Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) has unveiled a programme that could see private investors and operators revolutionise the quality of the country’s network of wastewater treatment plants. With the launch of an updated request for qualifications for the long-term operation and maintenance (LTOM) of sewage treatment plants, the Kingdom’s largest STPs will be split into five regional packages that will be handed over to private operators for a period of 10-25 years.

Eng. Majed Al Ruwaili, General Manager Environmental Compliance & Wastewater Services of the National Water Company explains how this new approach to bringing private finance into state-owned wastewater treatment assets differs from previous plans and explains the next steps in stimulating private investment in the upgrading and enhancement of the Kingdom’s Water Treatment sector.