Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has prequalified seven global and regional strategic teams for the privatization of Ras Al-Khair (RAK), the largest desalination plant in the world.

The desalination plant is has a total estimated value of around USD3.5 billion, with a production of over 1.05 million m3 of desalinated water per day apart from 2,650 MW of baseload power.

The shortlisted companies are as follows :

1. Acwa Power
2. China Power International Holding/ Ajlan & Bros Energy Company
3. Engie
4. Jera
5. Marubeni Corporation
6. NTPC
7. Asian strategic consortium

Ras Al-Khair is the first bundle of the SWCC production portfolio to be privatized. The process is being overseen by the Supervisory Committee for the privatization of the water sector with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), National Center for Privatization (NCP) and Saudi Water Partnerships Company (SWPC).

The RFP package will be circulated to the qualified bidders and the process envisages the acquisition of a 60% stake by the winning bidder/consortium in the RAK Project Company (SPV), allowing for complete management and operational control of the plant.