Saudi Arabian authority Water & Electricity (WEC) has invited expressions of interest (EOI) in respect of the potential development of an Independent Water Project (IWP) to be designed using Reverse Osmosis seawater desalination technology.

The desalination plant will be located in Rabigh area (150 km North of Jeddah), in the western region of the country and power supply will be facilitated from the high voltage network. The plant is the first in a new wave of IWPs for the country.

WEC will conduct a competitive process to select a developer for the development, financing, procurement, implementation, operation and maintenance of a desalination plant of 600,000 m³/day; expandable to 1,200,000 m³/day net of potable water capacity, together with associated infrastructure and facilities.

Under a concession of 25 years, the project company to be incorporated to develop the project will sell their entire capacity and output to WEC under a Water Purchase Agreement (WPA). WEC’s obligations under the WPA will be supported by a payment guarantee from the Government of Saudi Arabia.

Interested parties should express their interest to participate in the procurement process by no later than 21 August. Further information is available here.

WEC is being advised by:

• Banque Saudi Fransi as Lead and Financial Adviser;
• Alderbook Finance as Co-Financial Adviser;
• DLA Piper Middle East LLP as Legal Adviser; and
• Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG as Technical Adviser.