Neom to start $2.7bn hydropower scheme qualification
12 March 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s Neom, through its subsidiary Enowa, is expected to issue the request for qualifications (RFQ) for a contract to develop and operate the first phase of the development’s planned pumped hydropower storage (PHS) network in the second quarter of 2024.
According to industry sources, the client received expressions of interest in bidding for the project from developers and contractors in January.
MEED previously reported that Neom had approached developers and investors to discuss the development of a pumped hydropower storage project, which will be developed using an independent power producer (IPP) model.
The planned first phase of Neom’s PHS project will have an installed capacity of 2,200MW and a storage capacity of 23.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh), or roughly 11 hours, according to industry sources.
It will be developed using a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model that is expected to cover 40 years, excluding the construction period.
The expected capital expenditure for the project is $2.7bn.
The overall infrastructure will entail the development of four pumped hydropower storage stations in Neom. The planned schemes will form the backbone of an energy storage infrastructure at the SR1.5tn ($500bn) development.
The UK-based HSBC and the US-based White & Case are advising the client on the scheme.
The pumped hydropower storage IPP project will complement Neom’s planned multi-gigawatt renewable energy infrastructure, in line with its vision of being 100% powered by renewable energy by 2030.
Pumped hydropower storage is a form of clean energy storage that is ideal for electricity grids that are reliant on solar and wind power, according to the International Hydropower Association, which says: “The technology absorbs surplus energy at times of low demand and releases it when demand is high.”
A pumped hydropower storage facility typically comprises two water reservoirs at different elevations that can generate power when water passes through a turbine and moves down or is discharged from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.
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Construction works have started, and the project is expected to be completed in 2028.
NHC’s Khuzam project is located to the north of Riyadh, near King Khalid International airport and the Expo 2030 site.
The development will offer more than 50,000 residential units and will include parks, commercial areas and other associated amenities.
It will also feature a grand park spanning an area of more than 4.5 million sq m.
MEED reported in 2020 that Riyadh planned to oversee the development of more than 1 million homes by 2025 to meet growing demand in the kingdom.
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In 2023, MEED reported that Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company had awarded a contract worth SR371m ($99m) to Alomaier Trading & Contracting. It covers the construction of a sewage network in Dammam’s King Fahd suburb and adjacent areas.
The contract also involves the construction of regression lines with diameters of up to 700 millimetres (mm) and a total length of 300 kilometres (km), as well as five ejection lines with diameters of up to 500mm and a total length of 15km, according to data obtained from the regional projects tracker MEED Projects.
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Saudi utility firm awards water transmission contract24 November 2025
Saudi Arabia’s state-owned utility National Water Company (NWC) has awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of water distribution networks to local firm International Water Distribution Company (Tawzea).
The project comprises the operation and maintenance of water transmission pipelines in Medina province, Sisco Holding announced.
Sisco Holding, also known as Saudi Industrial Services Company, holds a 50% stake in Tawzea. The other 50% stake is owned by Amiantit Water, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company.
The contract is valued at SR133.4m ($35.6m) and has a duration of 36 months.
It covers main and secondary pipelines, reservoirs, pumping stations, valves and all related components of the water distribution system.
NWC has also been advancing major sewer network expansion plans in Hafar Al-Batin and Al-Qaisomah.
The utility recently awarded local firm Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies (AWPT) a contract to deliver the next phase of this project.
The phase four (part two) package involves constructing about 184 kilometres of sanitary sewer pipeline.
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Larsen & Toubro climbs EPC contractor ranking24 November 2025

The oil, gas and petrochemical engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) sector in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) has enjoyed another strong year in historical terms.This remains true even though the total value of awards in 2025 – $62.5bn as of the first week of November – looks set to fall short of the record highs of $86bn in 2023 and $95bn in 2024. The level of market activity nevertheless remains well above the long-term average of $46bn and the 10-year average of $50bn.
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Chinese contractors have also made steady progress in increasing their market share. Some industry stalwarts, by contrast, have seen considerably less success.
While some of this can be attributed to the cyclical nature of tendering and more selective bidding by established players with already large order books, MEED’s ranking of total execution values bears out the broader trends.

L&T’s dramatic surge
The most dramatic shift in the EPC landscape over the past 12 months (Q4 2024-Q3 2025) has been a $12.7bn surge in awards secured by L&T. This rapid expansion of its value of work under execution to $25.4bn has brought the company to within one place of the top of MEED’s EPC contractor rankings – falling just shy of the $26.9bn currently being executed by Italy’s Saipem.
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These wins built on an already burgeoning order book – one that also includes the $3.6bn phase 2: package 1 of the Jafurah gas treatment facility, awarded by Aramco in September 2023.
L&T’s rise has also been helped by relative inactivity among other top firms. Both Saipem and Italy’s Maire Tecnimont achieved prominent ranking positions a year earlier after securing, respectively, the $8.2bn offshore and $8.7bn onshore packages of Adnoc’s Hail and Ghasha programme in October 2023. Those awards, together with other contracts, saw the two Italian firms secure roughly $12bn in awards each in a single 12‑month stretch, catapulting them up the ranking.
However, neither company has added significantly to their pools of work over the past 12 months, in sharp contrast with L&T, which has seized momentum in the regional contracting landscape. So far, L&T has displaced Maire Tecnimont to reach second place regionally; another year of even marginally comparable momentum should put it at the top.
Also notable is the gap between L&T’s total awards over the past 12 months and those of its nearest competitors. L&T’s $12.7bn in wins rivals the combined value of the next three largest EPC contractors. As a share of an estimated $70bn in total awards across the sector over the same period, L&T secured about 18% of the work.The previous year, Saipem and Maire Tecnimont each secured closer to 12% of awards. This underlines L&T’s considerable momentum both in terms of its order book and market share growth.
Chinese push
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DOPET secured two contracts from QatarEnergy, led by a $2bn award for phase three of the Bul Hanine offshore oil field expansion.
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Chinese firm signs deal for Algerian steel project24 November 2025
China’s Sinomach Heavy Equipment has signed a contract to develop a steel rolling facility in Algeria.
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Contractors submit Riyadh Expo infrastructure bids24 November 2025

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Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), which is tasked with delivering the Expo 2030 Riyadh venue, received commercial bids from contractors on 23 November for the tender to undertake the initial infrastructure works at the site.
The tender for the project’s initial infrastructure works was issued in September, MEED previously reported.
In October, MEED revealed that 16 firms had been invited to bid for the contract to undertake the initial infrastructure works at the Expo 2030 Riyadh site.
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- El-Seif Engineering Contracting (local)
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- Kolin Construction (Turkiye)
- Al-Yamama Trading & Contracting Company (local)
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- Unimac (local)
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- Yuksel Insaat (Turkiye)
- IC Ictas / Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting (Turkiye/local)
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The overall infrastructure works – covering the construction of the main utilities and civil works at Expo 2030 Riyadh – will be split into three packages:
- Lot 1 covers the main utilities corridor
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In July, US-based engineering firm Bechtel Corporation announced it had won the project management consultancy deal for the delivery of the Expo 2030 Riyadh masterplan construction works.
The masterplan encompasses an area of 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites designated for a World Expo event. Situated to the north of the Saudi capital, the site will be located near the future King Salman International airport, providing direct access to various landmarks within Riyadh.
Countries participating in Expo 2030 Riyadh will have the option to construct permanent pavilions. This initiative is expected to create opportunities for business and investment growth in the region.
The expo is forecast to attract more than 40 million visitors.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, launched ERC in June as a wholly owned subsidiary to build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.
In a statement, the PIF said: “During its construction phases, Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy are projected to contribute around $64bn to Saudi GDP and generate approximately 171,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once operational, it is expected to contribute approximately $5.6bn to GDP.”
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