be 650,000 cubic metres per day (m3/day), which will help address the rising demand for wastewater treatment in the country. The projects are expected to be procured by the Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture under Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) contracts.
The wastewater treatment projects are expected to follow a phased approach, with the tendering process commencing in 2024. The project’s first phase is anticipated to include the ISTPs and the Small Sewage Treatment Plants, while the Collection Network project will be carried out in the second phase. The projects will be awarded to private sector entities that will design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain the plants for a specified period under the BOOT model.
The government’s decision to undertake these projects under the PPP model is expected to attract private sector participation, enhance efficiency, and create new job opportunities in the water sector. The projects will also contribute towards achieving the country’s strategic objectives, such as promoting sustainable development and reducing dependence on non-renewable water sources.
